Title: LOUISIANA COASTAL AREA LCA Barataria Basin Barrier Shoreline Restoration Feature Caminada Headland a
1LOUISIANA COASTAL AREA (LCA) Barataria Basin
Barrier Shoreline Restoration FeatureCaminada
Headland and Shell Island Feasibility Study
- Scoping Meetings
- June 2005
2Scoping Meeting Agenda
- Open House 600 630 pm
- Overview of Study,
- Question and Answer 630 715 pm
-
- Scoping Comments 715
3Scoping Meetings
- June 14, 2005 Belle Chasse Auditorium,
8398 Hwy 23, Belle Chasse, LA - June 16, 2005 Larose Civic Center,
307 East 5th Street, Larose, LA - Scoping comment period ends
- June 27, 2005
4Why Are We Here?
Determine the scope of significant issues related
to preparation of a draft EIS for the Louisiana
Coastal Area (LCA), Louisiana Caminada Headland
and Shell Island Restoration Feasibility Study
(LCA CSI Study).
5- National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA)
-
- Environmental information is made available to
the public before decisions are made and before
actions are taken.
Breakwaters, Port Fourchon, LA
6INTERAGENCY
7History
- April 28, 2000 Notice of Intent for LCA
Barataria Shoreline Restoration Study - May 5, 2000 Notice of Intent for LCA Wetland
Creation - Study
- May 19, 2005 Notice of Intent for the LCA
Barataria Basin Barrier Shoreline Restoration
Feature, Caminada Headland and Shell Island
Restoration (CSI) Feasibility Study - One of 5 critical, near-term projects recommended
in LCA Ecosystem Restoration Program - Combines and supercedes two previous Barataria
restoration studies
8Study Area
Study Area LCA Caminada Headland Shell Island
Feasibility Study
9Components of the Near-Term Plan
Program Components
Five Near-Term Critical Features Ten Other
Near-Term Critical Features Beneficial Use
Dredged Material Modifications to Existing
Structures ST Program ST Demonstration
Projects Long-Term, Large-Scale Concepts
10Selected Restoration Projects
11Caminada Headland
12Shell Island (Lanaux Island)
13Study Purpose
- Identify plan of action that reverses current
trend of degradation in Caminada Headland and
Shell Island - Target ecological restoration of critical,
high-priority areas - Increase sustainability with essential form and
function of the natural barrier ecosystem - Ensure restoration results in multiple use
benefits
14Study Objectives for Caminada Headland
- Maintain the Caminada Headland which will
preserve a critical barrier headland
without disrupting the natural hydrologic
regime - Preserve the integrity of the barrier headland
by closing existing breaches - Sustain and improve shoreline, dune and
interior marsh habitat quality for essential
fish and wildlife species - Reduce wave energy transmission by providing a
natural storm protective buffer for interior
marsh and chenier ridge habitats north of the
Caminada Headland
15Long-term average erosion rate
41 ft/yr, range of 8.6
ft/yr to 51.9 ft/yr.
Caminada Headland Erosional History 1884 - 2002
16Benefits of Caminada Headland Restoration
Port Fourchon, LA
- Contains largest black
- mangrove habitat
- Contains rare maritime forest
- habitat
- Protects infrastructure
- Reduces storm damage
- Protects marshes and other resources
17Study Objectives for Shell Island
- Restore the geomorphic function of the barrier
shoreline in the vicinity of Shell Island - Reestablish the separation of the interior bays
from the Gulf of Mexico - Restore shoreline, dune and back-barrier marsh
to increase habitat utilization by essential
fish and wildlife species - Reduce wave energy transmission by providing a
protective buffer to the interior bays and
marshes north of Shell Island Bay
18Long-term erosion rate 38.5 ft/yr, range 8.0 to
101.5 ft/yr.
