Baton Rouge Advocate - Newspaper and TV News updates about the Comite River Diversion Canal Project http://www.amitebasin.org 30 years ago heavy rains pushed the Amite and Comite rivers to historic levels, flooding thousands of homes and causing millions of dollars in damage. Officials say it could happen again. http://theadvocate.com/features/people/5599523-123/the-flood-of-1983-hell#comments 08 Apr 2013 Thousands of taxpayers in East Baton Rouge, Livingston and Ascension parishes have until mid-January to decide whether to remain in a class-action lawsuit that alleges the Amite River Basin District collected millions of dollars in unauthorized local property taxes for the Comite River Diversion Canal project. Jan. 15 is the official opt-out date. http://theadvocate.com/news/4597789-123/deadline-nears-in-comite-diversion 02 Jan 2013 A flood control agency wants to buy an island in the Mississippi River, hoping the purchase will jump-start new construction on the long-delayed Comite River Diversion Canal. Representatives of the Amite River Basin Drainage and Water Conservation Districts board of commissioners have begun talks with the owners of Profit Island, which lies off the west end of the canals proposed route between the Comite and Mississippi rivers. http://theadvocate.com/home/4706723-125/profit-island-purchase-could-restart 23 Dec 2012 A resident of the Central area alleges that the Amite River Basin Drainage and Water Conservation District has collected more than $7.3 million in unauthorized local property taxes for construction of the Comite River Diversion Canal Project. http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/latest/111242269.html 03 Dec 2010 Among the propositions is renewal of a 10-year, 2.65-mill property tax to continue to provide the Amite River Basin Drainage and Water Conservation District's share of the Comite River Diversion project. http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/elections/103565644.html?c=1298112966133 23 Sep 2010 Renewal of a property tax to provide matching funds to continue construction of the Comite River Diversion Structure won approval Saturday, according to complete but unofficial returns. http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/104225528.html 03 Oct 2010 Welcome to one of the biggest holes ever dug in the state of Louisiana, otherwise known as the Lilly Bayou Control Structure for the Comite Diversion Canal. http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/25972369.html?c=1300243460922 28 July 2008 The Comite River Diversion Canal, designed to lessen flooding along the Comite and Amite rivers, is running at least four years behind schedule, according to officials involved in the project. http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/98671994.html 18 July 2010 Late next year, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to award a construction contract for a highway bridge over a flood-control channel that does not yet exist: the much-discussed and long-delayed Comite River Diversion Canal. http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/77980847.html 29 Nov 2009 But some elected officials, such as Metro Councilman Wayne Carter, would like to see the project expanded so that it can offer recreational benefits... http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/25972369.html?showAll=y&c=y 28 Jul 2008 BATON ROUGE- The Comite River is set to crest 2 1/2 feet above flood stage. The Comite River Diversion Project was planned after floods in the early 80s to prevent flooding. Fifty-three hundred homes and businesses in three parishes were damaged. The diversion canal is 12 miles long and will take flood water from the Comite to the Mississippi River. http://www.wbrz.com/news/comite-river-diversion-canal-project-could-see-speed-up/ 09 Mar 2011 The Amite River Basin and Water Conservation District has purchased 147 acres of land off Plank Road in Zachary for what will be the first of several bridges across the Comite River Diversion Canal. http://www.businessreport.com/news/2010/oct/01/land-purchased-comite-river-diversion-canal-bridge 10 Oct 2010 Constructing a major canal through northern parts of Baton Rouge has been a significant undertaking that will continue for years, but local voters must be willing to pay for a substantial share of the federally funded project. http://www.2theadvocate.com/opinion/103495589.html 22 Sep 2010 The Amite River Basin Commission is warning that a measure passed by state lawmakers earlier this year will result in substantial additional delay and costs to the completion of the Comite River Diversion Canal, which is already several years behind schedule. http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/106360593.html 30 Oct 2010 Officials handling the Comite River Diversion project