The Senate Natural Resources Committee of the Louisiana Legislature convened on May 29, 2025, to discuss critical flood mitigation legislation affecting the Amite River Basin. The primary focus of the meeting was a bill aimed at extending current laws that temporarily exempt the Comite River from the Scenic Rivers Act, allowing for essential flood work on Bayou Manchaca, which has been overdue for decades.

Paul Sawyer, the executive director of the Amite River Basin Commission (ARBC), presented the bill, emphasizing its importance for East Baton Rouge, Ascension, and Iberville parishes. He noted that the bill would enable targeted flood mitigation efforts in Bayou Manchaca, a high-risk flood area for the capital region. Sawyer highlighted that funding for these efforts is time-sensitive, and without the extension, the parishes could lose the opportunity to address longstanding flood issues.

Senator Lambert raised concerns about the Comite River's inclusion in the bill, questioning the necessity of its exemption from the Scenic Rivers Act. Sawyer clarified that the ARBC has no plans for the Comite River, stating that the inclusion was a strategic decision to simplify the legislative process. He assured the committee that the focus remains solely on Bayou Manchaca.

The meeting also featured public comments, with representatives from environmental organizations expressing opposition to the bill's provisions regarding the Comite River. Emily Buxton from The Nature Conservancy urged legislators to reconsider the exemption, citing potential ecological impacts and the importance of maintaining protections for scenic rivers. Isis Longo from Friends of the Comite shared personal experiences of flooding and erosion, advocating for the reinstatement of oversight by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

In response to these concerns, Senator Lambert proposed an amendment to remove the Comite River from the bill, suggesting that the focus should remain on the urgent needs of Bayou Manchaca. The committee concluded the discussion with plans to further evaluate the proposed amendment and its implications for flood management in the region.

Overall, the meeting underscored the urgency of addressing flood risks in the Amite River Basin while balancing environmental protections and community concerns. The committee is expected to reconvene to finalize decisions on the bill and its amendments in the coming weeks.