WBRZ - Baton Rouge

MYRTLE GROVE, La.- Plaquemines Parish authorities say temporary pumps appeared to reduce water levels Monday, and they might not need to cut a hole in a levee to drain water that Tropical Storm Lee pushed onto a main highway.

No homes were expected to be affected by the actions.

Plaquemines Parish is a sliver of land dotted with oil and gas companies south of New Orleans. It's protected by a Mississippi River levee and a so-called back levee.

Parish spokesman Kurt Fromherz says wind from Lee pushed water into Barataria Bay, which caused water to overtop the back levee in low places.

The Times-Picayune reports that water had been more than 3 feet deep on Louisiana 23, the main artery through Plaquemines Parish.