Levee roads, crowns, slopes and bases throughout the parish are all considered private property.  If you see anyone on these portions of the levee in vehicles or atvs please contact the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's office at 337.828.1960.  Crossing or riding on levees in areas not designated for public use is trespassing and is subject to criminal penalties.

The St. Mary Levee District (SMLD) was created by Act No. 259 of the 2007 Louisiana Legislature. It was created in response to a request of federal officials to have one primary voice for river and surge flood control works in the parish.

Improving the levee system in St. Mary Parish to 100-year event status will not happen immediately. It will take years.

We have Multiple Flood Threats—
- Riverine ( Atchafalaya River and Lake Verret Watershed)
- Storm Surge
- Backwater from Riverine and Surge Events
- Stormwater (rain)



Miles of Levee—126 existing
- Amelia—5.1 miles
- Morgan City—23.2 miles
- Berwick to Calumet—30.7 miles
- West of Calumet—67.1 miles

Value of Property Protected by Levee System: $4 Billion

Our Mission

The St Mary Levee District is charged with the responsibility to maintain and operate a system of levees that protect the people and property of the parish from damages of high waters of the Atchafalaya River; to direct activities which will dissipate the threat of high water and flood damages from rivers and streams; and to furnish the local cooperation required for flood control and drainage projects of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.