Protecting What Matters Most
The St. Mary Levee District works daily to monitor and maintain the 120+ miles of levees and flood walls as well as numerous flood control structures.
Levees
- Monitor for problems
- Vegetation management
- Levee Repairs
- Patrol for damage and trespassers
Flood walls
- Monitor for problems
- Repairs of gates, seals and mechanical parts of gates
Flood control structures
- Operation and maintenance
- Monthly checks on all systems
- Monitoring for obstructions and issues
Inspections
- Throughout the year the system is inspected to be sure it is ready at any time for any threat
- Staff members are trained inspectors
There are different types of inspections throughout the year.
- Quarterly inspections (Conducted by District staff, reported to USACE and CPRA)
- Annual inspections (conducted by The District, Local Municipalities, Parish, USACE and CPRA)
- Periodic inspections -Every 5 years-(conducted by District staff, USACE, and CPRA)
- Pre and Post flood event
- Daily (during flood fight events that the Atchafalaya River is above 5’)
- As needed
Emergency Preparedness
The District is always on alert for any possible threat to the system. This is an on going and constantly changing part of what the district does
- Emergency plans for any event. This is constantly and rapidly changes depending on time of year and seasons. Rain events, south winds, snow melt, tropical systems etc.
- Testing of flood control structures
- Monitoring conditions from river stages to tropical formations
- Advise local officials
- Direct flood fighting activities throughout the district. From temporary levees, sand bags, Hesco baskets, Bayou Chene closure etc.
