Bayou Decade Ridge and Marsh Creation work wraps up

The Louisiana Coastal Restoration and Protection Authority (CPRA) yesterday announced the completion of the Bayou Decade Ridge and Marsh Creation Project in Terrebonne Parish.

The project created and nourished over 473 acres of marsh near Lake Decade and restored over 11,000 feet of ridge habitat along the northern bank of the Bayou.

“Louisiana’s marshes are a major part of our natural defense against storms, which underscores the importance of projects like the one in Bayou Decade,” said CPRA Chairman Chip Kline.

“We’re making progress across the state on projects that will shield our communities from the impacts of a changing climate.”

The Terrebonne Basin has lost close to 20% of its wetlands since 1932 as a result of subsidence exaggerated by oil and gas canals and pipelines in the area. Without intervention, a third of the basin’s remaining wetlands would have been lost to open water by 2020.

“Every acre of marsh we are able to restore means better protection across the state,” said CPRA Executive Director Bren Haase.

“It’s critical for us to take on projects like this to not just restore what we’ve lost, but restore wetlands in ways that strengthen them and prevent future deterioration.”

CPRA partnered with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on the $14 million project using funds from the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act (CWPPRA).