Council to consider B.R. groundwater model

At its meeting Wednesday, the Metro Council will consider entering into an agreement with the Capital Area Groundwater Conservation Commission to develop a computer model simulation of groundwater flow and saltwater intrusion into a source of city drinking water. The model, to be developed in cooperation with the U.S. Geological Survey, would be paid for via federal and state grants as well as a 15% local match. Under the agreement being considered Wednesday, the city would fund the local share over a 10-year period beginning this year, with its maximum contribution not to exceed $310,500. CAGCC Director Anthony Duplechin says the model would concentrate on a layer of sand about 2,000 feet below the ground, which is one of about 10 sand layers of varying depth from which the city’s drinking water is drawn. Saltwater intrusion in Baton Rouge aquifers has been a concern for decades. In mid-January, the state Office of Conservation formally requested that the CAGCC—which was created in 1974 by the state Legislature to manage the aquifer—recognize that the aquifer is in an unsustainable condition and begin discussing possible solutions. “The modeling is a continuation of an effort that we’ve had with the U.S. Geological Survey for the past four years,” Duplechin explains, adding he recently met with Mayor Kip Holden and city officials to discuss the project and they expressed interest. “Mayor Holden was wholeheartedly behind this,” Duplechin says, adding that the mayor and city officials “realize it is something that needs to be looked at, and it has to be approached with sound science.” The council meets at 4 p.m. Wednesday on the third floor of City Hall, 222 St. Louis St. The full agenda can be seen here. —Steve Sanoski