Shell Island Erosional History 1884 - 2002
19Benefits of ShellIsland Restoration
- Protects marshes and other resources
- Restores natural longshore sediment transport
processes - Protects critical Piping Plover habitat
- Restores natural tidal hydrology
20Proposed Action
- Consider mining offshore, nearshore, and/or
riverine sediment sources to re-establish
sustainable barrier system (e.g. barrier islands,
shorelines, and headlands) at the Caminada
Headland and Shell Island reaches of the
Barataria Basin Barrier System
21 Alternatives
- Build on alternatives identified in LCA Barrier
Shoreline and LCA Wetland Creation Studies - Consider all reasonable restoration alternatives
- Borrow sources
- Varying widths and configurations of shoreline
and dune heights - Marsh restoration as a platform for barrier
shoreline rollover - Other recommendations
22Question and Answer SessionNEPA Scoping
Questions and formal comment period to follow
23NEPA and the SCOPING PROCESSThere shall be an
early and open process for determining the scope
of issues to be addressed and for identifying the
significant issues related to the proposed
action.
24Scoping Questions
- Question 1 What are the critical natural and
human environmental problems and needs that
should be addressed in the EIS? - Examples
- barrier shoreline sustainability
- barrier shoreline habitat restoration
- hurricane and flood protection
- protection of infrastructure
25Scoping Questions
- Question 2 What are the significant resources
that should be considered in the EIS? - Examples
- barrier habitat
- offshore sand resources
- water quality
- threatened and endangered species
26Scoping Questions
- Question 3 What are the reasonable restoration
alternatives that should be considered in the
EIS? - Examples
- consider alternative borrow sites from inland
reaches of the Mississippi River and outside the
system - re-establish the barrier shoreline further inland
- emphasize marsh creation as major component of
barrier shoreline restoration
27Providing Scoping Comments
- Provide oral or written comments at scoping
meetings - Worldwide web at www.LCA.gov
- Email LCACSI_at_mvn02.usace.army.mil
- Letter postmarked no later than June 27, 2005 to
- Dr. William P. Klein, Jr., CEMVN-PM-RS,
P.O. Box 60267, New Orleans, LA 70160-0267 - Comments will not be accepted if submitted by
facsimile (fax)
28 A Scoping Report will be prepared that
summarizes all scoping comments.
SCOPING REPORT
Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA) Louisiana ?
Caminada Headland and Shell Island Restoration
Feasibility Study
Scoping Comments June 2005
29- Points of contact for comments or questions are
located in packet - Visit the website at www.lca.gov
-
30Request for Scoping Comments
- The Ground Rules
- Comments will be taken in order
- 3-minute per person comment period
- Comment period is not a forum to debate differing
opinions - Be polite and courteous
- Each person is entitled to their opinion
31Caminada Headland
- 1884 - 2002 long-term average erosion rate 41
ft/yr, range of 8.6 ft/yr to 51.9 ft/yr. - Tropical Storm Bill (2003) erodes 50 80 feet of
beaches. - Pattern of shoreline erosion will continue as
tropical storms impact coastal Louisiana every
1.2 years, on average. - Historic estuarine bays, such as Bay Marchand,
and bayous, such as Pass Fourchon, no longer
exist due to this rapid, persistent erosion.
32Shell Island
- Long-term average erosion rate
38.5 ft/yr, range 8.0 - 101.5 ft/yr. - Shell Island migrates inland and merges with the
small barrier island at Grand Bayou Pass. - 1956 Bayou Fontanelle jettied and Shell Island
migrates further inland and attaches to the new
Empire jetties.
33Why Restore Caminada Headland and Shell Island?
- Prevent critical land loss where predicted to
occur. - Restore endangered critical geomorphic structure
(e.g., landbridge, barrier system). - Provide some storm surge protection to populated
areas, critical oil and gas infrastructure, and
marsh habitat residents in Barataria basin . - Restore/provide critical wintering habitat
(intertidal beaches and flats, associated dune
systems and flats above annual high tide) for
threatened Piping Plover.
34Alternatives from LCA Barataria Barrier Shoreline
Study
35Alternatives from LCA Barataria Barrier Shoreline
Study
36Ship Shoal Potential Borrow Area
Shell Island
Caminda
37 Chenier Caminada Unit
Alternatives from LCA Wetland Creation Study
38Empire
Potential Near-Shore Riverine Borrow Areas
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