Building a Coastal Maritime Ridge and Marshlands in Louisiana 

NRCS Earth Team volunteers help reestablish a maritime-forest ridge and marshland that protect the coast and provide habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife in southeast Louisiana

The NRCS Golden Meadow Plant Materials Center (PMC) is working with the Barataria-Terrebourn National Estuary Program and the Greater Lafourche Port Commission to help reestablish a maritime-forest ridge and marshland that protect the southeast Louisiana coast and provide habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife . “This will be one of the first created or restored ridge and maritime-forest initiatives in Louisiana,” said Gary Fine, NRCS Golden Meadow PMC manager.

To help partners reach their goals, the Golden Meadow PMC insures that the appropriate herbaceous-woody plants that once existed on the site are use to restore habitat on the 120-plus acre project. Additionally, the project will help restore local fisheries by adding productive marshland edges that will also help to protect the local area’s coastal defenses from severe storms.

Heavy machinery shaped the forest ridge along a 2,000 to 6,000-foot area establishing upland and marshland areas that will be planted with woody species. Tidal channels were then built every 1,000 feet along the length of the marsh to provide access for maritime wildlife from the open water to the north and south of the constructed marshlands. The final phases of the project will include marshland approximately 100-feet wide on both edges and will have an estimated elevation of over one and half feet. The ridge itself will be approximately eight feet in height.  Upon completion, a nature/interpretive center, foot paths, boardwalks, observation platforms, and bridges along the ridge that extend onto the marsh are planned along with kiosks and interpretive signage. The Greater Lafourche Port Commission is slated to manage and maintain the site.

Learn more about  NRCS in Louisiana.

"We feel it’s important to point out that this restoration effort is not being developed as part of existing mitigation policies imposed by any governmental agency,” said Fine. “This project is an example of how coastal restoration can work with multiple partners and provide multiple benefits while creating an appreciation of these habitats and wildlife for all to see.”
Your contact is Gary Fine, NRCS Golden Meadow PMC manager, at 985-475-5280