Hurricane Protection via Coastal Conservation

A large grant offers Terrebonne, Lafourche additional protection

Thanks to a generous grant administered by the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council, construction is underway for Phase 2 of the Houma Navigation Canal Lock Complex, led by the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority and the Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District. The $300 million contract has been awarded to Sealevel Construction of Thibodaux. It is the largest council grant awarded for any project to date. Once completed, the complex will help distribute fresh water, safeguard the ecosystem and instigate storm surge protection for 150,000 Terrebonne and Lafourche residents. (coastal.la.gov/news).

Baton Rouge | The Contest is On!

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has announced the requirements for the 2025 Louisiana Waterfowl Conservation Stamp, better known as the Louisiana Duck Stamp. The featured species will be the black-bellied whistling duck (aka squealers). Artists must submit an original, unpublished work of art with a signed and notarized artist’s agreement and a fee. Entries will be accepted from October, 14-22, 2024. (for rules and forms: wlf.louisiana.gov/page/louisiana-duck-stamp).

New Orleans | Professor Awarded Coastal Grant

UNO Environmental Science Department Chair Mark Kulp, Ph.D. was recently awarded a two-year, $814,000 grant from the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority to conduct sediment sampling along the Louisiana coastline. The work will be done by graduate and undergraduate students in support of the Louisiana Barrier Island Comprehensive Monitoring program that was established to provide long-term data on the state’s island system for planning design, evaluation and maintenance of restoration projects (uno.edu/news/2024).

Lake Charles | A Wondrous Summer Debut

Recently recognized in Southern Living’s “The South’s Best Cities on the Rise 2024,” Lake Charles was especially commended for Port Wonder, opening this summer. The $20 million, 32,000-square-foot educational lakefront complex features an innovative Children’s Museum and a state-of-the-art Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ Nature and Science Center in addition to outdoor entertainment options, walking trails and an ADA-compliant fishing pier (southernliving.com).

Jackson Parish | New Organic Farm

In Louisiana, there are very few USDA Certified Organic producers. The tiny town of Eros (nestled in the piney hills of Jackson Parish) boasts the 43-acre diversified DeLaTerre Permaculture Farm that is transitioning to USDA Certified Organic with financial and technical support from the USDA’s Organic Transition Initiative. The farm is establishing a thriving ecosystem, with plans to market certified organic produce. “We’re farming in a way that builds soil for generations to come,” said the owners (delaterre.farm).