For the first time a major maintenance plan will be in place to improve water traffic and in addition, the dredge material will be beneficially used to protect marinas.  The marina maintenance dredging costs are covered by FEMA as the result of harbors silted in from recent hurricanes.  To compliment the marina dredging in an efficient manner, Plaquemines Parish applied for a ten year permit to beneficially use the dredged materials to build protection around five marinas and boat harbors.  The projects are currently in the engineering and design phase.  As soon as the permit is issued the dredging will begin.

“We are using all the material we are dredging beneficially not only to restore our wetlands, but also to protect our marinas and boat harbors by building berms and elevation to knock down storm surge,” said Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser.  “We must protect all of our infrastructure outside the levee system because if we get hit by a hurricane, we will not be reimbursed for the damage to infrastructure outside the levee protection.”

Plaquemines Parish Beneficial Dredging Projects

Beneficial Material Dredge Projects
Awaiting permit to begin five beneficial dredge projects:
•Buras Boat Harbor
•Jefferson Lake Canal
•Venice Marina
•Pointe A La Hache Boat Harbor
•Empire Boat Harbor
FEMA Funded

Fringe Marsh Projects
Awaiting permit to begin eight projects
•Buras (North of Boat Harbor)
•Pointe A La Hache Marina
(Southeast of Beshel’s)
•Wills Point
(Southeast of Belair Pump Station)
•Port Sulphur (North of Martin Lane)
•Port Sulphur (High Ridge Marina)
•Port Sulphur (Civic Drive Boat Launch)
•Port Sulphur
(West of Gainard Woods Pump Station)
•Port Sulphur (Swift Energy Harbor)
CIAP funded $7-9 million