U.S. Congressman Garret Graves (Louisiana) announced today that he secured major wins for Louisiana in the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA). The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will review and markup the legislation on Wednesday, June 26, 2024.
“For years we have taken the lessons we’ve learned in protecting our communities and made them national priorities,” said Congressman Graves. “This legislation will further empower capable Levee Districts and local governments to deliver solutions today – instead of being made to sit around and wait for the Army Corps of Engineers. WRDA is a lifeline for our state and a cornerstone of Louisiana’s strategy to manage our water resources effectively so that our communities are safer, our economy is stronger, and the environment is preserved for generations to come. There are several high points in this bill for our state and there will be more to come through our amendments following this week’s markup.”
Several of Graves’ key provisions are included in the legislation:
Louisiana Project Improvements
- Clarifies the terms of loan repayment for post-Katrina infrastructure: Graves’s provision streamlines the loan repayment process. In 2020, Graves saved the state over $1 billion in interest payments on federal loans for the West Bank and Vicinity, Southeast Louisiana, and Lake Pontchartrain and Vicinity Projects.
- Upper Barataria Risk Reduction System: Graves’ request to expedite completion of the project was included, as is a provision to evaluate connecting Upper Barataria with the adjacent Morganza-to-the-Gulf project. Graves ensured the authorization of the project in WDRA 2022 and worked to provide $8 million in federal funding in 2022 for pre-engineering and design. This will result in hurricane and flood protection from Lafourche and St. Charles to Ascension Parishes.
- Bayou Sorrel Lock Reevaluation: This federal lock complex in Iberville Parish is not able to handle the waterway traffic that makes Louisiana’s ports thrive. Graves previously secured a 100% federal cost share for the project and provided the project with its first slug of federal funding last year, in addition to requesting that the Corps expedite the completion of the ongoing study this year.
- Lower Atchafalaya Basin: Graves’ language urges the Corps to quickly complete the project to support flood protection of the Morgan City area through St. Martin, Assumption and other parishes.
- Alexandria-to-the-Gulf: Expands the geographic scope of the project to consider flood protection improvements in Pointe Coupee, Allen, Calcasieu, Jefferson Davis, Acadia, Iberville, and Cameron Parishes.
- Authorization of New Feasibility Studies: Supporting projects including improving navigation between Bayou Rigaud and Caminada Pass, and the construction of a surge barrier at the Rigolets and Chef Menteur Pass to protect communities surrounding Lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas – from St. Bernard and St. John the Baptist to Livingston parishes.
Increases authorized to support local water and sewer (“environmental infrastructure”) needs:
- Capital Region (East Baton Rouge, Ascension, and Livingston Parishes) – $100,000,000
- East Atchafalaya Basin and Amite River Basin – $45,000,000
- Lafourche Parish – $7,300,000
- Bayou Parishes (Terrebonne, St. Charles, Assumption, St. James, St. John, and St. Mary Parishes) – $17,500,000
- Southeast Louisiana Region – $22,000,000
Improving the Corps Across the Nation
- Amends the terms and conditions for the transfer of Corps-owned public bridges and requires a report on the Corps’ existing bridge inventory. The provision will allow the Corps to focus on water resources needs and leave vehicle traffic to our transportation departments.
- Requires GAO to carry out an analysis of the Corps’ use of digital infrastructure technologies to improve project delivery.
- Directs the Corps to implement an electronic tracking system that will allow our locals to submit electronic documents required for environmental reviews, as well as track the progress of environmental reviews, consistent with the goals of the Fiscal Responsibility Act which Graves negotiated and passed into law in 2023.
- Eases burdens and addresses challenges to the Corps’ usage of third-party mitigation banks and requires the Corps to post upcoming mitigation needs so interested parties can inform the Corps of potential mitigation projects that meet such needs, improve environmental outcomes, save money and save time.
- Improves the parameters of Independent External Peer Review and makes the authority permanent – to ensure project outcomes.
- Directs the Corps to collaborate with relevant agencies and research institutions to be more proactive in developing economic, hydraulic and hydrologic models for use in water resources development projects.
- Allows non-Federal project sponsors to build projects in place of the Army Corps of Engineers (known as 1043b Authority) – this saves money and time.
- Permits the creation of environmental banks, which allow proactive investment into environmental restoration projects which improve the resilience of our coast.
- Continues to allow the State of Louisiana to maximize federal credits to support the completion of as many water resources projects as possible.
- Authorizes improvements (higher levels) to post-Katrina levees through 2033.
Background:
The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) is key legislation – typically updated every two years – that provides the critical framework for the development and maintenance of water resources infrastructure across the country. It includes the construction, maintenance, and improvement of levees, flood control projects, and navigation systems managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Louisiana is particularly dependent on robust water infrastructure with its extensive coastline, rivers, and wetlands. WRDA plays a critical role in supporting projects that mitigate flood risks, enhance navigation, restore ecosystems, and ensure water quality.
Graves previously served as the Chairman of the committee’s Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, and made substantial contributions to WRDA in 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022.
