A renewed interagency agreement between the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Department of Agriculture and Forestry (DAF) will assist in revitalizing vegetation throughout the state's coastal areas. According to DNR's Project Manager Kenneth Bahlinger, the 1996-97 Vegetation Planting Program has reached its sixth year and has successfully used 330,000 marsh plants in over 111 sites in coastal Louisiana.

Bahlinger, who works in DNR's Coastal Restoration division says that the agreement is a unique, cost efficient, and effective method of establishing vegetation in the coastal zone. The vegetative program involves state and federal partners and promotes participation from citizens in the local communities. "There has been some 811,146 linear feet (153 miles) of vegetative plants used since the program began a few years ago," Bahlinger said.

The Soil and Water Conservation Committee of DAF, its local districts, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) help plan, implement and coordinate the program. By working through the local Soil and Water districts, knowledgeable planters work with local landowners in a timely fashion, Bahlinger said. "DNR's coastal staff and local Soil and Water districts monitor all the planting projects, and the reports each year indicate success," Bahlinger said. The objective of the program is to have plant vegetation bind sediments to the marsh. The vegetation will also provide an environment for fish, crabs, shrimp and other marine animals to thrive.

In the last few years, the need for marsh vegetation has spurred a special market for growing native plants. Examples of some marsh plants include, marshhay cordgrass, smooth cordgrass, and california bullrush. DNR officials explained that the new Louisiana Marsh Plant Producers Association, has also contributed to the success of the program.

Editors: For more information on this release, please contact DNR's Project Manager Kenneth Bahlinger at (504) 342-7308 or Public Information Officer Phyllis Darensbourg at (504) 342-8955.