Pointe Aux Chenes WMA

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Nov 20, 2009

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Pointe Aux Chenes WMA
Habitat Work Begins on NAWCA Funded Wetlands Restoration Project

Ducks Unlimited is pleased to announce the commencement of a $1.7 million coastal wetlands project at Pointe Aux Chenes Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana. On April 19, 2005, elected officials, conservation leaders, and community representatives attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the cooperative coastal restoration project. T. Baker Smith & Son, Inc., the civil engineering firm that was awarded the construction contract, began restoration work in late January and should complete the project by early fall.

The habitat conservation project on Pointe Aux Chenes WMA will restore historic salinities and hydrology to 4,736 acres of degraded marsh through installation of 4 hydrologic structures and construction of 1 exterior levee. Erosion, salt-water intrusion, and increased turbidity have degraded the once vast fresh, intermediate, and brackish marshes of southeast Louisiana.

Chad Courville, Regional Biologist with Ducks Unlimited, has witnessed coastal marsh loss first-hand. "Coastal marshes have been deteriorating since man-made navigation canals changed the natural water-flow patterns on the landscape, allowing saltwater to intrude into areas of the marsh where vegetation is less tolerant of high salinity," said Courville. "The stressed vegetation dies, leaving large areas of shallow open-water characterized by relatively unproductive turbid water void of submerged aquatic vegetation that is beneficial to wintering waterfowl."

At least two ecological functions are restored on this acreage: (1) the ability of the ecosystem to support migrating and wintering waterfowl and shorebirds is increased by improving productivity of submerged aquatic vegetation; and (2) reestablishment of submerged aquatics usually leads to plant succession, eventually restoring large areas of degraded open marsh to a more natural interspersion of emergent marsh and open-water ponds providing numerous benefits to waterfowl, shorebirds, wading birds, and estuarine-dependent fish species.

"Restoration of wetland hydrology is essential to return this vast area of deteriorating marsh along Louisiana's Gulf Coast into a sustainable ecosystem," says Hugh Bateman, Director of Conservation Programs in Louisiana for DU, when asked about the significance of this project. "The net result is more waterfowl foraging habitat, improved fisheries, better birding, and a healthier coastal ecosystem."

DU received special funding through the North America Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) to offset costs associated with levee refurbishment and installation of water control structures. In addition, the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources provided $600,000 to complement NAWCA funds for this coastal restoration project. NAWCA stimulates public-private partnerships to protect, restore, and manage wetland habitats for a diversity of migratory birds and other wildlife. NAWCA partnership grants play an important role in meeting the DU mission, from restoring wetlands that have been degraded to reducing soil erosion and the likelihood of floods.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will manage the area to maintain high quality coastal wetlands habitat for wintering waterfowl, while providing additional duck hunting opportunities for local waterfowlers. As project objectives are achieved, the restored marsh will increase in abundance and quality of submerged aquatic vegetation, thus resembling an emergent coastal marsh. Over time, emergent vegetation will spread across the project area. Large, open-water areas will be replaced by highly productive shallow ponds that provide excellent habitat for waterfowl.

The partners associated with the Pointe Aux Chenes WMA coastal restoration project include: Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, North American Wetlands Conservation Council, Ducks Unlimited, Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government, USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service, Burlington Resources, Apache Louisiana Minerals Inc., Outback Steakhouse - Houma, Safari Club (Louisiana and Bayou Chapter), Dale Earnhardt Foundation, Ron and Jackie Bartels, and S. Gordon Reese.

For more information on this wetlands restoration project, contact Chad Courville, Regional Biologist with Ducks Unlimited (337.291.3068 or ccourville@ducks.org).