Marsh Restoration: Whiskey Island, Louisiana

Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (LDNR)

Integrated hydrographic/geophysical surveys and a vibratory coring program were completed in the Gulf of Mexico in the waters offshore of Whiskey Island, Louisiana for the LDNR and The United States Environmental Protection Agency. OSI completed these investigations under subcontract to T. Baker Smith & Sons. The primary objective of the LDNR was to restore a portion of the back-barrier salt marsh environment on Whiskey Island by the creation of a dune and a marsh platform using nearshore sediment resources.

Ocean Surveys, Inc. completed the surveys and coring as three separate tasks.

• Task 1 consisted of the acquisition and analysis of more than 260 statute miles of multi-sensor geophysical data in a search area measuring approximately 23 square miles in size. Three areas were identified as having higher potential to contain sediments deemed suitable for restoration.
• Task 2 consisted of the acquisition and analysis of 48 vibratory cores obtained within each area to gain a better understanding of the subbottom stratigraphy and enable better mapping of the sediment resources.
• Task 3 was performed to identify and map potential obstructions to future dredging operations, to address the cultural resource assessment aspect of the project, and to refine volume estimates.

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