Two major Louisiana coastal restoration projects have received final approval to begin construction, with a combined cost of $265.3 million and the potential to restore up to 1,730 acres of wetlands, shoreline and barrier island habitat, Louisiana Illuminator reports.
Funded through the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill settlement, the East Orleans Landbridge project will use 5 million cubic yards of dredged sediment to restore up to 1,320 acres of wetlands and provide nearly 3 miles of shoreline protection for $109 million.
The land bridge separates Lake Pontchartrain from Lake Borgne and the Gulf of Mexico, serving as a natural buffer that supports fish, birds and other wildlife while reducing waves and storm surge that threaten nearby communities.
Amanda Moore, senior director of the National Wildlife Federation’s Gulf program, says the restoration is important for protecting more than 1 million people living around the lake. The second project will restore up to 410 acres of Raccoon Island, a barrier island off Terrebonne Parish, using 2.9 million cubic yards of offshore sand.
The $156.3 million plan also includes nine living shoreline structures, four new bayside breakwaters and maintenance of existing breakwaters. Both projects are part of Louisiana’s broader coastal restoration efforts, and the state’s 2027 annual plan anticipates construction beginning toward the end of 2027.
