Boutte will gain a new pump station thanks to new FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding awarded to the parish.

A federal grant of $5,648,301 will partially fund the construction of the Magnolia Ridge Pump Station that will be located near the western end of the Magnolia Ridge Phase of the West Bank Hurricane Protection Levee in Boutte.

“I stressed the importance of going after state and federal funding for our levee system when I came into office so it is great to see my administration secure the first federal dollars for our West Bank Hurricane Protection Levee,” St. Charles Parish President Larry Cochran said.

The new Magnolia Ridge pump station will be designed with four 48-inch pumps housing 250 horsepower engines capable of handling 56,000 gallons per minute of stormwater runoff each, for a total of 224,000 gallons per minute. The project also includes a large detention pond that will serve as an intake basin for the pump station, in conjunction with an earthen levee built to elevation +7.5 NGVD and a perimeter access road. The parish’s match requirement is 50 percent of the total estimated cost, or $5,685,300.

There are 231 residences, 41 businesses, two public buildings, and 25 school, hospital and/or church buildings within the benefitted area.

“This is the first award for Federal assistance the Parish has received for a West Bank Hurricane Protection Levee project,” St. Charles Parish Grants Officer Carla Chiasson said. “The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness was essential to the parish receiving this award and we are grateful for their support.”

The mission of St. Charles Parish government is to provide high quality, efficient services to sustain and enhance the quality of life for all residents of St. Charles Parish.

For more information on parish activities, visit www.stcharlesparish-la.gov, www.facebook.com/stcharlesgov or www.twitter.com/stcharlesgov. Residents may sign up to receive e-newsletters on desired parish-related topics by visiting www.stcharlesparish-la.gov/enews and emergency texts, e-mails and phone calls at www.scpemergencyalerts.com.

PICTURED: A few miles down is the partially-constructed Willowridge Pump Station in Luling that is projected to be online in mid-March.