St. Charles Parish · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in St. Charles Parish public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
ADM barge fleet dredging on the Mississippi
The Army Corps wants consistency approval for 2026 maintenance dredging of three deep-draft river crossings to keep 50-foot channel depths for Port of South Louisiana shipping access.
Love Our Waterways cleanup results
The parish is backing Louisiana's first Love Our Waterways Month with a three-hour cleanup at the Bonnet Carré Spillway and Wetland Watcher Park on September 26. Volunteers get rakes, bags, t-shirts, and can sign up by emailing the coastal zone staff.
Five parish projects advance in CPRA 2029 Coastal Master Plan
Parish-submitted projects including the LaBranche marsh creation didn't make CPRA's Priority Project List 36 — the marsh creation was deemed outside the coastal zone. A second solicitation period runs July through September.
Storm Closures
Post-Tropical Storm Arthur is forcing St. Charles Parish schools and government offices to close Wednesday. Before you head out, check whether your school, job, or errand is affected. It’s a safety-first shutdown, but it will scramble routines.
Bonnet Carre freshwater siphons and coastal wetland health
Committee members are pushing for freshwater siphons from the Bonnet Carre Spillway into the LaBranche Wetlands, a proposal CPRA is evaluating for its 2029 Master Plan. They also want to learn why the Allemands Wetlands are thriving so the success can be replicated.
Sunset Pump Station upgrade (BA-0285)
The President's report highlighted the $12.5 million Sunset Pump Station bar-screen project serving 7,000 acres on the West Bank, plus culvert replacements on Evangeline Road and in New Sarpy.
Couba Island Christmas Tree Restoration Pens
The parish is building pens on Couba Island to hold recycled Christmas trees for shoreline protection, but only about 200 trees were collected this year. Staff admitted outreach fell short and pledged a better plan — including email blasts and school programs — for the 2027 collection.
PFAS contamination in water systems
St. Charles Parish’s water could be affected by PFAS “forever chemicals” after state testing flagged 46 Louisiana systems, though it’s not yet confirmed your system is on the list. If it is, expect possible new filtration costs and health advisories—so this is a watch-the-water-bill and watch-the-notice situation.
DEQ-restricted site redevelopment on West Alpha Drive
A former industrial site in Destrehan sits under a state-mandated cap with conveyance restrictions barring deep-rooted plantings. The board granted landscaping waivers so the property can return to commercial use, though some members wanted the full DEQ paper trail before them first.
Turtle Pond Pump Station upgrades
The council supported grant funding to upgrade the Turtle Pond pump station, part of the parish's drainage defenses.