Albertine Kimble, local Coastal Manager for Plaquemines Parish, celebrates as a pipeline begins pumping sediment on one of the many coastal projects slated for the parish.

Photo by PJ Hahn

Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser has announced that $222 million in grant funded coastal projects will begin this year.

“We are proud to announce that once again, Plaquemines Parish leads the coastal parishes with the highest number of projects along the coast,” Nungesser said. “All of these coastal projects will help to lower storm surge to our parish, which is critical to our community’s safety and growth.”

“Over the past five years, Plaquemines has enjoyed the largest number of coastal projects in the history of this parish and we have no plans to slow down,” Plaquemines Coastal Restoration Director P.J. Hahn said.

The projects funded under these grants are as follows:

• Fringe Marsh: This project will use $8.9 million in CIAP grant funds for eight fringe marsh projects on both sides of the river.

• Jump Basin Marsh Creation will use $800,000 in CIAP funding to create marsh along the Jump Basin area of Venice by Spanish Pass.

• Three dredging and restoration projects:  Pelican Island and Scofield Island will use $100 million from BP berm money, and the Lake Hermitage marsh creation project will use just under $38 million in CWPPRA funds.

• Under CWPPRA, Plaquemines also received $42 million for Phase II construction funding for Grand Liard Ridge Restoration.

• Phase II for Lake Lery Shoreline Restoration project will use $32 million in CWPPRA funding.

• Plaquemines received 5 out of 20 projects for Phase I funding (PPL-22) at a recent CWPPRA meeting.

• Plaquemines is beginning its update for the parish’s Coastal Zone Management program using $300,000 in CIAP funding.