Louisiana Trustees Approve $234.6 Million to Restore Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitats and Birds

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The final plan includes two bird restoration projects. Image: Todd Baker

The Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group has released the Final Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment #7: Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitats, and Birds (PDF, 318 pages). The plan includes projects that restore the Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitats and Birds Restoration Types. It includes five projects which have a total estimated cost of $234.6 million.

We accepted comment from August 20, 2020 through September 22, 2020 and held a public meeting on September 2, 2020.  

The selected projects are:

Wetlands, Coastal and Nearshore Habitat:
  • Grande Cheniere Ridge Marsh Creation – This project will create up to 624 acres of marsh near Bayou Grande Cheniere, approximately 12,480 linear feet of earthen ridge along Jefferson Canal, and approximately 48,900 linear feet of earthen containment dike. The project estimated cost is $65 million.
  • Terrebonne Basin Ridge and Marsh Creation Project: Bayou Terrebonne Increment – At $157 million, this project will create up to 1,430 acres of brackish and saline marsh and restore up to 80 acres of earthen ridge. The estimated project cost is $157 million.
  • Bird’s Foot Delta Hydrologic Restoration – This project provides engineering and design funding for restoration anticipated to restore the hydrology of the Mississippi River Bird’s Foot Delta by dredging Pass-a-Loutre, South Pass, and Southeast Pass to reconnect the Mississippi River with the marshes of the eastern and central Bird’s Foot Delta. The estimated project cost is $6 million.
Birds:
  • Isle au Pitre Restoration – This  project provides engineering and design funding for restoration anticipated to enhance nesting conditions on the existing island by elevating portions of the island with dredged sediment and planting suitable vegetation for nesting brown pelicans and wading birds, shell rakes for American oystercatchers and shell or small limestone on the perimeter of the island for tern and black skimmer nesting habitat. The estimated project cost is $3.5 million.
  • Terrebonne Houma Navigation Channel (HNC) Island Restoration –This project provides engineering and design funding for restoration anticipated to enlarge the island from its current size of 32 acres to approximately 50 acres by importing dredged sediment from a nearby suitable sand source and disposing of it adjacent and onto the existing island. The estimated project cost is $3.1 million.

Final Document: