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Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority East (SLFPA-E) and Pontchartrain Levee District Recommendations for Early Emergency Restoration Projects for the Pontchartrain Basin "Thinking and Acting Regionally"

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SLFPA-E Direction to Coastal Advisory Committee (CAC) Coordinate Quarterly Reviews to monitor status of coastal projects in the Pontchartrain Basin. Reviews include projects within multiple authorities. Develop an inventory of Pontchartrain Basin coastal projects that: 1) could enhance storm protection and 2) are ready to be implemented ASAP

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Emergency Restoration Criteria (1) The action is needed to avoid irreversible loss of natural resources, or to prevent or reduce any continuing danger to natural resources or similar need for emergency action; (2) The action will not be undertaken by the lead response agency; (3) The action is feasible and likely to succeed; (4) Delay of the action to complete the restoration planning process established in this part likely would result in increased natural resource damages; and (5) The costs of the action are not unreasonable. 15 C.F.R. 990.26(a).

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IMMEDIATE Project Recommendations Considering proximity to direct oil impact, ecologic value, constructability and strong support, the following five (5) projects are recommend as immediate NRDA priorities for the Pontchartrain Basin. The projects are within the four (4) parishes most impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil and are relatively proportionate in cost to impact.

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1 2 4 3 5 Green polygons are generalized outlines of oiled marshes from BP IMMEDIATE Project Recommendations 1.North Shore Marshes 2.Alligator Bend Marsh Creation and Shoreline Protection 3.Biloxi Marsh 4.Chandeleur Islands 5.Pass a Loutre Restoration ?

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1. North Shore Marsh Creation (St. Tammany Parish) This project is located along the northshore of Lake Pontchartrain where direct oil impacted the shoreline and interior ponds. The project area extends from Goose Point to Highway 11. The restoration technique is identical to a recently completed CWPPRA project titled Goose Point/Pointe Platte Marsh Creation. The project has strong support of St. Tammany Parish and could be complete within two years. Much of the prior design work for the completed project could be used to complete design for the new projects. The estimated cost is $40,000,000. http://lacoast.gov/new/Projects/Info.aspx?num=PO-33

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2. Alligator Bend Marsh Creation and Shoreline Protection (Orleans Parish) This project is located south of Pass Rigolets where direct oiling occurred in several locations. Currently, the shoreline protection component is being designed by the CWPPRA program and should be completed in approximately nine months. The marsh creation component was in the original CWPPRA approved project but was dropped because it is located in a private mitigation bank. It was assumed the project would be completed through mitigation funds. That has not occurred. The marsh creation project is already partially permitted. Some minor design work may be need to be completed, but can be accomplished quickly. The marsh creation and shoreline protection project was selected by the five CWPPRA agencies and is supported by Orleans and St. Tammany Parishes. Several small additional sites near the Rigolets Pass could also be included. The project cost is estimated to be $50,000,000. http://lacoast.gov/new/Projects/Info.aspx?num=PO-34

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3. Biloxi Marsh (St. Bernard Parish) The outer Biloxi Marsh which faces Chandeleur Sound had numerous oiled marsh islands. Oyster leases scattered throughout the Biloxi Marsh have yet to be determined impacts from oil. The State Master Plan calls for restoration of the Biloxi Marshes. Although specific projects are not designed, oyster reef restoration has been occurring at numerous sites in Louisiana and is recommended here. These projects can be designed and constructed quickly. The project cost is estimated to be $50,000,000.

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4. Chandeleur Islands (St. Bernard Parish) The Chandeleur Islands were oiled at numerous locations and in addition had a berm constructed to intercept oil. The berm project is being modified to use residual funds to improve the restoration value. This will not sufficiently address the condition of the Chandeleur Islands. The proposed project is to continue to pump sand for beach nourishment as guided by the US Fish and Wildlife managers for the Breton National Refuge. The project cost is estimated to be $100,000,000.

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5. Pass a Loutre Restoration ( Plaquemines Parish) Pass a Loutre is one of the last major distributaries of the Mississippi Delta. It was the first area oiled and was oiled on numerous occasions. Pass a Loutre has shoaled in recent years due to Federal dredge disposal practices. The State of Louisiana, the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, and others have requested the channel be re-opened to reestablish the hydrology of the distributary. Because of the blockage (due to material disposal) the outer delta at Pass a Loutre is beginning to erode. North of Pass a Loutre is the Delta National Wildlife Refuge. South of it is the Pass a Loutre Wildlife Management Area. The project would dredge the channel to specific dimensions and use the material beneficially in the adjacent conservation areas. The benefits are threefold. The channel hydrology would be reestablished; the dredge material could create over 10,000 acres of wetlands, and the outer delta that is currently eroding could be sustained. The project cost is estimated to be $250,000,000.

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$40M $50M $100M $50M $250M Green polygons are generalized outlines of oiled marshes from BP IMMEDIATE Project Recommendations 1.North Shore Marshes 2.Alligator Bend Marsh Creation and Shoreline Protection 3.Biloxi Marsh 4.Chandeleur Islands 5.Pass a Loutre Restoration ?

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Early Emergency Restoration List Recommendations Ranking: -HIGHLY RECOMMENDED -RECOMMENDED -LOW RECOMMENDATION -NOT RECOMMENDED at this time

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HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: 12 Alligator Bend 24/29 Hope Canal Diversion 33 LaBranche Wetlands Marsh Creation 35 MRGO Feasibility Study including PCLOD: - Violet diversion, - MRGO-Lake Borgne landbridge, - East Orleans landbridge, and - Bayou la Loutre ridge, Biloxi Marsh (west side only not the landbridges) 28 Chandeleur Islands 21 White Ditch Diversion 11 Caernarvon CWPPRA project Additional Project (not currently on list) HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: - Biloxi Marsh land bridges reef construction (Violet re-establishes salinity)

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RECOMMENDED: 23 Blind River/Convent (support construction of either the Blind River or Hope Canal diversions). 9 Caernarvon LCA Modifications (Corps is in early stages of formulating. Could be good but need more detail) Additional Projects (not currently on list) RECOMMENDED: - Removal of obsolete dams on the Bogue Chitta and Pearl Rivers. (While in MS, these projects are close to oil impacted areas. Positive impacts to St. Tammany, St. Bernard, and Orleans. Benefits to Gulf Sturgeon). - Frenier Wetlands/Bonnet Carre River re-introduction. (This project may be implemented faster than either the Hope Canal or Blind River Diversions. It is almost entirely in the hands of USACOE). - Orleans/Jefferson Lake Pontchartrain shoreline restoration

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LOW RECOMMENDATION: 29 Bohemia Diversion (Project is within SLFPA-E authority. Conceptual only currently; should begin more detailed proposal. CWPPRA has proposed a new diversion within the spillway to discharge 10,000 cfs. While an opportunity to implement a project easily, area is one of the most stable along the coast and not in need of restoration thus a low priority for overall coastal sustainability).

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NOT RECOMMENDED at this time: 55 Benny's Bay (similar to West Bay diversion and would have same issues just on the opposite (east) side of the river) 47 Fort St. Phillip (a natural splay has already developed here) 26 White Ditch resurrection (now obsolete with new, much larger White Ditch Diversion proposed a few miles downriver).

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These recommendations are supported jointly by the SLFPA-E, the Pontchartrain Levee District, the parishes of St. Bernard, St. Tammany, and Orleans, and the Pontchartrain Basin Foundation and in response to coastal damages caused by Deepwater Horizon oil spill. "Thinking and Acting Regionally"