Residents press Lake Charles for drainage fixes after erosion, decades of neglected ditches

Several residents used the meeting’s public-comment period to press for immediate drainage and erosion work after showing video and describing long-running problems.

Tom Quirk, representing the Beau Blanc homeowners association, presented a short video of severe erosion in a drainage channel off South Park Drive and said the ditch has “total destruction” in places, with telephone poles and property lines at risk. Quirk said the HOA has pursued funding and that the administration should prioritize a restoration project; he noted a $2.5 million grant application related to the corridor and asked for a follow-up meeting with administration.

Gabriel Washington reported that a ditch serving Church Street and Hershey Street has not been cleaned in roughly 20 years and described standing water that remains for weeks. Staff told Washington they would assess the ditch the next day, blow out pipes under driveways where needed and coordinate with drainage districts as appropriate.

Council members asked public works to meet with residents, examine nearby pipe connections, and determine whether the canal drains to the railroad corridor or a gravity drainage district. Staff agreed to follow up and said crews would inspect and clean blockages in the coming days.

What happens next: public works will assess Quirk’s erosion site and Washington’s Church/Hershey ditches and report back to the council; the administration also offered to meet with HOA representatives to discuss grant status and project timing.