COASTAL WETLANDS PLANNING, PROTECTION AND RESTORATION ACT

PROJECT STATUS REPORT as of 04-Oct-2024

Atchafalaya Sediment Delivery COMPLETE

PROJECT DATA

PROJECT: Atchafalaya Sediment Delivery COMPLETE
PRIORITY LIST: 2 PROJECT NO: 0226 CWPPRA NO: PAT-2 DNR NO: AT-02
PROJECT TYPE: Hydrologic Restoration NET ACRES BENEFITTED: 2232
REGION: 3 BASIN: Atchafalaya PARISH: St. Mary
LEAD AGENCY: NMFS
LOCAL SPONSOR: DEPT. OF NATURAL RESOURCES, STATE OF LA.

MILESTONES:

CSA EXECUTION: 01-Aug-1994 ( Actual )    
DESIGN COMPLETION: 01-Nov-1997 ( Actual )    
CONSTRUCTION START: 25-Jan-1998 ( Actual )    
CONSTRUCTION COMPLETION: 21-Mar-1998 ( Actual )    
ESCROW AMENDMENT No: 17
MONITORING PLAN APPROVAL:    
O and M PLAN APPROVAL: 14-Jun-2004 ( Actual )    
DEAUTHORIZATION DATE:      
CASH FLOW PROECTS:        
Phase 1 Approval: 19-Oct-1992 ( Actual )    
Phase 2 Approval: 19-Oct-1992 ( Actual )    

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS:

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: 3 Charles W. Boustany
STATE SENATE DISTRICT: 21 R. L. "Bret" Allain II
STATE HOUSE DISTRICT: 50 Sam Jones

Point of Contact:

DEPT. OF COMMERCE
NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE

John Foret

646 Cajundome Boulevard

Lafayette, LA 70506
PHONES:  
Office: (337) 291-2107
Fax: (337) 291-2106

COASTAL WETLANDS PLANNING, PROTECTION AND RESTORATION ACT

PROJECT STATUS REPORT as of 04-Oct-2024

Atchafalaya Sediment Delivery COMPLETE

PROJECT LOCATION:

The project is located east of the lower Atchafalaya River navigation channel in the Atchafalaya River Delta, approximately 19 miles southwest of Morgan City, Louisiana, in St. Mary Parish.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

The project will re-establish the natural sediment delivery system in two distributaries within the Atchafalaya Delta and enhance the river's natural delta building potential. Approximately 125,000 cubic yards of material will be dredged from a 90-foot wide, 6-foot deep, 6,300-foot long channel through Natal Channel and Radcliffe Pass. A hydraulic cutterhead dredge connected to a barge fitted with a spray nozzle will deposit the material to create over 300 acres of emergent marsh. The newly created channel will deliver freshwater and sediments to the eastern portion of the delta. It is expected that this will result in the continued natural creation of coastal wetlands in the delta region. The objective of this project is to enhance natural delta growth by re-opening Natal Channel and Castille Pass. Natal Channel was re-established with a 120-ft wide, 10-ft deep, 8,800-ft long channel and Castille Pass with a 190-ft wide, 10-ft deep, 2,000-ft long channel. Material dredged (700,925 cubic yards) as a result of construction was strategically placed at elevations mimicking natural delta lobes. Approximately 280 acres were created. Re-opening the channels is allowing continued natural sediment transport and marsh growth.

PROJECT STATUS: (Project Status Last Updated: 17-Jan-2013 )

Annual O&M inspections are conducted on the Project. Project goals to increase the distributary potential of Natal Pass and Castille Pass has partially been met. Limited bathymetric data is suggesting partial shoaling at the head of Natal Pass and Castille Pass. More extensive bathymetric survey is currently being discussed for both AT-02 and AT-03. The creation of delta lobe islands with beneficially using dredge material channel excavation has also been met. The creation and enlargement of the delta lobes at these locations indicates that the delta is growing within the project boundaries.

FUND STATUS:

The current project estimate is $2,315,806 , which includes $1,790,467 for construction first costs, and $352,914 and $172,425 for 20 years of monitoring and operations and maintenance, respectively.

LaCoast.gov Project Managers' Technical Factsheet