WALKER — A project to clean and improve the Colyell Creek System in Livingston Parish officially kicked off on Tuesday. 

Livingston Parish Government, Gravity Drainage District 5 and the City of Walker will work collaboratively on the project. 

Gravity Drainage District 5 regularly maintains the portion of the creek within its funded district, according to Livingston Parish President Randy Delatte. However, the creek continues into an area that does not have funding for proper drainage. If water can't efficiently move through that downstream portion, it can impact drainage upstream as well.

Instead of waiting for a grant or contracting the project out, the agencies decided to pool resources to complete the work. 

Gravity Drainage District 5 is providing the crews and equipment to clean the creek, while the City of Walker and Livingston Parish Government are providing some funding to pay for fuel and upkeep of equipment. The Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office is also providing a boat. 

"Drainage doesn't stop at a city limit or a drainage district boundary. When we have an opportunity to work together and stretch taxpayer dollars further while improving drainage, that's exactly what we should be doing," Delatte said in a Facebook post.