Louisiana creates 1,170 acres of wetlands; shrimp and crabs return to restored habitat after a year

One year after Louisiana restored 1,170 acres of wetlands, shrimp, crabs and red drum are returning to the habitat. Louisiana’s coastline is showing early signs of recovery after a major wetland restoration project created 1,170 acres of new marsh habitat in the Barataria Basin. Just one year after construction, species including white and brown shrimp, blue crab and red drum have begun using the newly restored ecosystem.According to NOAA Fisheries, the Upper Barataria Marsh Creation Project is part of a larger effort by NOAA and its partners to rebuild Louisiana’s coastal habitats following decades of land loss and the damage caused by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.Louisiana’s wetlands have faced decades of land lossLocated between the Mississippi River and Bayou Lafourche, the Barataria Basin’s wetlands provide important benefits to Louisiana’s coastal communities. They support wildlife, fisheries and ecosystems that are closely connected to the region’s economy.However, the basin has lost nearly 300,000 acres of land since the 1930s. Erosion, storm surge and a lack of sediment flowing from the Mississippi River have contributed to the continuing loss.The Deepwater Horizon...