Raccoon Island Shoreline Protection/Marsh Creation

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Project Location

The project is located in the Terrebonne Basin on the western-most island of the Isles Dernieres barrier island chain in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana.

Project Description

The purpose of the project was to protect the existing southern shoreline of the Raccoon Island in Terrebonne Parish by constructing eight new rock breakwater and the creation of 60 acres of marsh on the land side of the island using 735,000 cubic yards of sediment dredged from the Gulf of Mexico.

Issue Addressed

Louisiana barrier islands have been experiencing some of the most extreme erosion rates of any coastal region worldwide. Raccoon Island is experiencing shoreline retreat both gulfward and bayward, threatening one of the most productive wading bird nesting areas and shorebird habitats along the gulf coast.

Project Goals

The primary goal of this project is to protect the Raccoon Island rookery and seabird colonies from the encroaching shoreline by reducing the rate of shoreline erosion along the western, gulfward side by extending the longevity of northern backbay areas by creating 16 acres of intertidal wetlands that will serve as bird habitat

Verify Date

1/15/2020
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Project Information

Project Type(s):

Marsh Creation; Shoreline Protection

Project ID:

TE-0048

Basin(s):

Terrebonne

CPRA Program:

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

Federal Sponsor:

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

CPRA Project Phase:

Completed

Parish(es):

Terrebonne

Estimated Cost:

$ 21.4 million

Project Benefits

Restoration Icon
Acres Benefit:
  • 16 acres benefited