have completed the diversion's biggest structure and made a major change in how land for the project will be acquired. Completion of the $30 million Lilly Bayou Control Structure represents a large step in completing the 12-mile-long project designed to lessen flooding along the Comite and Amite rivers, said Larry Ardoin, the project manager for the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/Biggest-structure-in-Comite-River-plan-complete.html 7 Mar 2011 The Amite River Basin Commission must purchase 1,700 acres to replace the wetlands being damaged by the Comite River Diversion Project, according to officials involved with the project. http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/Land-sought-to-offset-project.html 18 April 2011 The Amite River Basin Drainage and Water Conservation District will hold two public meetings about land acquisition for mitigation purposes in connection with the Comite River Diversion Project.Thursday at 6:30 p.m., the ARBC will hold a meeting at the Zachary branch library, 1900 Church St. in Zachary.On Wednesday, May 4, the commission will hold a meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the DEMCO Training Facility, 16262 Wax Road in Central http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/Meetings-to-discuss-land-acquisition.html 27 April 2011 Work on the Comite River Diversion Canal is on hold until agencies involved acquire 700 acres along the river to replace land damaged during canal construction, residents who live in the area were told Thursday. The Amite River Basin Commission and a representative of the state Department of Transportation answered questions before nearly 100 people about property needed for mitigation purposes. A second meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the DEMCO building on Wax Road in Central. http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/700-acre-land-deal-holds-up-work-on-Comite-Diversion-Canal.html 28 April 2011 Gonzales - More than 30 years after Amite River floods swamped eastern Ascension Parish, the parish is now embarking on the second major leg of flood-control projects financed solely with local funds. The idea is to build a series of levees, floodgates and pump stations running along the parishs eastern edge to protect against flooding from the Amite River and against storm surge from Lake Maurepas. The first major element of the plan was installed in April 1991, the massive pump station in the McElroy Swamp near Sorrento. Two decades later, the $38 million second phase involves adding a long-awaited levee, floodgate and pump station at Henderson Bayou near Galvez and expanding the capacity of the Marvin J. Braud Pumping Station in the McElroy Swamp http://theadvocate.com/news/592637-65/ascension-beginning-two-major-drainage.html 14 August 2011 Advocate Baker-Zachary bureau - The Amite River Basin Commission expects to soon begin buying some of the property needed to mitigate wetlands damaged by construction of the Comite River Diversion Canal. - Commission Executive Director Dietmar Rietschier said a commission contractor is working with willing sellers for the purchase of land in a 2,500-acre mitigation zone designated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the federal sponsor for the long-delayed canal. The channel would divert flood waters from the Comite River, a tributary of the Amite River, to the Mississippi River through Lilly Bayou southwest of Zachary. The canal, proposed to run east-west between Baker and Zachary, is expected to reduce flood levels in East Baton Rouge Parish along the Comite River and to a lesser extent on the Amite River at Denham Springs. http://theadvocate.com/news/592637-65/ascension-beginning-two-major-drainage.html 23 August 2011 A Baton Rouge judge refused Monday to disqualify one of his colleagues from presiding over a lawsuit that alleges more than $7.3 million in unauthorized local property taxes have been collected for construction of the Comite River Diversion Canal project. http://theadvocate.com/news/1997657-123/judge-refuses-to-recuse-colleague.html 07 February 2012 DENHAM SPRINGS Despite questions about their accuracy, new federal flood insurance rate maps will go into effect Tuesday, affecting thousands of Livingston Parish homeowners. Many people whose homes have never flooded will be required by their mortgage companies to buy insurance that could cost more than $1,000 a year. Meanwhile, others who have long been required to purchase flood insurance may no longer be required to do so, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Parish President Layton Ricks questioned the accuracy of the new maps, which he said may force many people to buy insurance unnecessarily. http://theadvocate.com/home/2421545-125/new-flood-maps-affect-thousands 02 April 2012