| Lafourche Parish Wisner Marsh Creation Project |
In May of 2003 the Coalition worked with a number of partners on the Lafourche Parish Wisner Restoration Project. The project was an approximately 2,000 acre restoration project in Fourchon, Louisiana located within the Edward Wisner Donation (EWD) properties, which represent 35,000 acres of wetland throughout southern Louisiana. The EWD properties include the 15,000 acre Wisner Wildlife Management Area, the LUMCON research facility at Fourchon, leased camp sites, trapping leases, Port Fourchon and various petrochemical interests.
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| Wisner Project Area Before |
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| Wisner Project Area After |
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Increasing land loss threatens the fragile marshes within and adjacent to the EWD, which have a direct affect on coastal resources and infrastructure in Fourchon. Land loss has drastically increased in this area as a result of wave erosion, storm events, impoundment, and subsidence. Over the last fifty years, approximately 23% of this area has converted from land to open water, representing a significant loss of habitat to marine organisms. |
The intent of this project was to instill stewardship and leverage local community resources towards the reestablishment of lost habitat through marsh creation, shoreline protection, and hydrologic restoration. |
Specific project components included:
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Creation of approximately 45 acres of brackish marsh.
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Shoreline protection of an eroding canal.
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Beach protection via sand fencing and mangrove plantings.
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Degradation of an artificial levee that is currently impounding over 1,850 acres of essential fish habitat.
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Collectively, this project is anticipated to benefit nearly 2,000 acres of marine resource habitat.
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| Shoreline Protection |
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Several partners have pledged their support to the successful completion and community outreach of this project. Partners included: |
- Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana
- Restore America’s Estuaries
- Greater Lafourche Port Commission
- Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program
- Natural Resource Conservation Service
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