Raccoon Island Shoreline Protection/Marsh Creation (TE-48)

The Isles Dernieres barrier island chain is experiencing some of the highest erosion rates of any coastal region in the world. Raccoon Island is experiencing shoreline retreat both gulfward and bayward, threatening one of the most productive wading bird nesting areas and shorebird habitats along the gulf coast.

An existing demonstration project on the eastern end of the island, Raccoon Island Breakwaters Demonstration project (TE-29), has proven that segmented breakwaters can significantly reduce, and perhaps even reverse, shoreline erosion rates. The primary goal of this project is to protect the Raccoon Island rookery and seabird colonies from the encroaching shoreline by: 1) reducing the rate of shoreline erosion along the western, gulfward side and 2) extending the longevity of northern backbay areas by creating 60 acres of intertidal wetlands that will serve as bird habitat.

This project has been separated into two construction phases, Phase A and Phase B. Phase A includes the construction of eight additional segmented breakwaters gulfward of the island and immediately west of the existing breakwaters demonstration project and an eastern groin that will connect existing Breakwater No. 0 to the island. Phase B involves the construction of a retention dike along the northern shore to create a back bay enclosure that will be filled with sediments dredged from the bay and/or gulf, followed by vegetative plantings.

The project is located in the Terrebonne Basin on the western-most island of the Isles Dernieres barrier island chain in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana.

Rock breakwater construction for the prior demonstration phase of this project was completed on the east end of the island in June 1997. Sand deposits or “tombolos” have developed behind the breakwaters that protect and enhance the island. A less dramatic, however still positive effect, is expected to occur behind the 8 additional breakwaters being constructed to the west of the existing breakwaters.

Construction of Phase A was completed in September 2007 and Phase B in June 2013. All plantings are to be completed by the end of 2017.

This project is on Priority Project List 11.

The Federal Sponsor is USDA NRCS

The Local Sponsor is CPRA

Rockefeller Refuge Gulf Shoreline Stabilization (ME-18)

The project is designed to address Rockefeller Wildlife
Refuge gulf shoreline retreat that averages approximately
46 feet/year with a subsequent direct loss of emergent saline
marsh.

The project will construct shoreline protection along the Gulf
of Mexico. A rock breakwater with lightweight aggregate
core will be tied into the west bank of Joseph Harbor
and constructed westward along the gulf shoreline for
approximately 3 miles. The structure is designed to reduce
shoreline retreat along this stretch of gulf shoreline, as well
as promote shallowing, settling out, and natural vegetative
colonization of the overwash material landward of the
breakwater. Gaps will be constructed between breakwater
segments to facilitate material and organism linkages.

The project is located along the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge
Gulf of Mexico shoreline from Joseph’s Harbor canal,
westward 3 miles in Cameron Parish, Louisiana.

Engineering and design are complete. Construction on this
project has begun.

This project is listed on Priority Project List 10.

The Sponsors for this project include:

• Federal Sponsor: NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service
• Local Sponsor: CPRA