Louisiana Draft Plan to Restore Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitats Open for Public Comment

Posted on March 17, 2022 | Louisiana Restoration Area
Aerial image of construction equipment moving dirt into a ridge surrounded by marsh and water.
The proposed projects in Louisiana's Draft Restoration Plan #8 would create and restore marsh and other coastal habitats. Credit: Louisiana CPRA

The Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group is proposing several restoration projects to restore wetlands, coastal, and nearshore habitats to address injuries caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Those projects are included in a draft restoration plan now open for public comment for 30 days through April 18, 2022. The trustees will hold a public webinar on the plan on April 5 at 12:00 p.m. CT.

The plan, “Draft Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment #8: Restoration of Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitats” (PDF, 507 pages), evaluates six projects. Four of those projects are preferred with an estimated total cost of almost $75 million:

  • Two proposed projects are for engineering and design: 
    • New Orleans East Landbridge Restoration Project: Engineering and design for a project that (if constructed in the future) would create and restore marsh habitat that separates Lake Pontchartrain from Lake Borgne and the Gulf of Mexico. Approximate cost: $4 million. 
    • Raccoon Island Barrier Island Restoration Project: Engineering and design that (if constructed in the future) would create and enhance beach, dune, and tidal habitats through sand fill placement and shoreline protection. Approximate cost: $8.2 million. 
  • Two proposed projects are for construction: 
    • Bayou Dularge Ridge and Marsh Creation: Create and nourish marsh on the south side of Bayou Dularge and restore the ridge along the southern bank of Bayou Dularge. Approximate cost: $41.4 million. 
    • Bayou La Loutre Ridge Restoration and Marsh Creation: Create and nourish marsh along Lena Lagoon, and restore the ridge along the southern bank of Bayou La Loutre. Approximate cost: $21.2 million. 

Public Comment and Webinar

The public is encouraged to review and comment on the draft plan through April 18 by submitting comments online, by mail, or during the public webinar.

We will hold a public webinar on April 5, 2022 at 12:00 PM CT. We will present the draft plan and take written comments submitted through the webinar.

Draft Plan and Fact Sheets