{"id":2464367,"date":"2025-07-20T15:14:01","date_gmt":"2025-07-20T19:14:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/university-lakes-restoration-project-fully-funded-dredging-to-finish-by-2026-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-07-20T15:19:20","modified_gmt":"2025-07-20T19:19:20","slug":"university-lakes-restoration-project-fully-funded-dredging-to-finish-by-2026-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/university-lakes-restoration-project-fully-funded-dredging-to-finish-by-2026-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"University Lakes restoration project fully funded, dredging to finish by 2026 &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Funiversity-lakes-restoration-project-fully-funded-dredging-to-finish-by-2026-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2464367&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The $78 million restoration project for Baton Rouge&#8217;s University Lakes is progressing well and is fully funded. Major dredging has been completed on three lakes-City Park Lake, Lake Erie, and College Lake-with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/east-coast-universities-conduct-anti-racist-audit-in-libraries\/\" title=\"East Coast Universities Conduct \u2018Anti-Racist Audit\u2019 In Libraries\">work ongoing<\/a> on University Lake, the largest and most complex section. Dredging at University Lake covers about 90% of the area and is expected to finish by the first half of 2026. Work on Campus Lake, located entirely on LSU&#8217;s campus, is about to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/no-spike-in-florida-coronavirus-cases-despite-no-mask-mandate\/\" title=\"No Spike in Florida Coronavirus Cases Despite No Mask Mandate\">start<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Funding for the project comes from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-more-votes-than-voters-in-key-swing-states\/\" title=\"Trump: More Votes Than Voters in Key Swing States\">multiple sources<\/a>, including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/louisiana-lawmakers-pass-49-3b-state-budget-on-sessions-final-day-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Louisiana lawmakers pass .3B state budget on session\u2019s final day - Washington Examiner\">state capital outlay<\/a> funds, city-parish contributions, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Progress, Community Development Block Grants, and a newly awarded $14.5 million FEMA grant, wich will also help mitigate flood risk in the Corporate Canal area.Over 1.1 million cubic feet of accumulated sludge are being removed to address the lakes&#8217; shallowness, with the non-contaminated material being reused to create bird sanctuaries and new islands within the lake system.<\/p>\n<p>Additional infrastructure improvements, such as the May Street Bridge and park redevelopment, are scheduled for completion by August 2026. Despite some delays due to sediment settling, the project is advancing smoothly and is seen as a complex but triumphant effort.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">University Lakes restoration project fully funded, dredging to finish by 2026<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2177141\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>(The Center Square) &minus; The $78 million <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/construction\" title=\"\">restoration<\/a> of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/louisiana\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Baton Rouge&rsquo;s<\/a> University Lakes is well underway, with major dredging operations complete on three <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/nature\" title=\"\">lakes<\/a> and work continuing on the largest and most complex sections, according to an official with the LSU Real Estate and Facilities Foundation.<\/p>\n<p>Rob Stuart, speaking on behalf of the foundation, said in an interview that dredging has been completed at City Park Lake, Lake Erie and College Lake.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3476762\/caddo-parish-teacher-salaries-advocates-seek-raises\/\">Caddo Parish teacher salaries start below $50K, advocates seek raises<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/in_focus\/3476095\/lawyers-embrace-ai-tools-lack-rules-courts\/\">Lawyers embrace AI tools amid lack of uniform rules in courts<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3476763\/department-of-health-reclassifies-fentanyl-copycats\/\">Department of Health reclassifies fentanyl copycats<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re in the middle of working on the biggest lake, which is University Lake. The dredging there is under contract for about 90% of the two connected lakes,&rdquo; Stuart said.<\/p>\n<p>Work on Campus Lake, which lies entirely on LSU&rsquo;s campus, is expected to begin soon.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;That dredging is about to be put under contract,&rdquo; Stuart said.<\/p>\n<p>The entire restoration is estimated to cost around $78 million to $79 million and is fully funded. According to Stewart, the funding comes from a combination of sources: capital outlay dollars, the city-parish, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, Community Development Block Grants, and a newly awarded $14.5 million FEMA grant.<\/p>\n<p>Of the total, $50.7 million has been committed through state capital outlay, including $37.2 million in the 2025 capital budget.<\/p>\n<p>The FEMA grant will <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >support flood risk mitigation work<\/a> in the Corporate Canal area and complete dredging in smaller sections of University Lake.<\/p>\n<p>Dredging, Stewart explained, is necessary because the lakes have become too shallow over time.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The fundamental problem is they had gotten very shallow. We&rsquo;re removing 1.1 million cubic feet of sludge,&rdquo; Stuart said. &ldquo;And it all has to go somewhere. It&rsquo;s really not at all available to haul off. That would be very expensive if you found a place to take it.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The material, which is not contaminated, is being redeposited in nearby bird sanctuaries and new islands formed within the lake system.<\/p>\n<p>While the project has not faced major setbacks, Stewart noted that some of the removed sediment has taken longer to settle than expected.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/3473298\/louisiana-police-chiefs-arrested-in-alleged-visa-fraud-scheme\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">LOUISIANA POLICE CHIEFS ARRESTED IN ALLEGED VISA FRAUD SCHEME<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The bulk of the dredging work is expected to wrap up in the first half of 2026, with other infrastructure improvements &mdash; such as the May Street Bridge and nearby park redevelopment &mdash; scheduled to be completed by August 2026.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a very complicated project, but overall, it&rsquo;s going very well,&rdquo; Stewart said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2177141\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2177141\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>University Lakes restoration fully funded; dredging ends 2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2464368,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/AP24155703037657.jpg.optimal.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[59522,6513,59521,59520,32076],"class_list":["post-2464367","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-dredging","tag-funding","tag-restoration-project","tag-university-lakes","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/AP24155703037657.jpg.optimal.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2464367","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2464367"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2464367\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2464371,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2464367\/revisions\/2464371"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2464368"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2464367"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2464367"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2464367"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}