Freshwater Bayou Marsh Creation

projectMap





Project Location

The project features are located in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana in an area west of Freshwater Bayou and north of the Freshwater Bayou Locks.

Project Description

The project involves the creation/nourishment of approximately 401 acres of marsh west of Freshwater Bayou in Vermilion Parish via dedicated dredging from the Gulf of Mexico or beneficial use of maintenance dredging from the Freshwater Bayou canal to restore a wetland buffer between large open water areas in the Mermentau Basin and Freshwater Bayou.

Issue Addressed

This area was damaged by Hurricanes Rita, Gustav, and Ike. Currently, Freshwater Bayou threatens to breach into the large interior open water and establish a hydrologic connection that previously did not exist. This would exacerbate the environmental problems affecting marshes in this area. Additionally, interior marsh loss has increased and organic soils are being exported into Freshwater Bayou. Interior marsh loss will increase without construction of the proposed project.

Project Goals

The project goals include creating/nourishing marsh and associated edge habitat for aquatic species through pipeline sediment delivery via dedicated dredging from the Gulf of Mexico or beneficial use of maintenance dredging from the Freshwater Bayou Canal - Restoring a wetland buffer between the large open water areas in the Mermentau Basin and Freshwater Bayou. Project features include creating and/or nourishing approximately 401 acres of marsh using dredge material.

Verify Date

1/15/2020
Search for More Documents
  • No documents to display
  • No documents to display
  • No documents to display
  • No documents to display
  • No documents to display
  • No documents to display
  • No documents to display
  • No documents to display

Project Information

Project Type(s):

Marsh Creation

Project ID:

ME-0031

Basin(s):

Mermentau

CPRA Program:

Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act (CWPPRA)

Federal Sponsor:

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

CPRA Project Phase:

Engineering & Design

Parish(es):

Vermilion

Estimated Cost:

$ 26.8 million

Project Benefits

Restoration Icon
Acres Benefit:
  • 279 acres benefited