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Big Island Mining Project
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NOAA Restoration Center
Coastal Wetlands Planning
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Big Island Mining Project
Big Island Mining Project
Created with dredge spoils from the Atchafalaya River navigational channel, Big Island lies to the west of the mouth of the Atchafalaya River in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana. The location of the island has slowed the natural process of river delta formation and creation into new wetland habitats along the western side of the river's main channel. This project was designed in conjunction with the Atchafalaya Sediment Delivery project and included creating new delta lobes and an improved distributary channel system behind Big Island to enhance the accretion of land beyond the west bank of the Atchafalaya River. One main and five branch channels, the latter dredged at 45-degree angles to the main stem, mimic natural delta formation. Approximately 39,000 linear feet, or over 3 million cubic yards, of dredged material were utilized to create five delta lobes totaling 916 acres of marshlands. An additional 1200 acres are expected to accrete over the 20 year monitoring life of this project. The construction phase of this project was completed in October 1998.
Big Island Mining Project
Big Island Mining Project
Restoration
An aerial view of the created wetlands several months after dredging. Thewetlands created by the project revegetated naturally because of a dormantseed bank that was uncovered as the sediments were dredged during the project.
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An aerial view of the created wetlands showing two newly established deltalobes.
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The marsh buggy in the background is a specialized piece of equipment usedto move the dredge pipe and other equipment around. The buggy is also usedto grade deposited sediments to appropriate elevations.
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(1.35 MB)
The marsh buggy on stand-by. The diesel engine is at the rear of the buggyallowing the buggy access to deep-water areas.
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Senator Breaux, in the red shirt, was the keynotespeaker at the Big Island restoration project dedication, July 1, 1998.
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(1.22 MB)
Senator Breaux briefs media on the Big Island project at the Delta WildlifeManagement Camp in the Big Island area.
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Senator Breaux in front of a map of the restoration project.
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Senator Breaux and other dignitaries prepare for an air boat tour of therestoration project.
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An overview of the dedication for the Big Island restoration project.
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A scene from the project dedication for the Big Island restoration project.
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(1.73 MB)
An official from the Louisiana Department of Fisheries and Wildlife briefs themedia on the project's features.
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Senator Breaux leaves the project dedication.
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The media arrives for the project dedication. These events are important toprovide information to the public about restoration projects.
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The dredging operation at Big Island.
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(1.21 MB)
The Captain Berry dredges a containment dike at Big Island.
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Discharge pipe from dredge depositing sediment into march creation area.
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(1.39 MB)
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