Coastal Protection and
Restoration Authority

BATON ROUGE, La. – The Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) today announced the start of construction on the New Orleans Landbridge Shoreline Stabilization and Marsh Creation project along the eastern shore of Lake Pontchartrain and areas surrounding Lake St. Catherine.

The project will restore 253 acres of brackish marsh using sediment dredged from Lakes Pontchartrain and St. Catherine, stabilize the shoreline to reduce erosion and interior marsh loss, and maintain the integrity of the East Orleans Landbridge. Concrete mats will be used along open water-facing portions of the three marsh creation areas to enhance over 15,000 linear feet of shoreline.

“This is what restoring South Louisiana looks like,” said CPRA Chairman Chip Kline. “The New Orleans Landbridge is one of the most important barriers between New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico. With every acre of marsh we restore, we strengthen the natural buffer that separates the two.”

The $25 million project is funded by the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA) with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) as the federal sponsor.

“Stabilizing the shoreline surrounding the New Orleans Landbridge is critical in protecting the area’s remaining marsh and natural coastal resources,” said CPRA Executive Director Bren Haase. “This project seamlessly combines restoration and protection elements to reinforce CPRA’s multiple lines of defense strategy.”

Local leaders joined in celebrating the start of construction on the restoration project.

“The New Orleans East Landbridge is a critical natural landform that protects our city and region from storm surge from the Gulf,” said New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “This project will provide protection to nearly 1.5 million people, as well as restore habitat for both our local wildlife and the people who rely on this area for their livelihoods.”

“This landbridge restoration project will be the primary defense against storms moving into Lake Pontchartrain and threatening St. Tammany and the Greater New Orleans area,” said State Sen. Sharon Hewitt. “Northshore families and businesses will greatly benefit from the additional flood protection that this project will provide.”

“With another hurricane season upon us, the importance of projects like this cannot be overstated,” said State Rep. Raymond Garofalo. “I applaud CPRA for their dedication to restoring coastal land in Orleans Parish and across our coast.”

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