Meeting Summary

The St. Charles Parish Coastal Zone Advisory Committee reviewed twelve Joint Permit Applications for canal maintenance, pipeline work, and soil testing across the parish, with most receiving exemption, no-direct-significant-impact, or coastal-use-permit determinations. The committee also continued its multi-month review of Environmental Management Units (EMUs) within the parish's Local Coastal Program, discussing freshwater siphon proposals for the Labranche Wetlands and reviewing land-use data for the Almonaster Wetlands, while introducing three new EMUs for study before the next meeting. Members also heard a recap of their recent trip to Coastal Day at the state capitol and discussed ongoing concerns about freshwater flows through Davis Pond.

Watch Items

• P20260073 (Karvon Mitchell, Coastal Use Permit): A public hearing opened a 25-day comment period on a proposal to fill swamp land with recycled concrete and sand for future residential use. Staff have not finalized their recommendation because the applicant is still coordinating with parish planners, so this item will return for further action.
• EMU 7 (Labranche Wetlands): The committee is tracking two proposed freshwater siphon projects near the Bonnet Carre Spillway, one directing water into the land bridge and one into Bayou Labranche. No decision has been made by the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA); a second solicitation period for the state's 2029 Coastal Master Plan is expected this summer, and members asked about bringing in a guest speaker for a future update.
• EMU 11 (Almonaster Wetlands): Staff agreed to research and report back on why cypress and swamp forest regrowth has been especially successful in this area, to see if lessons can be applied elsewhere.
• EMUs 2, 3, and 4 (Norco Wetlands, East LaPlace Wetlands, and the Bonnet Carre Spillway): These were introduced for committee review and will be discussed in detail, including possible revisions, at the next meeting. A member also raised concerns about the lack of revegetation on levees along I-10 and asked staff to look into whether replanting plans exist.
• Staff agreed to confirm and report back on whether the parish's canal-clearing maintenance work is required to go out for public bid.
• The Davis Pond Advisory Committee will hold a semi-annual meeting on June 23 covering both Davis Pond and Caernarvon diversions; the committee discussed preparing a report in advance.
• Members were urged to contact state wildlife and fisheries officials to support maintaining at least a 4,000 cubic-feet-per-second flow through Davis Pond to protect the upper estuary, amid pushback from commercial fishermen.
• Upcoming dates flagged for residents: the CPRA Board Meeting on April 15, the parish's Trash Bash cleanup, the Fishing Rodeo on May 9, and a fall waterway cleanup being organized with Keep Louisiana Beautiful (date still being finalized).