In this aerial view facing southwest, Avoca Island surrounds Avoca Lake in the center of the photograph. Bayou Boeuf is seen in the foreground with Bayou Shaffer in the background.

Project Status

Location
The project is located in the Avoca Island area in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana.

Problems
The Avoca Island area lost approximately 5,000 acres of marsh between 1932 and 1990. Natural overbank flooding into the area has been eliminated by channelization and construction of flood protection levees, thereby preventing the input of fresh water, sediment, and nutrients.

Restoration Strategy
The goal of this project is to rebuild eroded wetlands in the area through the diversion of fresh water, sediment, and nutrients. A diversion structure will be installed through the Avoca levee to allow water from Bayou Shaffer to enter Avoca Lake at a rate of 1,000 cubic feet per second. A natural bayou will be used as the primary outfall channel for the diversion. Outfall management measures will be evaluated and incorporated to increase benefits to aquatic habitats in the island system.

Progress to Date
The Louisiana Coastal Wetlands Conservation and Restoration Task Force approved funding for engineering and design at the January 2003 Task Force meeting. The project work plan for the engineering and design phase was submitted for program review in May 2003. Engineering data collection, including site surveys and a geotechnical boring, is ongoing.

This project is on Priority Project List 12.

For more project information, please contact:
	Federal Sponsor: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New Orleans, LA (504) 862-1597
	Local Sponsor: Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration Baton Rouge, LA (225) 342-7308

www.LaCoast.gov