2021 Little Cypress Bayou Waterway Debris Removal Project NRCS/USDA

The Orange County Drainage District has commenced its Bayous Debris Removal Project, which involves primarily the removal of fallen trees and other vegetative debris from within Adams Bayou, Cow Bayou and Little Cypress Bayou. The purpose of the Project is to remove this debris from these three bayous that so that drainage is not impaired within these bayous, each of which serve to drain significant portions of Orange County. The Cow Bayou Watershed originates in Jasper County, the Adams Bayou watershed originates in Newton County, and the Little Cypress Bayou watershed originates in Orange County. All three bayous drain into the Sabine River.

The District has secured grant funding from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to help pay for a large portion of this Project. The total cost of the Project is estimated to be approximately $1.5 million. The Drainage District has contracted with Aftermath Disaster Recovery, Inc., which provides multiple barge units equipped with grapple and saws, to assist with the Project.

The first component of the Project is the removal of the debris from Little Cypress Bayou.  The Project began on Thursday, June 3, 2021. The scope of the Little Cypress Bayou project (depicted in the map above) includes removal of debris within and along Little Cypress Bayou from the Sabine River to FM 3247.  The photos below document the progress of the project to date.  More photos will be added as they become available.

On 6/11/2021 Aftermath Disaster Recovery, Inc., and the Orange County Drainage District completed the debris removal project on Little Cypress Bayou, resulting in more then 4200 cubic yards of debris being removed from the Bayou.