Species Benefiting From Restoration:
   • Smooth Cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora)
   • Other species as applicable

Acres of Habitat To be Restored:
10 acres

Project Summary:
This project is part of a larger on-the-ground effort. Several state and federal agencies, along with St. Tammany Parish, are currently in the process of restoring vital marshland to the coastline in the Big Branch National Wildlife Refuge in Lacombe. The $21 million project will pump dredged sediments from Lake Pontchartrain into interior ponds behind the shoreline of Big Branch Marsh. The newly created marsh will prevent the formation of breaches into the interior marsh, and maintain the lake-rim function along the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. A 10 acre parcel located on the northeast corner of Big Branch has recently received dredged sediments to create a new mudflat. St. Tammany Parish will plant this site with Smooth cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora. Smooth cordgrass is an effective soil stabilizer commonly used on interior mudflats and dredge-fill sites associated with marsh restoration projects. Trade gallons and bare root plugs will be planted in conjunction on 5 foot centers throughout the 10 acre site. Planting methods will follow the recommendations from the USDA/NRCS Plant Guide for interior plantings.

Community Involvement:
The community will be invited to participate in the marsh grass plantings. Invitations will be extended through public announcements in the local newspaper. The local news source will also be utilized to educate the general public about the restoration project and the importance of wetland restoration. This project will provide volunteers with hands on experience in wetland restoration.