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GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY ON APRIL 13 FOR PROJECTS TO RESTORE ISLES DERNIERES BARRIER ISLANDS

Release Date: 4/13/1998
Contact Information: For more information contact the Office of External Affairs at (214) 665-2200.

A groundbreaking ceremony for three projects to restore the Isles Dernieres barrier islands was held today in Houma, Louisiana, to celebrate this major milestone in the process to restore Louisiana's barrier islands. Jerry Clifford, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Acting Regional Administrator, and Jack Caldwell, Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) participated along with officials representing the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act (CWPPRA) Task Force, the local parishes, other involved stakeholders, and well-wishers. "Hunt" Downer, Jr., Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives, was Master of Ceremonies. Following the formal groundbreaking and lunch provided by Burlington Resources, Inc., participants and guests were transported to the islands by helicopter to view the work in progress.

"Barrier island restoration is a major component of our coastal wetlands protection and restoration efforts, and I believe these projects are crucial to the conservation of Louisiana's coastal resources. The State of Louisiana, the CWPPRA Task Force, and all involved stakeholders deserve great credit for making these projects a reality," said Mr. Clifford.

"Isles Dernieres restoration is a pioneering venture in public-private cooperation aimed at blunting the storm assault on our fragile coastal marshes. This investment of scarce wetland funds, largest to date, should nevertheless reap environmental and economic rewards several times over," said Mr. Caldwell.

EPA and DNR are jointly implementing the three projects which will restore more than 10 miles of barrier shoreline to the East, Trinity, and Whiskey Islands at a total cost of around $28.7 million. More than 11 million cubic yards of sand will be pumped from the bay to widen and strengthen the islands, construct dunes, close breaches, and enhance back bay marshes. The work will be completed late this year or early in 1999.

The Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act, authorized in 1990, directed a Task Force of five Federal agencies and the state to develop an integrated approach to restore and prevent the loss of coastal wetlands in Louisiana. Restoring Louisiana's coastal barriers is essential to these efforts. Barrier islands support unique and sensitive coastal habitats, and they reduce coastal wetlands losses by buffering the mainland from normal wave action and the force of hurricanes. Human activity and natural forces have made the Isles Dernieres barrier system one of the most rapidly deteriorating barrier shorelines in the United States.