Mission Accomplished:
West Grand Terre Phase 2 Restoration Complete

HISTORY: West Grand Terre is home to Fort Livingston and located at the southernmost boundary of Jefferson Parish in the lower Barataria basin and is due east of Grand Isle. It is a barrier island that provides storm protection for our inland communities as well as serves as an important habitat for our native bird and animal species.

On the weekend of October 12, 2024  thirty-seven volunteers from various walks of life ranging in age from 16 to 72 came to plant the island with Restore or Retreat.  Our volunteers walked approximately 1 ½ miles to our base camp in ideal weather conditions.  Once on site they were given an orientation of the island,  a plant and site safety briefing by our project coordinator Polly Glover.    Executive Director Dr. Joseph Orgeron and Greg Grandy, coastal resources administrator  from the Coastal Protection Restoration Authority, spoke  on the unique and rich cultural history of the island.  Both explaining the importance of this planting for the long term sustainability of the island and its non-human inhabitants. The volunteers also learned about why these barrier islands are critical to our multiple lines of defense strategy against the storms that come from the Gulf of Mexico. The opportunity to educate our guests critical to fostering support and protection for our wetlands. 

With the support of grants and generous private business partners our volunteers planted approximately 7900  plants on the north western marsh of the rock revetment.The plants will help to stabilize an area that has had some sediment erosion.     The species planted were  Black Mangrove (Avicennia germinans), and Vermillion Smoothcord (Spartina alterniflora). Additionally, an area along the barrier dunes where there is a higher elevation was chosen for the planting of 300 Sand Oak trees (Quercus geminita).  This project’s primary focus is erosion control with sediment retention for storm protection and habitat creation for the fisheries and migratory birds that visit the island.  The planting will also support the long term resiliency of the island.  The planting aided and complemented the previously installed phase-one planting on the island in November of 2022.  In total, Restore or Retreat with our volunteers  have placed approximately 17,000 plants on the island after completion of this planting. The site location is approximately where the Lyle St. Amant Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Marine Lab stood on the island for many decades.  Our project coordinator’s father was the project designer and engineer who worked to build the lab in 1958.  Decades later, Hurricane Katrina would batter the lab and eventually close it.  Before its closing, many scientists trained there and provided research on the estuaries of Louisiana.

We would like to thank our grantors and private businesses who have assisted with making this planting come to fruition.  Grants from the 2024 Conservation and Restoration Partnership fund of the Coastal Protection Restoration Authority along with a grant from CITGO thru Restore America’s Estuaries were received. Restore or Retreat Executive Director, Joseph Orgeron explains, “The grant from CITGO is a part of the ‘Caring for our Coast’ initiative that is celebrating 10 years of supporting the restoration efforts of our precious wetlands.”  The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and Jefferson Parish Government should also be thanked for operational support of our efforts. Private Louisiana based companies:  GIS, Off The Hook Restaurants,  Five S Group and CCA Louisiana all helped support our restoration with funding and in-kind resources support.
For further information please contact…..
[email protected] or [email protected] (via text): 225-921-4591