Project name: |
|
North vermillion Bay Terracing/Sediment Trapping Project |
|
Project
number: |
|
6002 |
|
Project
status: |
|
Complete |
|
Grant
Administrator: |
|
Gulf of Mexico Foundation (for NOAA) |
|
Grantee: |
|
McIlhenny Company |
|
Project
location: |
|
Weeks Island, Iberia Parish, Louisiana |
|
Grant
period: |
|
Jan 1 - Dec 31, 2020 |
|
Grant
amount: |
|
$70,000 |
|
Land
Ownership: |
|
Public |
|
Lat/Long: |
|
Weeks Island: 29°48'00" N,
91°47'30" W |
|
Types of
Habitat: |
|
Open bay, intertidal marsh,
submerged aquatics |
|
Project
leader: |
|
Harold Osborn
Manager
McIlhenny Resources
Highway 329
Avery Island, LA 70513
(337) 373-6163 |
|
Species Benefiting From
Restoration:
Brown Shrimp (Penaeus aztecus)
White Shrimp (Penaeus vannamei)
Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus)
Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus)
Speckled Trout (Cynoscion nubulosis)
Smooth Cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora)
Wiregrass (Spartina patens)
Acres of Habitat To be Restored:
Approximately 15 acres of marsh habitat
Project Summary:
Terraces will be constructed along the northern shoreline of
Vermilion Bay using a combination of dredged in situ
materials and HESCO baskets. The HESCO baskets are intended
to provide a stronger frame for the terraces that could
reduce wave driven erosion and loss of sediment. The terraces
will conceptually be constructed with a 25-foot width;
whereas, the length will be determined given the level of
funding received. The terraces will likely flank the
shoreline in an angled pattern in order to trap as much
sediment entering the bay as possible. The landowner intends
to add to the terraces over time as additional funding
becomes available. Once the sediments are consolidated, they
will be vegetated with Spartina sp. during a series of
volunteer planting events. Post construction, the landowner
will conduct monitoring to potentially include planting
survival, reduction in adjacent shoreline erosion, and
sediment trapping capacity of the terraces.
Project Objectives:
The objective of this project is to increase sediment
deposition, reduce the rate of shoreline erosion, reestablish
emergent marsh and protect existing emergent marsh located
along the northern shore of Vermilion Bay, Louisiana.
Louisiana loses an estimated 25-35 square miles of wetland
habitat every year. With the passing of last years
hurricanes, over 100 square miles of wetland were lost within
a three week period. This project will restore approximately
10 acres of intertidal marsh which will serve as both restored
habitat for marine fisheries as well as help protect adjacent
shorelines from erosion.
Community Involvement:
The terraces will be planted by local volunteers in the
community, including: McIlhenny Corporation, LSU Ag Extension
Service, Boy Scouts, and middle school students in the
Parish. McIlhenny Corporation is the producer of Tabasco and
is the landowner of Avery Island, a large tourist attraction
in south Louisiana. Their visitor center is visited year
round and will contain posters and information about the
project and Community-based Program.