Tag: Benny Cenac Coastal Resiliency

Louisiana’s Largest Coastal Restoration Project

According to an article written by mississippiriverdelta.org, the Caillou Lake Headlands Restoration Project is currently Louisiana’s largest complemented coastal restoration project. At a cost of approximately $118 million, funded through the Deepwater Horizon oil spill settlement, contractors pumped about 11.8 million cubic yards of sediment (enough sand to fill the Superdome three times) from Ship Shoal, a remnant barrier island on the floor of the Gulf of Mexico, onto Caillou Lake Headlands to create 1,000 acres. This project now stands as the largest restoration project ever completed in Louisiana, surpassing the Caminada Headland project completed in 2017. This restoration project builds upon a string of barrier island projects in the region, protecting vast coastal wetlands in the Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes.

For more information on the Cailou Lake Headlands Restoration Project and why nearby communities need this project, click here.

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Mississippi River Stopping Louisiana From Coastal Restore

The Mississippi River isn’t nearly as muddy as it used to be, and that could be bad for Louisiana coastal restoration. According to a recent article written by nola.com, “A new study indicates the concentrations of sediment in the lower Mississippi River have decreased by more than half in recent decades. That’s not good for Louisiana, which depends on a constant supply of river silt, sand and mud to rebuild land on its ever-eroding, ever-sinking coast.”

Although this is devastating news for coastal restoration warriors around Louisiana, there are many who are prepared for what this new study shows. The article written by nola.com also reveals, “The Mid-Barataria and Mid-Breton diversions the state Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) plans to build in Plaquemines Parish would channel sediment-rich water from the Mississippi into estuaries and bays that have been starved of sediment by the river’s levee system. The two diversions, which would cost a combined $2 billion, are expected to restore marshes lost to erosion, subsidence and sea level rise.”

For more information on the coastal restoration future for Louisiana, click here.

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Grants Available for Coastal Resiliency Projects

Coastal Resiliency Grants

In an article recently released on govtech.com, it is stated that the federal government is providing $30 million in grants for coastal resiliency projects which could benefit south Louisiana. The articles states, “Areas eligible for matching grants include much of the coastal U.S., including the entire southern coast of Louisiana.”

Land Lost in Louisiana

“In less than a century, Louisiana lost nearly 1 million football fields of land,” said Sen. John Kennedy, R-La. “Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike exacerbated our land loss. We’re in a David versus Goliath battle to save our coast. This partnership will help us strengthen our coastal communities and protect the habitats that are so unique to Louisiana.”

What the money will be used for

The article discussed possibilities of what the money would be used for stating the following, “the money will be aimed at helping restore, increase and strengthen natural features that protect coastal communities. That includes features such as marshes, beaches, coral reefs, mangroves, forests and barrier islands that help minimize the impact of storms. The restoration projects will focus on threats such as increasing water levels, river flooding and coastal erosion. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the program will benefit local economies while sustaining habitats and wildlife.”

For more information on the federal grants and coastal resiliency projects, click here.

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