Contact:  Gordon Helm             FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
                                  5/1/98

Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere Terry Garcia is presenting $8.7 million in habitat restoration funds to the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources for three new wetlands restoration projects, and additional funds for a barrier island restoration project, the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced today.

"In this Year of the Ocean, it is important to continue our support of crucial wetlands restoration efforts in Louisiana," said Garcia. "Our projects, which are funded and managed through the Breaux Act Task Force and the state of Louisiana, are designed to restore and protect wetlands that are an essential part of marine habitat."

Louisiana is experiencing the greatest wetlands loss in the lower 48 states, as much as 35 square miles a year. A task force of federal agencies, including NOAA, along with the state, make up the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act Task Force, commonly called the Breaux Act Task Force. The task force provides guidance for wetlands restoration projects in Louisiana.

The three new wetlands restoration projects supported by NOAA were approved by the Breaux Act Task Force in 1997, and include:

$4.13 million for Black Bayou Hydrologic Restoration Project, Cameron Parish Located in the extreme northwest corner of Cameron Parish, the area has suffered wetland loss because of hydrologic changes, including reduced fresh water flow, increased tidal fluctuations, increased salinity, high water levels, and excessive water exchange. The project will divert fresh water from the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and create a hydrologic head that maximizes fresh water retention time, reduces salt-water intrusion, and enhances marine fish habitat. Some 20,000 feet of shoreline will be restored along the Gulf Intracoastal Water Way. In addition, 133,000 linear feet of shore will receive vegetative plantings to facilitate sediment retention. Construction is expected to begin in early 1999.

$2.51 million for Sediment Trapping at the Jaws, St. Mary Parish Located in the northeast portion of West Cote Blanche Bay, this area is losing shoreline because of erosion by wind and wave energy. The project calls for dredging a distributary channel system to facilitate the natural spreading of sediment over a wide area to reduce wave and current energy and allow sediment to accumulate. Dredged material will be used to create 145 low elevation terraces that will retrap sediment and foster marsh expansion. Bullwhip and giant cutgrass will also be planted to stabilize the terraces and the existing shoreline. Construction is expected to begin in early 1999.

$535,000 for Delta-Wide Crevasses Project, Plaquemines Parish - Located in the Pass-A-Loutre Wildlife Management Area and the Delta National Wildlife Refuge, the objective of this project is to promote the formation of emergent freshwater marshes. The project will create as well as maintain man-made crevasses from the main river channels into the marsh areas. This method mimics the natural process of crevasse formation that was responsible for building much of the Mississippi River delta. Construction is expected to begin late this year.

In addition, $1.35 million in federal funds is being forwarded to the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources to complete the funding for construction of phases 1 and 2 of the East Timbalier Island Restoration Project. This barrier island project will create approximately 30 0 acres of new marshes and dunes on the island to help protect the state's coastal wetlands. Construction on both phases begins this summer.

The $8.7 million in funds is the federal portion of the five NOAA supported restoration projects. The State of Louisiana will contribute some $1.14 million in state funds as part of its cost-sharing match.