WASHINGTON — St. John the Baptist Parish President Natalie Robottom is confident the parish is nearing the national support needed for improved flood protection.

Robottom said St. John was well represented today in Washington D.C. with Parish Council members Marvin Perrilloux, Cheryl Millet and Lennix Madere joining her and other area representatives to support the $781 million West Shore Lake Pontchartrain hurricane risk reduction project levee.

She said all agencies in the Civil Works Review Board meeting were very supportive of the plan; however, minor additions need to be made to the final document before releasing it for a 30-day review.

Expected to be completed by December, the Chief’s Report would potentially allow for Congress to consider final authorization for the project and a funding source.

“The Civil Works Review Board is obviously committed to this project, and I am confident that the New Orleans Corps will make all requested revisions to the document within the next couple of weeks,” Robottom said. “This is a great day for St. John Parish and the state of Louisiana.”

In November the Army Corps of Engineers confirmed a tentatively selected plan to build storm protections measures. The selected plan, named Alternative C, is 18 miles in length and would help protect Montz, LaPlace, Reserve and Garyville. The levee would run between the Bonnet Carre Spillway in Montz and the Hope Canal in Garyville.