Why is it important to have a drainage plan?
One of the biggest investments families make is in their
home. This large commitment has short term and long term impacts not only to
the family making the investment, but to the community as a whole. Public
infrastructure is built to provide and support urban amenities required in
modern city environments. Building and investing resources of time, energy,
and money, both by families and by the public community that is at risk is
neither wise nor prudent. Increasing urbanization covers the surface of the
land with impermeable materials that accelerate stormwater flow into drainage
systems woefully inadequate. A drainage plan is critical to making sound urban
infrastructure investments both by families and businesses and by the community
as a whole. The LINC Drainage and Stormwater Plan is intended to improve and
organize drainage efforts that facilitate both private and public sectors as
efficiently as possible.
How does a drainage plan affect me?
Any section or area of Lafayette Parish should be evaluated
for historic, current and future drainage and stormwater impact. Lafayette has a
semitropical climate. Rainfall events of 50 and 75 year intensity occur in some
part of the parish every eight years on average. To view a subdivision with curb
and gutter streets and sidewalks should not be assumed to be out of harms way for
stormwater. It is important to know how high to build where. What are the flood
elevations? What public infrastructure improvements are built and what is planned?
When are improvements scheduled? What is the base floor elevation of the structure
being built? There are many land "bowls" in Lafayette parish. The drainage plan
has a direct impact on private investment and should be referenced when making decisions.
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MARAIS DES CANNESPhase 1 |
| PROJECT DESCRIPTION
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The Marais des Cannes, Phase 1 Project is proposed to contain a regional stormwater retention-detention facility several hundred acres in size designed for high storm water storage capacity. These retention and detention lakes would reduce the risk of flooding in downstream areas by containing excess storm water until it can be recharged into the aquifer or control-released when over-burdened infrastructure can accept it.
The name, Marais Des Cannes, translates "Cane Wetland" in French after Coulee Isle des Cannes (Island of Canes Coulee), which is the main drainageway being studied.
The project area is generally in low-lying area classified as floodways in which no development will be permitted by federal law under the National Flood Insurance Program. The program is an attempt to provide landowners with some relief by providing areas within the floodway that may be developed by elevating lands with excavated dirt from adjoining areas. These excavations will be used as retention ponds.
One goal of the project is to identify land owners wanting amicably and voluntarily to participate in the planning of the project.
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| PROJECT STATUS
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As of August 1, 2011: Lafayette Consolidated Government staff is currently negociatating a contract with project consultants.
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| PROJECT STAFF
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The following staff members of Lafayette Consolidated Government (LCG), Comprehensive Planning Division are working on the project in these capacities:
- Mike Hollier, A.I.C.P. (337-291-8016): Project Policy Management.
- Mike LeBlanc, A.I.C.P. (337-291-7179): Project Technical Management.
- Dan Branch, A.I.A. (337-291-8029): Architect.
- Johnny Orgeron, LEED AP, Associate AIA (337-291-8024): Urban Planner.
- Cathie Gilbert, MCIP (337-291-8454): Land Use Planning and Nodal Development.
- Cecilia Gayle, RLA (337-291-8185): Landscape Architect.
- Bernadette Fisher (337-291-7173): Community Development District Planning.
- Chad M. LaComb (337-291-8057): Project Administration and Law Student Intern.
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| POTENTIAL PROJECT FACILITIES
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The Marais des Cannes, Phase 1 Project may include the following infrastructure:
- Lakes with Adjoining Greenways - provide buffering of adjacent land uses, providing recreation, improving water quality through bio-filtering, and creating wildlife habitat.
- Coulee By-Pass Structures - passive diversion of water from existing coulees when flood stage is reached and then conveying water to storage areas (lakes and wetlands).
- Terraced, Natural Coulees - planted with trees and vegetation thereby slowing storm water discharge, filtering out sediments and pollutants, reducing erosion, reducing water temperature, and increasing water oxygenation. The design of shallow multi-terraced slopes allow for easy access and easy maintenance, aesthetic interest when not conveying storm water, and providing high-capacity channels when storm water is at peak levels.
- Dry Retention Areas - can be used for recreation areas such as golf, soccer, baseball, football fields etc. despite periodic inundation. They can also provide buffers between land uses.
- Constructed Wetlands - improves water quality, provides access to educational and eco-tourism opportunities, provides area to preserve wildlife, and promotes healthy biodiversity.
- Waterfront Mixed-Use Development - allows for urban densities in close proximity to a constructed natural and park-like development in limited areas. Some residential units may be included in the development depending on the eventual size of the development.
- Mitigation Banks - involves the creation and enhancement of low-lying areas that are classified as wetlands by the Corps of Engineers that can be purchased to replace other wetlands that will be lost in other projects.
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| PROJECT AREA
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The planning area is located in the Isle Des Cannes Watershed (44.3 square miles) which is served by a natural channel named Coulee Isle des Cannes. The watershed is about 12.4 miles from north to south and about 4 miles from east to west at its widest point. The project area is in the upper reach of the coulee and in the northern area of the watershed. The planning area is a subarea of the watershed containing 3,888 acres (6.1 square miles). Within the planning area, there are two design areas where most of the planning work will occur. The North Design Area is located north of the I-10, with 487.68 acres, while the South Design Area is located south of I-10, with 591.43 acres.
The two design areas, the floodway and the floodplain are shown on the Project Vicinity Map
The planning area is generally bound by the following roadways:
- North by Rue Novembre
- South by Fenetre Road
- East by La Hwy 93, Apollo Road, Provost Road, Topeka Road, and Tabb Road
- West by Janvier Road, Rue Septembre, and Andres Road
The North Design Area is delimited by the following roadways:
- North by Rue Bon Secours
- South by Interstate 10
- East by La Hwy 93
- West by Rue Septembre
The South Design Area is delimited by the following roadways:
- North by Interstate 10
- South by Cameron Street (US Hwy 90)
- East by Apollo Road
- West by Andres Road
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| MODEL COMMUNITY WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT
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The Marais des Cannes is Phase I of a pilot Model Community Watershed Development (MCWD) Project located in Lafayette Parish near the City of Scott, in South Louisiana. The project will develop a set of model environmental, regulatory, and financial water management tools that will be made available for implementation in other communities. These tools will include traditional methods, such as retention and detention ponds, in addition to innovative land use tools, such as wildlife management areas, educational trails, and clustered residential and commercial mixed use development. Some of benefits to be created are flood protection, the removal of pollutants from runoff, and the creation of high quality wildlife habitat.
CLICK HERE to read the technical details of MCWD on the project application.
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| SLIDE PRESENTATIONS
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A graphic explanation of the project is available here
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| MAPS
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The following maps show technical details of the project:
- Watershed Map of Lafayette Parish; Floodway and Floodplains in Project Area; Depth of the Floodplain (.pdf 2.5MB)
- Project Planning Area and Corporate Limits; Lafayette Parish Floodplains; Roofed Structures in Planning Area; Taxing District in Planning District; (.pdf 2.5MB)
- Conceptual Design for South Design Area; (.pdf 14.5MB)
- Conceptual Design for North Design Area; (.pdf 3.5MB)
- Marais des Cannes North Design Area 2010 Aerial 36x36 (.pdf 95MB)
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| PROJECT ADMINISTRATION
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The project is funded by Louisiana Office of Community Development, Disaster Recovery Unit.
The grant is administered by Lafayette Consolidated Government and its Comprehensive Planning Division.
The documents submitted to the Louisiana OCD/DRU as part of the grant administration are located along with other technical information on this page.
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Scheduled Meetings:
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