Coastal Protection and
Restoration Authority

Press Releases

Breton Sound Projects

May 7, 2026
Contact: coastal@la.gov

Coordinated Coastal Restoration Progress Across Southeast Louisiana

The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) and its federal, state, and local partners are advancing a coordinated program of marsh creation, ridge restoration, and sediment infrastructure projects across the Breton Sound Basin.

Together, these projects are restoring wetlands, strengthening community resilience, and building long-term protection for communities, including Delacroix, Reggio, Yscloskey, and surrounding areas in St. Bernard Parish and Plaquemines Parish.

As of May 2026, five projects are complete or under active construction, representing an investment of approximately $121.1 million.

Program at a Glance

More than 1,400 acres of marsh restoration
Over 3.5 miles of terraces constructed across active projects
Approximately 7.1 million cubic yards of sediment being placed
Projects delivered through a coordinated, basin-wide restoration strategy
Multiple projects funded through partnerships among CWPPRA, RESTORE, NFWF, and State programs

The sediment volume placed through these projects is equivalent to roughly one and a half months of Mississippi River sediment at average flow.

A Connected System of Restoration

Projects in the Breton Sound Basin are designed and built as an interconnected system rather than as stand-alone efforts.

Sediment is hydraulically dredged from nearby water bodies such as Lake Lery and transported to restoration sites to create and nourish marsh habitat. During construction, containment dikes are used to shape marsh creation areas and retain sediment while newly created wetlands stabilize.

This phased delivery approach allows planning, engineering, permitting, and construction activities to continue simultaneously across multiple projects, ensuring steady progress throughout the basin.

Current Construction Timeline

Mid Breton Land Bridge Marsh Creation and Terracing is nearing completion, with construction expected to conclude in June 2026.
Breton Landbridge Marsh Creation West remains under active construction through late 2026.
East Delacroix Marsh Creation and Terracing began construction activities in 2026 and includes terraces designed to connect with adjacent restoration features.
Additional projects continue advancing through engineering, design, permitting, and land rights activities.

Active and Completed Projects

Mid Breton Land Bridge Marsh Creation and Terracing (BS-0032)

Located near Delacroix, this project creates and nourishes intertidal marsh using sediment hydraulically dredged from Lake Lery.

Project Highlights

Approximately 373 acres of marsh creation
More than 6.5 miles of containment dikes
Approximately 2.8 million cubic yards of sediment utilized
Construction activities expected to conclude in June 2026

Dredging operations began in July 2024 and are scheduled to finish by April 2026.

View BS-0032 Project CIMS Page

Breton Landbridge Marsh Creation West (BS-0038)

This project restores marsh south and east of Grand Lake within the Breton Sound land bridge alignment identified in Louisiana’s Coastal Master Plan.

Project Highlights

More than 600 acres of marsh restoration
Five marsh creation areas under construction
Construction anticipated through the fourth quarter of 2026
Project combines CWPPRA and NFWF funding sources

The project demonstrates how multiple funding programs can be leveraged to advance large-scale coastal restoration efforts efficiently.

View BS-0038 Project CIMS Page

East Delacroix Marsh Creation and Terracing (BS-0037)

The East Delacroix project addresses land loss caused by hurricanes, erosion, and saltwater intrusion through marsh creation and terrace construction.

Project Highlights

Approximately 396 acres of marsh creation and nourishment
More than 19,000 linear feet of terraces
Sediment retention terrace designed to connect with the North Delacroix Marsh Creation project
Sediment sourced from Lake Lery

Mobilization for terrace construction is expected during summer 2026.

View BS-0037 Project CIMS Page

Lake Lery Marsh Creation Phase II (BS-0034)

This project continues ongoing restoration efforts near Lake Lery through a phased approach focused on marsh creation and nourishment.

Project Highlights

Approximately 29 acres of marsh creation or nourishment
Updated scope, budget, and construction planning underway
Additional funding options currently being evaluated

View BS-0034 Project CIMS Page

Bayou Terre Aux Boeufs Ridge Restoration Phase II (BS-0045)

This completed project strengthened portions of the Bayou Terre Aux Boeufs Ridge system near Delacroix through shoreline armoring and reforestation.

