In the background of the boat wake is a delta lobe created by the Big Island restoration project.

An aerial view of the created wetlands several months after dredging. The wetlands created by the project revegetated naturally because of a dormant seed bank that was uncovered as the sediments were dredged during the project.

An aerial view of the created wetlands showing two newly established delta lobes.

The marsh buggy in the background is a specialized piece of equipment used to move the dredge pipe and other equipment around. The buggy is also used to grade deposited sediments to appropriate elevations.

The marsh buggy on stand-by. The diesel engine is at the rear of the buggy allowing the buggy access to deep-water areas.

Senator Breaux, in the red shirt, was the keynote speaker at the Big Island restoration project dedication, July 1, 1998.

Senator Breaux briefs media on the Big Island project at the Delta Wildlife Management Camp in the Big Island area.

Senator Breaux in front of a map of the restoration project.

Senator Breaux and other dignitaries prepare for an air boat tour of the restoration project.

An overview of the dedication for the Big Island restoration project.

A scene from the project dedication for the Big Island restoration project.

An official from the Louisiana Department of Fisheries and Wildlife briefs the media on the project's features.

Senator Breaux leaves the project dedication.

The media arrives for the project dedication. These events are important to provide information to the public about restoration projects.

Big Island before the restoration.

The dredging operation at Big Island.

The Captain Berry dredges a containment dike at Big Island.

Discharge pipe from dredge depositing sediment into march creation area.

Bulltongue and Alligator weed colonizing water areas surrounding the marsh creation sites.

The edge of one of the marsh creation sites one year after construction.

Hydraulic dredge in Castille Pass, looking to the west.

Building a containment dike.

Dredged sediments being pumped through a pipeline toward the marsh creation disposal area.

The bucket dredge at Natal Channel.

Marsh Creation disposal site immediately after construction.

Installation of grated apex structure, one of the four types of shoreline protection structures tested.

An aerial view of the geotextile tubes, another shoreline protection structure tested.

An aerial view of a vinyl sheet pile structure, another shoreline protection structure tested.

An aerial view of angled timber fence, another shoreline protection structure tested.

Roy's Dam is in Lagunitas Creek, CA and suffered from a non-functioning fish ladder. Fish were attracted to the current and did not attempt to get up the ladder. Thus, the ladder impaired their spawning migration. This image shows the dam and ladder before restoration.

Before restoration, looking upstream from Roy's Dam during a low-flow season.

A close-up looking directly upstream at the dam which clearly shows the low flow and large drop that are impediments to fish passage upstream.

Roy's dam before the restoration during a high flow period.

Roy's dam in the construction phase. This image shows the creation of the pools that were designed to facilitate fish passage. The dam still remains but has been breached.

This image shows partial breeching of the dam and the initial construction of the pools.

Partial breeching of the dam and construction of the pools.

A root wad is placed in the middle of the pools to slow flow and provide habitat for migrating fish.

Installation of large boulders form the pools.

At mid-construction, the main pools are already created but the streambank stabilization has not yet begun.

Looking downstream, nearing completion of the construction.

Work to stabilize the bank has begun.

Looking upstream at the completed pools.

Construction work to break the dam is just beginning.

Workers begin to take the cement lip off the top of the dam.

Staff from the California Department of Fish and Game, NOAA, and Performance Excavators attend the dedication for the Roy's Dam restoration project.

Traditional music to welcome the salmon was played at the dedication ceremony.

The awards ceremony at the dedication event

There was a large community turn-out to show support and appreciation for the restoration.

The dedication event at Roy's Dam.

Volunteers plant native hardwood trees along the bank to help stabilize the riparian habitat. Much of Pratt Farm was ditched and drained for agriculture, the restoration work was conducted to return the straight ditched area to a natural stream form with meanders and sinuosity.