Office of Conservation

DNR reports restoration projects along coast now listed for Phase One

Eight coastal restoration projects listed on the state's Priority Project List 9 (PPL9) have reached the first phase of implementation. State coastal officials say that means budget approvals for all engineering and preconstruction work are now complete.

Projects listed from the PPL9 process were recommended to the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA) Task Force by the public, local governments, state and federal agencies, and Coast 2050 Plan regional teams.

The Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the federal agency sponsoring the project will share in the cost at a 15 to 85 percent funding match. DNR Assistant Secretary Randy Hanchey said these phase one projects total $9,264,259.

A brief description is given here on each of the projects:

Chandeleur Islands Marsh Restoration
U.S. Dept. of Commerce NOAA, NMFS 
Cost: $1,442,091

This barrier island chain is located in the easternmost parishes--- St. Bernard and Plaquemines. Breaches in the island chain make it susceptible to increased shoreline erosion. Some 364 acres of smooth cordgrass will help revegetate the marshes. Phase one and the construction phase are approved. Project should begin in early 2001.

Four Mile Canal Terracing and Sediment Trapping 
U. S. Dept. of Commerce NOAA, NMFS 
Cost: $463,293

Located approximately four miles south of Intracoastal City in Vermilion parish, marsh loss in this area is due to shoreline erosion, about 8 feet per year. Project will create 55,170 linear feet of vegetated terraces which will protect adjacent marsh by reducing wave and wake energy. Terraces will be designed to mimic natural conveyance channels to deliver more sediment and freshwater to areas of Little White Lake and Little Vermilion Bay.

LaBranche Wetlands Terracing, Planting and Shoreline Protection
U. S. Dept. of Commerce NOAA, NMFS
Cost: $806,270

Within the Lake Pontchartrain basin, the LaBranche wetlands are located just west of New Orleans, adjacent to the airport. Reducing marsh loss along the Lake Pontchartrain shoreline and within interior marshes are key objectives. Vegetated terraces and shoreline protection will be constructed. Native grasses will be planted in shallow open water areas to absorb wave energy and provide fish and wildlife habitat.

East and West Grand Terre Islands Restoration Project
U.S. Dept. of Commerce NOAA, NMFS 
Cost: $1,818,218

These islands are located at the mouth of Barataria Bay in Jefferson parish. Tropical storms, bay and gulf shoreline erosion, and subsidence of back barrier marshes and lack of sand in an already sediment- deprived system have resulted in the loss of barrier island habitat. The objective of this project is to create approximately 112 acres of dune habitat and 212 acres of marsh habitat on East and West Grand Terre Islands.

New Cut Dune/ Marsh Restoration Project
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency 
Cost: $753,448

This project is located in the Isles Dernieres chain of islands along the coast in Terrebonne parish. The major repair is to close the existing cut between East and Trinity Islands. Approximately 2.5 million cubic yards of material will be dredged and used to restore approximately 104 acres of dune and marsh habitat.

Timbalier Island Dune /Marsh Restoration
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
Cost: $1,324,903

Located in Terrebonne parish on the eastern end of Timbalier Island. The western migration of the island and the passage of storms is causing the island to decrease in length and width. Plans are to dredge approximately 4.3 millions cubic yards of material and restore approximately 397 acres of dune, marsh and beach habitat.

Marsh Creation South of Leeville
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
Cost: $1,283,437

Located in LaFourche parish, southeast of the Town of Leeville. The marsh along Bayou Lafourche is deteriorating which can be attributed to the interruption of sediment supply from the bayou, high subsidence and dredging of oil and gas canals. This project involves the restoration of approximately 163 acres of marsh habitat.

Castille Pass Channel Sediment Delivery
U.S. Department of Commerce NOAA, NMFS
Cost: $1,372,599

Located off East Pass in the Atchafalaya Delta, in St. Mary parish. Spoil dredged from the Atchafalaya River Channel has been placed east of the channel restricting nutrient-flow into shallow water areas reducing marsh creation. This project attempts to reestablish the flow of sediment, nutrients and water into shallow water areas by dredging Castille Pass and smaller tributary channels and to create approximately 370 acres of emergent marsh through the placement of spoil from the dredging of the channels.

Editors: For more information contact, DNR Public Information Office at 225-342-8955.