Project Highlights

7,500 linear feet of shoreline protection
68-acre cypress/tupelo planting
Completed in 2023

The project helps stabilize remaining ridge habitat and supports long-term resilience in adjacent marsh areas.

View BS-0045 Project CIMS Page

Engineering and Design Projects

An additional eight projects are currently advancing through engineering and design phases across the Breton Sound Basin.

East Bank Sediment Transport Corridor (BS-0033)

St. Bernard Parish is developing plans for a permanent dredge pipeline corridor extending from the Mississippi River to the Breton Sound Basin.

Once constructed, the corridor would create a more efficient and economical way to transport sediment for future restoration projects across the basin.

The project is intended to:

Improve long-term sediment delivery capacity
Reduce mobilization costs for future projects
Support faster implementation of marsh restoration efforts

View BS-0033 Project CIMS Page

North Delacroix Marsh Creation and Terracing (BS-0041)

This project proposes:

Approximately 378 acres of marsh creation
More than 7,200 linear feet of terraces
Additional protection for the Delacroix community

Land rights and servitude activities are ongoing.

View BS-0041 Project CIMS Page

Reggio Marsh Creation and Hydrologic Restoration (BS-0043)

Located east of the Reggio community, this project combines marsh creation with hydrologic restoration features.

Planned Features

Approximately 484 acres of marsh creation and nourishment
Temporary containment dikes designed to improve future tidal exchange
Enhanced hurricane and flood resilience for surrounding areas

Construction advertisement is anticipated during the third quarter of 2026.

View BS-0043 Project CIMS Page

Yscloskey Marsh Creation (BS-0046)

The Yscloskey project would restore marsh along the historic Bayou la Loutre ridge alignment.

Planned Benefits

Approximately 365 acres of marsh creation
Added protection for Highway 46 flood protection levees
Improved resilience for hurricane evacuation routes and nearby communities

Engineering and design activities are expected to conclude in late 2026.

View BS-0046 Project CIMS Page

South Delacroix Marsh Creation (BS-0047)

This project aims to restore wetlands impacted by hurricane damage, erosion, and saltwater intrusion.

Planned Features

Approximately 413 acres of marsh creation and nourishment
Sediment dredged from Petit Lake
Ongoing environmental and engineering data collection

View BS-0047 Project CIMS Page

Wood Lake – East Lake Lery Restoration (BS-0048)

This multi-feature restoration effort combines marsh creation, terraces, and shoreline restoration concepts.

Current work includes expanded data collection and site evaluations to determine the most effective restoration features for implementation.

View BS-0048 Project CIMS Page

Phoenix Marsh Creation – East Increment (BS-0042)

This project remains on hold pending the allocation of construction funding.

Phoenix Marsh Creation – West Increment (BS-0044)

This project remains on hold pending the allocation of construction funding.

Funding and Partnerships

The Breton Sound Basin restoration program is funded through a combination of:

CWPPRA
RESTORE Act funding
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Foundation
State coastal restoration programs
Parish partnerships and matching funds

These partnerships allow federal, state, and local resources to be combined and deployed efficiently across multiple projects.

Several projects leverage multiple funding sources within a single construction effort, helping maximize restoration delivery and close funding gaps.

Community and Environmental Benefits

The coordinated restoration program strengthens natural defenses across the Breton Sound landscape by:

Reducing wave energy
Supporting long-term marsh stability
Enhancing flood resilience
Protecting transportation corridors
Supporting fisheries and estuarine habitat

By restoring wetlands at scale, these projects help provide additional protection for coastal communities while supporting Louisiana’s long-term coastal restoration strategy.

Looking Ahead

CPRA and its partners continue advancing restoration efforts throughout the Breton Sound Basin through ongoing engineering, design, permitting, and construction activities.

Future investments — including sediment transport infrastructure and expanded marsh restoration — are intended to improve long-term project delivery, increase cost efficiency, and sustain restoration momentum across southeast Louisiana for decades to come.