Louisiana

This project supported restoration planning for the Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group (LA TIG) to carry out the restoration goals identified in the Final Programmatic Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan and Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PDARP/PEIS), and specifically, for the LA TIG to conduct restoration planning to evaluate projects that would restore for injury to marine mammals and oysters caused by the the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) implemented a suite of avian monitoring protocols to: (1) establish the current population of avian species as a means to document inherent avian benefits generated by Deepwater Horizon (DWH) restoration projects; and (2) evaluate project performance criteria and implement adaptive management measures, as needed. Information generated from these monitoring efforts will be critical in documenting resource uplift (e.g., number of nesting pairs) from DWH bird restoration projects.

The Louisiana Coastwide Fish and Shellfish Monitoring Program includes two types of monitoring activities: (1) monitoring which is a portion of the coastwide fisheries-independent monitoring program (FIMP) conducted by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF); and (2) monitoring which includes several pilot projects that will collect data for better quantification of fish and shellfish relative abundances and densities, species composition and community/food web interactions, and habitat use within the coastal basin.

The project will improve water quality in Vermilion and Cameron Parishes through winter water holding on cropland and improved land management practices that reduce nutrient and sediment runoff from agricultural lands. Implementation of best land management practices (BMPs) using existing United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) conservation practice standards (CPS) and specifications will be the primary tool used to reduce erosion and nutrient inputs in the watershed.

The project will improve water quality in Bayou Folse watershed through improved land management practices that reduce nutrient and sediment runoff from cropland and grazing lands. Implementation of land management practices using United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) conservation practice standards (CPS) and specifications will be the primary tool used to reduce erosion and nutrient inputs in the watershed.

The project will improve water quality in Washington Parish through improved land management practices that reduce nutrient and sediment runoff from dairy operations. Implementation of land management practices using existing United States Department of Agriculture(USDA)-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) conservation practice standards (CPS) and specifications will be the primary tool used to reduce erosion and nutrient inputs in the watershed.

The project will improve water quality in the St. Helena and Tangipahoa Parishes through improved land management practices that reduce nutrient and sediment runoff from dairy operations. Implementation of land management practices using existing United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) conservation practice standards (CPS) and specifications will be the primary tool used to reduce erosion and nutrient inputs in the watershed.

This restoration planning effort was undertaken with the purpose of contributing to the compensation for and restoration of natural resource services injured in Barataria Basin within the Louisiana Restoration Area as a result of the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill. This restoration planning effort focused on restoration of wetlands, coastal and nearshore habitats through marsh creation within the Barataria Basin.

The project involves three elements providing improved camping and day-use facilities for the Sam Houston Jones State Park, including replacing 10 trailer cabins with state park standard cabins, renovating the interior and exterior of a day-use area restroom, and constructing a new restroom to address an underserviced area of the park at a popular trailhead. The project provides improved camping and day-use facilities for increased recreational use of the Sam Houston Jones State Park, benefiting public visitors’ recreational experience.

The project will involve improvements to St. Bernard State Park to enhance the recreational experience for visitors and campers, including renovating restrooms and cabins, constructing a new restroom/comfort station, and replacing 10 trailer cabins with pier and beam or slab on grade cabins to diversify potential recreational uses.