The state is accepting buyout applications from Spring Park property owners and residents in the Priority 1 zone of the Denham Springs neighborhood. The Priority 1 application deadline is Feb. 25.

As participation in the voluntary program ramps up and eligibility is determined, buyout opportunities may expand into other priority zones, as funding allows. The state, in collaboration with Denham Springs officials, designated the priority zones using flood maps and modeling data.

Denham Springs Mayor Gerard Landry said the program will provide much-needed assistance to Spring Park residents who have endured repetitive flooding in recent years.

“This buyout program presents an opportunity for residents to relocate their families to safer areas, while also providing long-term benefits for the resilience of our community,” Landry said. “We will continue working closely with the Louisiana Watershed Initiative and the residents and landlords in this area to provide resources, information and support as this program progresses.”

The $10 million buyout program in Spring Park, funded by federal mitigation dollars, is part of the Louisiana Watershed Initiative’s efforts to reduce flood risks statewide. By offering buyouts, the program helps residents relocate to safer areas and returns flood-prone properties to their natural states. Under LWI, the state awarded federal funds for buyouts in seven areas throughout Louisiana.

For more information, Spring Park property owners and residents can contact a buyout program representative at 866.735.2001 or email watershed@la.gov. For more information about the LWI Statewide Buyout Program, click here.