U.S. Congressman Garret Graves joined local stakeholders and elected officials today for the East Baton Rouge Flood Control Project groundbreaking, also known as the “Five Bayous” Project. Part of a “system” of $1 billion in Amite River Basin projects secured by Graves’ efforts, this project will help quickly drain East Baton Rouge Parish during severe rain events by improving the water flow in Jones Creek, Ward Creek, Bayou Fountain, Blackwater Bayou, and Beaver Bayou.

“Today is an important milestone, but let’s not forget that this project was designed for the Flood of 1983, not the Flood of 2016 or the Rain Bomb of 2021. In 2018 we secured nearly $2 billion to fix the flood problems of the 1970s and 80s - including ‘Five Bayous’ - and another $1.2 billion to provide solutions for future flooding. Our communities deserve true flood protection and need lower flood insurance rates – the Five Bayous Project will accomplish both. This effort is long overdue and will accompany our other ongoing flood projects in the region. We’re securing record federal funding to better protect homes and businesses and save lives. Investments just like Five Bayous will pay off,” Graves said.

After the 2016 Flood, Graves secured $3 billion in federal funding to protect our homes, businesses, law enforcement, livelihoods, schools and the communities of south Louisiana. There was $255 million secured for the Five Bayous Project. Additional funds included:

• $50 million to improve draining in more than 400 miles of Livingston Parish creeks bayous and waterways
• $1.2 billion secured for the West Shore Project
• Over $500 million secured for the Comite Diversion Project
• $1.2 billion in flood mitigation for South Louisiana
• $300 million in flood protection projects and hazard mitigation for the Capital Region

“This project helps to get water off our streets, out of our neighborhoods and into the Gulf of Mexico. Our canals, ditches, rivers and bayous have become so overgrown and filled with debris that they are acting like clogged pipes – stopping rapid drainage and contributing to flooding. This project is an important piece to the puzzle that will help to protect our homes, families, and businesses. This is an investment in the safety of our community. We can’t allow a repeat of 2016 ever again,” Graves said.

Graves is leading collaborative federal, state and local efforts, using a blend of federal and state funds for projects in the pipeline like:

• Making major drainage improvements in the Bayou Manchac Watershed in Ascension, East Baton Rouge and Iberville parishes
• Constructing the “LA 22 Spillway” project to provide a crucial new outlet for Amite River drainage to Lake Maurepas
• Repairing the Amite River Weir
• Dredging the mouths of the Lower Amite and Blind Rivers
• Clearing debris and blockages in the Amite River
• Millions in federal funds to clear creeks and canals in East Baton Rouge Parish