Office of Conservation

DAVIS POND WETLAND PROJECT TO BE DEDICATED ON MARCH 26TH NEAR NEW ORLEANS

Baton Rouge—The Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will hold ceremonies to dedicate and open the world's largest coastal restoration project designed to protect more than 700,000 acres of precious wetland habitat in Louisiana.

The Davis Pond Freshwater Diversion Structure, Mississippi River Delta Region Project is located on La. Hwy 18 at Sings Lane in St. Charles parish. Groundbreaking for the diversion project begin in 1997, and now the $107 million wetland project is complete and able to divert up 10,650 cubic feet per second (cfs) of freshwater from the Mississippi River to the Barataria Bay estuary.

DNR Secretary Jack Caldwell said key speakers at the event to be held at 2 pm on Tuesday, March 26, 2002 in Luling, LA will be Governor Mike Foster and U.S. Congressman W.J. "Billy" Tauzin.

For more information, contact the state DNR Public Information Office at 225-342-8955.