Black Bayou Hydrologic Restoration
Located in Cameron and Calcasieu parishes, the Black Bayou Hydrologic Restoration Project encompasses a 25,530-acre wetland area bordered by the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW), Sabine Lake, Black Bayou and Gum Cove Ridge. Due drastic hydrologic changes brought about from the construction of the GIWW, salinities had increased in the project area leading to the die-off of much of the formerly fresh and intermediate marshes. As the open water area increases, erosion increases due to larger wind-induced wave heights. The purpose of this project was to protect these fragile interior wetlands from the rapid deterioration of the banks of the GIWW by armoring a five-mile long stretch of the GIWW with a rock dike. A unique aspect of this project is the installation of a self-regulating tide gate in order to restrict the inflow and retention time of saline water, while maintaining access by aquatic resources and particles. Construction on this project was completed in December 2001, and over 50,000 marsh plants will be installed within the interior of the project area in the spring of 2002 and 2003.