Col Jeremiah Gipson, Commander and District Engineer, Ms. Pat Hemphill, Deputy District Engineer Programs and Project Management, and Mr. Jacob Brister, Policy and Legislation, Vicksburg District, visited the Tensas Basin Levee District (TBLD), Monday, July 29, 2024.
Upon their arrival, they received an update on the concerns and recent actions of the Ouachita River Valley Association from David Weeks, Executive Director. Mr. Weeks’ presentation generated considerable discussion on the topics of backlog maintenance, bank stabilization, and the economic opportunities brought about by navigation on the Ouachita River.
Following an update from Mr. Brandon Waggoner, Executive Director of the TBLD, the team visited the folding floodwall in downtown Monroe and the static floodwall repair further south. Of special interest: there are only two folding flood walls in the world. The TBLD exercises the folding floodwall structure on a semi-annual basis to ensure it is operational.
At left, Col Gipson and Ms. Hemphill listen attentively during briefings at the Tensas Basin Levee District. Mr. Drew Keahey, TBLD President and Mr. Justin Holloway, Operations Superintendent for the TBLD also attended the briefings. At right, workers fold the floodwall to the upright position. What was once a sidewalk can be positioned to hold back floodwaters from the Ouachita River. Sidewalk panels can be raised (or lowered) in a matter of minutes.
Following demonstrations and updates of the Monroe floodwalls, the team travelled to Columbia, Louisiana to tour bank caving and erosion issues from the river. The visit on the river generated much discussion concerning bank stabilization and recent repairs by the Vicksburg District and the TBLD.
At left, Mr. Brister, Ms. Hemphill, Mr. Waggoner, and Col Gipson before touring a portion of the Ouachita.
Col Gipson assumed command of the Vicksburg District, US Army Corps of Engineers in formal change of command ceremonies on June 14, 2024. The visit to TBLD was part of his initial “battlefield circulation” of the Vicksburg districts’ area of operations. All attendees deemed the visit highly successful.
