East Baton Rouge Stormwater Master Plan on track to be finalized by end of 2022, Project manager says success relies on parish leaders

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - The East Baton Rouge 20 year Stormwater Masterplan is on track to be completed by the end of 2022 says project manager Melissa Kennedy.

Kennedy gave an update on the flooding and drainage plan to the Baton Rouge Press Club Monday. It details a “wish list” of projects to address flooding concerns across the parish. The goal, to help water move out of areas faster and more efficiently before it reaches a house or business.

“We’re not going to be able to eliminate flooding but the intent is reduce the flood risk to as many people as possible,” Kennedy said.

The success of the plan relies completely on parish leaders securing funding and approving the policy, Kennedy said. That means approving changes to the building code and finding the funding to pay for the projects listed in the master plan.

With the plan still not expected to be complete until next year, these projects could still be several years out. According to a spokesman with the Mayor-President’s office, once the plan is finalized it usually takes three to four years to gain approval and receive the funding necessary. For homeowners who have flooding in the past floods, that is too long.

“I don’t know if it’s enough and I can tell you now that we can’t wait 20 years, we can’t wait five years,” said Melanie Nauta, who flooded last May. “Something needs to be done right now.”

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