May 4, 2012

Katherine Alley wrote, “Hello, I am a resident of the Briar Lake subdivision in Lacombe and my property backs up to the Capital Drainage Improvements Project # 32009-D-113588. Aside from being very curious, I am considering placing my property up for sale and was hoping to obtain some more specific information on this project.  Can you tell me what it is they are doing?
I appreciate your time and attention.  I attempted to find the information on my own but couldn't find the project on the website.”

Dear Katherine,

Thank you for writing Ask Pat. 

The project to which you are referring is the Cypress Bayou Detention Pond Project.  It is one of the drainage projects St. Tammany Parish is currently working on across the entire parish. The Cypress Bayou Project is taking place on 156.41 acres and will create approximately 800 acre feet of storage, equivalent to about 365 football fields 2 feet deep. 

About 1400 homes will benefit from the drainage capacity created by the project, including those in Brier Lake Estates, Cypress Park, Oak Mill, Pine Grove, Uranium Park and Tranquility Park.  A significant number of homes in the benefit area of this project have flooded during rain events, and many have been subjected to repetitive flooding.

One of the unique aspects of this project is that by design, the pond will be constructed wetlands.  This means after construction is complete, vegetation will be returned and the pond will be seeded with cypress trees to recreate the wetlands habitat.  Not only will this preserve the wetlands in our area, but it will have the added benefit of providing added water quality to the parish, as wetlands act as natural filters. 

Thank you for your interest in an important project.  Please feel free to write AskPat for any additional information. 



Pat