Gov. John Bel Edwards, along with university officials and local leaders, broke ground today on a $6.2 million drainage improvement project at LSU Alexandria to reduce flood risk for the campus and surrounding area, with $3.5 million leveraged from the Louisiana Watershed Initiative.

This marks the first project groundbreaking as part of LWI’s efforts to reduce flood risk and improve long-term resilience throughout the state, beginning the implementation phase of more than $450 million in project awards to be announced by year’s end. The LSUA drainage project is one of 15 state projects that were awarded $163 million in March through LWI. This is part of the state’s Action Plan to spend $1.2 billion in federal flood mitigation funds.

The LSUA campus is situated in a low-lying area, with a drainage system that includes a network of open ditches that frequently become overburdened during heavy rainfall. The drainage improvement project will install appropriately sized culverts and catch basins throughout campus to more effectively convey stormwater to the campus drainage canal, reducing flood risk. The project construction phase is expected to take about one year.

“The drainage and infrastructure project groundbreaking was a historic event for our campus,” LSUA Chancellor Paul Coreil said. “The bipartisan support we received from local, state and federal officials ensured that this was not only a win for central Louisiana, but for the entire state. We appreciate the support we received from all delegations and were extremely grateful to have Gov. Edwards join us to break ground on the campus. This project will solve numerous drainage problems at LSUA but will also modernize the infrastructure and campus as a whole. Our students will greatly benefit from this support.”

The state selected the LSUA project among the 15 projects announced in March because it aligns with LWI’s long-term resilience objectives. These projects will reduce flood risk in communities throughout the state, store floodwaters in ways that enhance natural habitats and move people in flood-prone areas out of harm’s way. For more information, click here.