Project Overview and Funding
As part of the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act Program, NOAA has successfully restored 473 acres of marshland and 11,171 linear feet of ridge habitat in Bayou De Cade, Louisiana. The restoration, which was allocated $14 million from NOAA, addresses significant challenges like land loss and supports the vitality of local fisheries.
Significance of Restoration During American Wetlands Month
Unveiled during American Wetlands Month, this project highlights significant strides in marsh restoration within Louisiana’s coastal areas. Bayou De Cade, a critical part of the Terrebonne Basin, has suffered from high subsidence rates, further exacerbated by sediment blockages from levee constructions and disruptions from oil and gas infrastructure.
Technical Aspects of the Restoration Process
The project involved transferring 2.4 million cubic yards of sediment from nearby Lake De Cade into the bayou, using temporary containment dikes to secure the sediment. This initiative led to the development of a brackish marsh ecosystem, now home to species such as redfish, blue crabs, and shrimp, and provides essential protection against coastal erosion and flooding. Additionally, the construction of elevated ridge habitats, planted with native vegetation like wax myrtle, aids migratory birds on their intercontinental journeys.
Statewide Impact and Future Goals
Bren Haase, Deputy Executive Director for the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, emphasized the project’s statewide benefits, stating, “Every acre of marsh we restore enhances our statewide protection. It is imperative that we undertake such projects not merely to recover lost wetlands but to reinforce and sustain them against future degradation.”
Long-Term Commitment and Success
Since 1990, the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act Program has functioned as a cornerstone for combating coastal wetland loss in Louisiana. This program, supported by a task force of state and federal agencies including NOAA, has funded substantial restoration projects that have restored over 12,500 acres of Louisiana’s coastline, substantially increasing the resilience of coastal communities against environmental threats.