(by Jacob Mathews/The Center Square) – The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority in Louisiana urged the authorization of a restoration project on the Chandeleur Islands.

The authority presented their project to a committee in the House of Representatives on Wednesday. The presentation covered the second phase of their work, which involves finalizing the preparation and planning on the design. The hope is to start construction late 2025.

The Restoration Authority introduced different development and design alternatives to the committee, all of which cost a little under $300 million. The most likely alternative would build sand reservoirs on the island by filling in dunes, marshes and shorelines with sand.

The purpose of the project is to restore bird nesting habitats, rehabilitate submerged aquatic vegetation, and enhance sea turtle hatchling productivity. The plan also creates and enhances the barrier of the coastal islands.

The Chandeleur Islands, battered by recent hurricanes, are Louisiana’s largest barrier islands. It’s the first and largest line of defense from the Gulf, with the project covering over 13 miles of the Chandeleur.

It is also the second oldest national wildlife refuge in the country and home to 79 “species of greatest conservation needs” including seven “species of global importance.”

The authority also reported the first construction contract on the River Reintroduction into Maurepas Swamp plan.

This $8 million project will have gates placed in the river levees on Hope Canal that will open throughout the year to allow fresh, oxygenated water and fine-grain sediment from the Mississippi River.

“It’s really a precedent-setting project,” Executive Director Glenn Ledet Jr. of the Restoration Authority said.

The Bird’s foot delta hydrologic restoration is another project designed to increase river flow and use dredge material to build marsh. Ledet said the design is undergoing alternative analysis in order to properly complete the restoration.

The Mississippi River Reintroduction into Bayou Lafourche project is building a new pump station to fight salinity intrusion and wetland loss. It’s a $99 million effort that Ledet says creates 216 nongovernmental jobs.

Ludevine is also receiving a pump station, which is now in construction for $7.9 million.

CPRA updated the House committee on the Lake Borgne Marsh creation project in St. Bernard. It is now 65% complete. It’s one of the largest marsh creation projects in the nation with just over 3,100 acres and a cost of $114 million.

The project is building containment dikes and filling the cells with sediment to create new marsh platforms.

Grand Isle dune and beach construction is also making good progress, the panel was told. It’s a roughly $50 million project that Ledet says is extremely necessary following the hurricane damage the area took in recent years.

The no name bayou marsh creation proposal was just awarded to Mike Hooks Construction Company and will build over 430 acres of marsh in southwestern Louisiana. It has an estimated cost of $14.7 million.

The Cameron gulf shoreline protection project is expected to be in bid in the next six months. A Bayou Pigeon boat launch is also anticipated to be bid on soon. The bid is for improving the shoreline as well as parking.

The grand segmented breakwaters project is almost finished but needs some more federal funds to complete.