[StBernard] Barrier Island Gets New Marsh, Dunes

[Westley Annis]

Barrier Island Gets New Marsh, Dunes
EPA Joins State On Project

BATON ROUGE, La. -- In an effort to extend the life of a 1998 barrier island
restoration project, state and federal agencies are building a nearly $24
million addition on Whiskey Island in Terrebonne Parish.

The first island restoration project cost $7 million to rebuild a beach and
dunes on the Gulf of Mexico side of Whiskey Island.

Darin Lee, a resource scientist with the state's Office of Coastal
Protection and Restoration, said the thought a decade ago was that while the
dunes naturally overwashed toward the bay side of the island, it would
create a marsh that could help stabilize the eroding island. However, he
said that didn't happen.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is working with the state on the
project.