Acres of Habitat To be Restored:
The project will create 3 acres of brackish marsh habitat.

Project Summary:
Significant erosion along the banks of the Barataria Bay Waterway has deteriorated and exposed the adjacent marsh to increased water exchange, tidal energy and salt water intrusion, thus resulting in many acres of marsh loss. To begin re-establishing marsh that had converted to open water, 29,000 linear feet of earthen terraces were constructed. However, the crowns of the terraces and some shoreline edge remain non-vegetated and exposed to wind. This project will restore approximately 3 acres of brackish marsh habitat through the use of volunteer labor to plant a minimum of 6,000 salt tolerant plants on the crown of existing terraces located in a highly eroded marsh area adjacent to the Barataria Bay Waterway in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana.

Project Objectives:
The goal of this project will be to re-establish brackish marsh vegetation to counteract high rates of subsidence, shoreline erosion and marsh loss, and to create 3 acres of brackish marsh habitat while encouraging submerged aquatic vegetation for migratory birds, shellfish, local fish species and other wildlife. Establishing vegetation on the crowns of the earthen terraces will act as a buffer against wind to reduce wave energy and allow aquatic vegetation to grow around and between the terraces. The aquatic vegetation will provide fish and shellfish nursery grounds while providing food for waterfowl. Volunteers will plant a minimum of 6,000 salt tolerant plants, which may include Spartina Patens and Brazoria Seashore Paspalum to reinforce portions of 29,000 linear feet of pre-constructed 15-foot wide by 1,000-foot long segmented earthen terraces.

Community Involvement:
The planting events will include community involvement through the use of volunteers to help with the planting on the terraces and will also have an educational component by providing educational materials at the planting events.