Atchafalaya Bay’s Navigational Channel Dredged Material Used to Create Marsh Islands

Published Aug. 5, 2009

NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, will start construction this week for maintenance dredging of the Atchafalaya Bay navigational channel. The district awarded a $10 million dredging contract to Weeks Marine (Weeks) of Covington, La., to clear sediment within the channel for vessels requiring a draft of up to 20 feet. In coordination with the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources and Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, the district plans to beneficially use dredged material to create marsh islands in the adjacent bay.

“The Corps has the opportunity to help rebuild the coast and since this opportunity is here, we will take advantage of it and exercise the use of the dredged material constructively”, said Michael Lowe, operations manager for the Atchafalaya River project.

Weeks is currently installing up to 35,000 feet of discharge pipe to position the dredged material in the Mistrot and T-Pat Island areas. The approximately 1.25 million cubic yards of dredged material will build the islands up to an elevation conducive to marsh development while providing nesting habitat for waterfowl and seabirds.

To date, the Corps has built approximately 5,000 acres of land in the adjacent bay with the use of dredged material. This project will create roughly 50 acres of new coastal land.

Dredged material usage assists in coastal restoration, the welfare of wildlife and fisheries, and the local economy affected by the maintenance and development of marsh islands.


Release no. 09-074