Louisiana Watershed Initiative Region 3 will host planning workshops in August and September. The goal is to facilitate collaboration between jurisdictions in developing drainage projects within the region.
The region is compiling a Regional Project Inventory that will list all watershed-related projects and plans that are planned, underway or recently completed. This workshop, and others like it, will help in planning future projects that will impact the region.
The events will begin at 9 a.m. and will end by noon. Dates and locations are:
- Sept. 10: West Monroe Convention Center, 901 Ridge Ave., West Monroe
- Sept. 24: Jack Hammons Community Center, 810 Adams St., Winnsboro
- Sept. 29: Concordia Parish Courthouse, 4001 Carter St., Room 1, Vidalia
Members of the Regional Steering Committee, representatives from Region 3 parishes and municipalities and the public are invited.
Seating is limited. Those wanting to attend should RSVP with Region 3 Planner Lori Reneau at lori.reneau@ci.monroe.la.us.
In 2018, Gov. John Bel Edwards issued an executive order that established the Council on Watershed Management. Their task is to develop and implement a statewide floodplain management program based on watersheds. The Council was charged with empowering local jurisdictions and communities to implement regional, long-term solutions that follow watershed boundaries to better reduce flood risk in Louisiana communities.
The council divided the state into eight regions to coordinate efforts among parishes and to distribute project funds. The Regional Capacity Building Grant Program is providing funds to support the regional efforts. The Ouachita Parish Police Jury is serving as the fiscal agent for Region 3.
Parishes within Region 3 are Caldwell, Catahoula, Claiborne, Concordia, East Carroll, Franklin, Lincoln, Madison, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, Tensas, Union and West Carroll.
Karen Cupit serves as the Regional Watershed Coordinator. Lisa Richardson is the Regional Floodplain Manager. Cupit and Richardson are employees of the Ouachita Parish Police Jury. Regional Planner Giahanna Bridges is employed by the city of Monroe.
For more information about LWI Region 3, please contact Cupit at kcupit@oppj.org. More information about the Louisiana Watershed Initiative can be found at watershed.la.gov.