Louisiana To Restore Marshes With $215 Million From BP Oil Spill Settlement

It's hard to believe it has been 10 years since an explosion at an oil rig leaked over 100 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, leaving 11 dead and devastating damage to the region's natural resources. Steps have begun to address the environmental impact and future of the region, including BP agreeing to pay $8.8 billion as part of 2016's Oil Pollution Act settlement.

On Tuesday, Governor John Bel Edwards announced the state will receive nearly $215 million from BP's settlement to be used for two projects around New Orleans to restore more than 4,600 acres of marsh and other habitat in the area, KATC reports.

Louisiana's Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority President Chip Kline said the projects, which are expected to begin next year, will set a record. The project at Lake Borgne near St. Bernard Parish's Shell Beach will create more than 2,800 acres, which Kline said would be the largest bid by the agency.

"This project will have immediate benefits to habitat for fish and birds by reinforcing the degrading southwestern shoreline of Lake Borgne and Lena Lagoon," said St. Bernard Parish President Guy McInnis. "And we need all the natural marsh buffer we can build to lessen the damaging effects of tidal action and storm surge."

The second project is the Spanish Pass, near Venice in Plaquemines Parish, which will create around 132 acres of ridge and 1,700 acres of marsh using 16 million cubic yards of dredged material, which Kline called the largest dredging volume so far.

"The Mississippi River created our parish and the many historic ridges of our landscape," said Plaquemines Parish President Kirk Lepine. "These features protect against storm surge, reduce saltwater intrusion, provide key habitats and also help retain sediment. The marsh west of Venice has been in need of this level of attention for some time, and I know the people and businesses near Venice will appreciate this massive project and this tremendous investment."

According to KATC, the Lake Borgne project was approved for $114.7 million while the Spanish Pass project was approved for $100.3 million.

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