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Restoration Activities
Case: Greenhill Marsh, LA
Restoration Goal
The goal of this restoration effort is to replace marsh injured by oiling. The restored marsh will provide wildlife and estuarine nursery habitat and storm and erosion protection.
Restoration Activities
- Created of 21.7 acres of tidal marsh on East Timbalier Island.
- Monitored created marsh acreage.
Restoration milestones. Greenhill initiated a dredging program that placed sand on the barrier island to create 21.7 acres of intertidal marsh habitat. The dredging was followed by the planting of marsh grass (Spartina alterniflora) to establish vegetative cover. The planting was completed in October 1994. Since then, a series of additional plantings have occurred to fill in problem areas.
In December 1996, the trustees certified completion of the construction phase after the site met the required success criteria. The site was monitored for vegetative cover through 1999, when final completion of the project was certified.
Related projects. Additional marsh restoration activities occurred on East Timbalier Island in summer 1997. Under the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act (CWPPRA), $7 million funded the creation of an additional 110 acres of new marsh habitat on the island. Although this project is not connected with the Greenhill Well Blowout of 1992, it was built adjacent to the Greenhill marsh restoration site. Combined, both projects will result in the restoration of a large portion of the interior of the barrier island. This interior area is important to erosion resistance and is a valuable island habitat for waterfowl and fish nurseries.
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