The latest coastal news, events and more from the Barataria and Terrebonne Basins...

Terrebonne Coastal Day this week 
This is the second time the event is hosted at the Houma Civic Center showcasing protection and restoration improvements in our area.

Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government and the Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District are hosting an interactive showcase of coastal protection on Wednesday, June 19 at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center.

The day begins with the monthly Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority board meeting starting at 9:30am.  The meeting is then followed by dedication of the $35 million Falgout Canal "Jimmy Dagate" flood gate with Governor John Bel Edwards and other officials at 1:30pm at Falgout Canal Marina in Dularge.   
 
The civic center will then open back up to the public with an interactive showcase of coastal protection starting at 3pm.  Local and state organizations and business will also be featured at tables, and restoration equipment will be on display.  A free dinner will be served.   
 
To end the day, there will be informative panels from 5pm-8pm at the Houma Civic Center featuring local, state and federal officials and industry partners, plus remarks from state legislators.   We hope to see you there!
CPRA and BOEM sign Terrebonne barrier island agreement
Sand agreements provide for the restoration of the beach, dune, and marsh habitat along Trinity-East Island, Timbalier Island and West Belle Barrier Headland.

From BOEM:  The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the State of Louisiana's Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) have signed two agreements to aide in the restoration of Louisiana's Gulf coast.  
 
With a combined volume of approximately 10 million cubic yards of sand from federal waters, the project will restore the beach, dune, and marsh habitat along Trinity-East Island, Timbalier Island, and West Belle Barrier Headland.  

"In addition to facilitating recovery of Gulf wildlife from the oil spill, this project will also make great strides to supplement the deficit in the coastal sand budget for this portion of the Louisiana coast," said BOEM Gulf of Mexico Regional Director Mike Celata. "This project will directly restore the function of the Terrebonne Basin Barrier Islands and West Belle Barrier Headland, increasing their resiliency against damage from future storms."
 
Nearly seven miles of shoreline and 1,400 acres of beach, dune, supratidal, and marsh habitats will be restored using sand from the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) on Trinity-East Island, Timbalier Island, and West Belle Barrier Headland. In addition, the project will create a 68-acre feeder beach for West Belle Barrier Headland. The restoration effort will provide and improve habitats for marine and estuarine fisheries resources and their forage species, sea turtle nesting as well as a wide variety of avian communities including shorebirds, wading birds, colonial nesting birds, and migratory songbirds.
 
"BOEM has been a great partner in supplying CPRA with material to restore and protect Louisiana's coastal perimeter," said CPRA Executive Director Bren Haase. "Using sediment mined from federal waters like BOEM's Ship Shoal-along with other sources-CPRA has restored and nourished more than 60 miles of barrier islands, berms and shorelines using approximately 57 million cubic yards of dredged material. BOEM's contribution to our efforts has been invaluable."
 
The overall project is one of several that the State of Louisiana's CPRA is developing to address the impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and work toward the long-term recovery of the coast. This restoration effort is funded through the Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund, which is administered through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
 
For more information on the barrier island projects, check out CPRA's Interactive Project Map. 
Come fish for a good cause! 
ROR will once again host the Creole Classic launch party at Bridgeside Marina in Grand Isle. 

The Creole Classic Fishing Tournament, a fishing rodeo held every June in Grand Isle, LA, and Restore or Retreat, a local non-profit coastal advocacy group, have once again joined forces to utilize the area's premier fishing rodeo to rally support for restoring our Sportsman's Paradise.

Started in 1984, the fishing tournament

is a well-known supporter of local charities, and will continue to grow that philanthropy by promoting and supporting Restore or Retreat's own mission of identifying and expediting the implementation of aggressive, large-scale restoration projects to protect this irreplaceable region.

The events surrounding the fishing rodeo will provide the same great time that Creole Classic participants have grown to expect, and the partnership with ROR will go a step further to ensure families that participate have fun, kid and family friendly educational opportunities to raise awareness about Louisiana's land loss and the proposed solutions.  ROR will be on hand with COAST 360 virtual reality headsets, and friends and partners from the Barataria Terrebonne National Estuary Program, CWPPRA, Audubon Louisiana and more will also be on hand.
In the Field 
From conferences to flyovers and everywhere in between... it has been a busy spring at ROR!


CPRA Chairman Chip Kline was the guest speaker at SCIA in April, Port Fourchon and ROR hosted a Congressional staffer fly in, ROR spent some time with Dr. Clune of Nicholls checking out the Master Plan display at Jean Lafitte, and congrats to the Bayou Country Children's Museum on their re-opening of their estuary display!


Congressional staffers visit with Chett Chiasson of Port Fourchon, Leadership Terrebonne welcomed ROR (and Beignet!!), RESTORE Chair Designee Doug Benevento and CPRA's Greg Grandy fly the friendly skies to look at coastal Louisiana with ROR and Southwings,
and Congressman Alan Lowenthal was a pleasure to get to know--
thank you Congressman Graves for the invitation to meet him!
Coastal News

Delta Dispatches Radio Show and Podcast 
Weekly, Thursday 5pm-6pm on WGSO 990am, also on Google Play and iTunes

Past topics include: Everlab conference, Flood Fight 2019, CPRA progress and Port Fourchon!

Terrebonne Coastal Day to showcase progress- Houma Today

Agencies partner on restoration project- Houma Today

Louisiana lawmakers will spend surplus money from budget deal on these key areas- the New Orleans Advocate

CPRA's Caminada Headland among the best restored beaches- Dredging Today

Flood protection system to remain throughout hurricane season- Houma Times

Coastal Calendar
Wednesday, June 19
CPRA Monthly Board Meeting
9:30am-- Houma Terrebonne Civic Center

Dedication of Falgout Canal "Jimmy Dagate" Floodgate
1:30pm- Falgout Canal Marina, Dularge

Terrebonne Coastal Day at Houma Civic Center
3-8pm-- Free Dinner, Evening Panels, Info and More

Governor's Advisory Commission
Wednesday, July 10, 2pm, Westbank Council Chambers, Jefferson
Restore or Retreat, Inc | 985.448.4485 | www.restoreorretreat.org
STAY CONNECTED: