NEW ORLEANS, LA – The draft construction report and draft environmental impact statement, “Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA) Barataria Basin Barrier Shoreline Restoration,” outlining the proposed restoration of the Barataria Basin barrier islands is now available for a 45-day public review period. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, in partnership with the Louisiana Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration, have identified a proposed plan for the restoration of the barrier island system in Jefferson, Plaquemines and Lafourche parishes and will be accepting public comments on the proposed plan through Aug. 8, 2011.
“The Barataria Basin Barrier Shoreline restoration project is an important piece in the ongoing effort to protect coastal Louisiana from further land loss. Barrier islands play an important role as buffers against direct influences from the Gulf of Mexico on interior water bodies, such as Barataria Bay,” said Col. Fleming, New Orleans District Commander. “We look forward to continuing to partner with OCPR on the further development of this project.”
"Restoration of our Barrier Island system is a critical component of our overall coastal protection and restoration program," says OCPR Executive Director Steve Mathies. "Given the land loss crisis plaguing our state, we fully support efforts to accelerate key projects that directly protect our coastal landscape and the many people and economic activities that depend on it."
The proposed “LCA Barataria Basin Barrier Shoreline Restoration” project is comprised of the restoration of the shorelines, dunes, and coastal marshes of Caminada Headland and Shell Island, which are critical features for the longterm sustainability of the structure and function of the Barataria Basin ecosystem. Copies of the draft construction report and draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) are available online at http://lca.gov/Projects/4/Default.aspx.
The LCA Program, and the recommended projects contained within it, are the culmination of the Louisiana Coastal Area Ecosystem Study, which was initiated in 2001 and is jointly managed by the Corps and the State of Louisiana to help address the state's severe coastal land-loss problems.
Questions or comments concerning the LCA “Barataria Basin Barrier Shoreline Restoration” project should be addressed
to:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
c/o Public Affairs
PO Box 60267
New Orleans, LA 70160-0267
Phone: 504-862-2201
Fax: 504-862-1724
E-mail: AskTheCorps@usace.army.mil
Release no. 11-043