Coastal Restoration Projects

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 established the Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) which authorizes funds to be distributed to Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas producing States for one or more of the following purposes:

• projects and activities for the conservation, protection, or restoration of coastal areas
• mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, or natural resources
• planning assistance and administrative costs
• implementation of a federally-approved marine, coastal, or comprehensive management plan
• mitigation of the impact of OCS activities through funding of onshore infrastructure projects in addition to public service needs

Each eligible state was allocated its share based on the State's Qualified Outer Continental Shelf Revenue (QOCSR) generated off of its coast in proportion to the total QOCSR generated off the coasts of all eligible states.

State plans were developed in consultation with eligible Parishes, who provided to each state its local needs and proposals for projects. The projects were approved by the Minerals Management Service (now Bureau of Energy Management, Regulation & Enforcement), and grant structures were set in place to dispense funding.

Terrebonne was directly awarded approximately $13 million, dedicating $6 million to the Falgout Canal Freshwater Enhancementproject, and the remaining $7 million to supplement the State's $33 million for the West Caminada Headland Beach/Dune Restoration.

CIAP Funded Projects

The Louisiana coastal plain remains the largest expanse of coastal wetlands in the contiguous United States. The coastal wetlands, built by the land building or "deltaic" processes of the Mississippi River, contain an extraordinary diversity of estuarine habitats that range from narrow natural levee and beach ridges to expanses of forested swamps and fresh, brackish, and saline marshes. Taken as a whole, the unique interplay of habitats - with their hydrological connections to each other, upland areas, the Gulf of Mexico, and migratory routes of birds, fish, and other species - combines to place the coastal wetlands of Louisiana among the Nation's most productive and important natural assets.

The Louisiana Coastal Area Study (LCA) was created in 2002 to respond to the need for in-depth study that was not provided by the Coast 2050 Restoration Plan of 2000. Subsequent to authorization, detailed studies are completed on features of the Comprehensive Plan. As envisioned, these feature studies result in project implementation reports (PIRs), which are in detail sufficient for preparing plans and specifications to implement the proposed projects.

LCA Projects in Terrebonne Parish

Terrebonne Basin Barrier Shoreline Restoration

The Terrebonne Basin Barrier Shoreline Restoration Project is an ecosystem restoration effort to reconstruct coastal landforms of the barrier shoreline to maintain the integrity of the Terrebonne Basin barrier shoreline system and increase habitat availability for migratory birds, wildlife, and aquatic organisms.

Landbridge between Caillou Lake and the Gulf of Mexico

The shoreline in the Caillou Lake Land Bridge project area is eroding as much as 18 feet per year at the marsh edge along the Gulf of Mexico.

Gulf Shoreline at Point au Fer Island

The Point Au Fer Island project is located in Subprovince 3 of the Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA), south and slightly east of the mouth of the Atchafalaya River, and approximately 30 miles south of Morgan City, LA, in Terrebonne Parish.

Convey Atchafalaya River Water to Northern Terrebonne Marshes/Multipurpose Operation of the Houma Navigation Canal Lock

This restoration project will increase existing Atchafalaya River influence to central (Lake Boudreaux) and eastern (Grand Bayou) Terrebonne marshes via the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.

Regional Projects

Beneficial Use of Dredged Material (BUDMAT)

Louisiana is losing coastal wetlands at an alarming rate. Restoring these wetlands is imperative to protecting the state's abundant resources from devastating storms and hurricanes. A very promising option for restoring coastal wetlands and reducing land loss is the beneficial use of dredged material.

Small Bayou Lafourche Reintroduction

The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency provides grants to States and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures after a major disaster declaration.