Five Coastal Restoration Projects Dedicated
Five coastal restoration projects that will restore or protect almost 10,000 acres of wetlands in Cameron and Calcasieu parishes were dedicated August 12 at Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge. U.S. Senator John Breaux and members of the Louisiana Coastal Wetlands Conservation and Restoration Task Force took part in the ceremonies.
The five Breaux Act-funded projects are:
- Cameron-Creole Watershed Hydrologic Restoration
- Cameron-Creole Maintenance
- Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge Shoreline Protection
- Clear Marais Bank Protection
- Sabine National Wildlife Refuge Shoreline Protection
The federal agencies, working with the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, which built the projects were the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Natural Resources Conservation Service.
This instrument house in Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge contains equipment for monitoring the effects of the Cameron-Creole Watershed Hydrologic Restoration Project.
(NRCS photo)
The Acres Keep Climbing
At the core of the Breaux Act's efforts are 78 projects spread throughout the coastal area. To date, 17 projects have been completed and another six are currently under construction. More than 13,300 acres will be either restored or protected by the completed projects alone. Completion of the "under construction" projects will raise this number to nearly 17,000. In total, the 78 projects will result in more than 67,000 acres of protected and restored wetlands.