Cameron Parish, LA:  Federal, state and local officials will gather on Friday, May 4th at the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge to celebrate the completion of seven coastal restoration and protection projects in Southwest Louisiana.

The public is encouraged to attend and learn more about the benefits of restoration work being done throughout the state and region.  The project sponsors will kick-off the event at 10:30 a.m.

The projects being dedicated were completed by the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and several federal agencies including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The seven projects are funded through the federal Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act (also known as the Breaux Act) and are located in Calcasieu, Cameron and Vermilion parishes. They include:

• Black Bayou Culverts Hydrologic Restoration
• Sabine Refuge Marsh Creation, Cycle #1 and #3
• South White Lake Shore Protection
• Shoreline Protection Foundation Improvements Demonstration
• East Sabine Lake Hydrologic Restoration
• Freshwater Induction South of Hwy. 82
• Grand-White Lakes Landbridge Protection

Tours of the projects will be provided after lunch.

Speakers at the dedication include DNR Secretary Scott Angelle; Lt. Col. Murray Starkel of the Corps of Engineers; Jack Arnold, USFWS Deputy Assistant Region 4 Director; Donald Gohmert, State Conservationist, NRCS; David Richard, Calcasieu parish; and Phillip Bowman, Administrator Fur and Refuge Division, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

The ceremony will be held just west of the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge headquarters on La. Hwy. 82 in Cameron parish between Pecan Island and Grand Cheniere.

Related Documents and Directions:

• Invitation and Directions to CWPPRA Project Dedication Ceremony for Southwest Louisiana