CWPPRA Quick News
First Construction Phase Complete on Gulf Intracoastal Waterway to Clovelly Project
The first construction phase of the Gulf Intra-coastal Waterway (GIWW) to Clovelly Hydrologic Restoration Project is complete. Three rock weirs, one channel plug with culvert, one channel plug and one rock channel lining have now been installed.
These components are the first phase in a Breaux Act project designed to return the flow of fresh water (from rainfall and an existing drainage pump) to natural watercourses, reducing the current rapid exit of water through man-made canals. The project will not only conserve fresh water, the lifeblood of marsh areas, but also reduce salinity spikes (areas of high salt concentrations from salt water). The project, located in Lafourche Parish, is jointly sponsored by the Natural Resources Conservation Services; Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, Office of Coastal Restoration and Management; and Lafourche Parish.
A recently completed rock plug, installed as part of the GIWW to Clovelly Hydrologic Restoration Project, will protect fragile interior marshes from saltwater intrusion and rapid tidal exchange from exterior sources.
(NRCS photo)
(L-R) Congressional, state and federal officials Jack Caldwell, Katherine Vaughan, Martin Cancienne, Don Gohmert and Mike Jefferson stand at the site of a rock weir constructed as part of the GIWW to Clovelly Hydrologic Restoration Project.
(NRCS photo)
Raccoon Island Breakwaters Complete
Raccoon Island now has more protection from storms and hurricanes thanks to eight 300-foot offshore segmented breakwaters installed near the shore of the island. The large limestone rock structures will protect the newly rebuilt beaches and wetlands of this westernmost island of the Isles Dernieres chain, a location of prime importance to the Brown Pelican.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, Office of Coastal Restoration and Management, jointly sponsored the project.
An adult Brown Pelican tends to its chick. The birds are among those who will benefit from the new breakwaters at Raccoon Island.
Like Louisiana's other barrier islands, Raccoon Island is a remnant of early- period deltaic formation by the Mississippi River. These barrier islands play an important role in protecting the Terrebonne, Barataria and St. Bernard estuaries and their surrounding wetlands from the destructive forces of high wave energy and storm surges.
In addition, the habitats provided by barrier islands are extremely valuable as migratory songbird resting and staging sites, waterfowl feeding and resting areas, and as protected shorebird feeding and nesting sites for gulls, terns and herons.
Land Donation Moves Project Forward
The Natural Resources committees of the Louisiana House and Senate have approved the Louisiana Land and Exploration (LL&E) Company's agreement to donate land to the state for a number of planned restoration projects. This approval is the first step in a $5.5 million Breaux Act project, the West Belle Pass Headland Restoration Project, which will benefit 2,500 acres of marsh.
Designed to halt the continuing encroachment of Timbalier Bay into the marshes of Belle Pass, the project will entail building over 180 acres of land. Plans for the project include the use of dredged material from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' maintenance dredging of Belle Pass and Bayou Lafourche, the filling of canals and small waterbodies, as well as construction of dams and controls. Construction was set to begin in early November.