Louisiana created 1,170 acres of new wetlands in Barataria Basin; one year later, shrimp and crabs are returning to the restored habitat
Louisiana’s coastline is showing early signs of recovery after a major wetland restoration project created 1,170 acres of new marsh habitat in the Barataria Basin. Just one year after construction, species including white and brown shrimp, blue crab and red drum have begun using the newly restored ecosystem.According to NOAA Fisheries, the Upper Barataria Marsh Creation Project is part of a larger effort by NOAA and its partners to rebuild Louisiana’s coastal habitats following decades of land loss and the damage caused by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Louisiana’s wetlands have faced decades of land loss
Located between the Mississippi River and Bayou Lafourche, the Barataria Basin’s wetlands provide important benefits to Louisiana’s coastal communities. They support wildlife, fisheries and ecosystems that are closely connected to the region’s economy.However, the basin has lost nearly 300,000 acres of land since the 1930s. Erosion, storm surge and a lack of sediment flowing from the Mississippi River have contributed to the continuing loss.The Deepwater Horizon oil spill accelerated the problem in 2010. Severe oiling along Louisiana’s coast caused a decline in plant cover and marine species production. It also placed additional pressure on the Barataria Landbridge, an important hydrologic barrier separating the fresher marshes of the upper basin from the saltier waters farther south.
1,170 acres of wetlands created
To restore the damaged wetlands, the Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group developed the Upper Barataria Marsh Creation Project, one of the largest habitat restoration efforts in the Gulf region.Between 2022 and 2023, contractors from Weeks Marine dredged about 8 million cubic yards of sediment from the Mississippi River. The amount of material was enough to fill the Caesars Superdome twice.The sediment was used to create 1,170 acres of emergent wetland habitat. The project also created 89 acres of water features, including a tidal pond and 18,815 linear feet of flow pathways designed to replicate natural tidal creeks.Strategic gaps were also created in the surrounding dikes, allowing water and wildlife to move between the newly created marsh and the larger Barataria Basin.The project ultimately created 1,259 acres of land and water features, exceeding its original target by 76 acres.
Shrimp, crabs and red drum are using the new habitat
Scientists are now monitoring the restored area to determine whether it is developing into a healthy and functioning ecosystem.Research teams from The Water Institute have spent long days in the marsh collecting and examining sediment and water samples. Their work includes counting and measuring fish, shrimp and crabs found in the newly created habitat.The research is being conducted in partnership with Nicholls State University, giving students an opportunity to gain first-hand experience in fisheries ecology.Researchers have already detected all the target species, including blue crab, brown shrimp, white shrimp and red drum, using the new water features and channels.Their presence is an encouraging sign that the constructed marsh is connected to the surrounding basin. This connectivity allows tides to carry nutrients into the restored habitat and provides pathways for fish and shrimp to move through the ecosystem.
‘It’s a big win’
The early results have given researchers reason for optimism.“It’s amazing to already see not just fish in here, but there are tons of fishermen on the water,” said Erin Kiskaddon, a coastal ecologist at The Water Institute. “It’s a big win.”Monitoring carried out in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey has also shown that native plant species are naturally taking root in the restored marsh.A community effort also led to the planting of 500 cypress saplings in one section of the project. Extreme weather has affected the survival of some of the trees, but the effort is helping restoration experts understand how to create more resilient coastal forests in the future.
Restored wetlands could benefit Louisiana’s economy
The importance of the project extends beyond wildlife. Louisiana’s wetlands are closely linked to the state’s fishing industry and wider economy.Healthy marshes are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth. They support a major seafood industry that generates approximately half of commercially harvested seafood in the United States.In Louisiana, the 2024 harvest of blue crab and white shrimp generated more than $120 million.“I don’t think there’s anywhere in the world where you’ll find the health of an ecosystem so intrinsically tied to the health of our economy,” said Jonathan Hird, project principal at Moffatt & Nichol and lead engineer on the project.
Restoration work will continue for decades
Although construction of the Upper Barataria Marsh Creation Project has been completed, its recovery is expected to continue for years.Over the next two decades, the newly created marsh will settle and stabilize. As this happens, the amount of time the marsh is flooded by tides is expected to increase, helping improve nutrient cycling and wildlife access.The project is governed by a 20-year monitoring and adaptive management plan. Scientists will continue tracking the condition of the marsh and can recommend corrective measures, such as adjusting water flow or replanting vegetation, if the ecosystem does not develop as expected.The restoration is also intended to protect Louisiana’s long-standing fishing, hunting and birdwatching traditions by providing healthier wetlands for future generations.“When I think about sitting in a duck blind or out on the water and watching the sunrise, I get goosebumps. So many people have the same excitement about this place,” said Connor Gilbert, sportsman outreach and policy specialist at the National Wildlife Federation.
