The largest, to that date, NOAA Community-based Restoration (CRP) project was constructed on broken marsh near the Fourchon Public Boat Launch. The 3-phased project stabilized canal banks with rock and created 45 acres of marsh in 2002. After one year, 18,500 stems of Smooth Cordgrass were planted by volunteers on the consolidated marsh platform. The beach was protected with 7,000 feet of sand fencing and 2,500 Black Mangroves, with an additional 2,500 Black Mangroves planted in 2011 by the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL). In 2004, 32,000 linear feet of an old levee was degraded to restore the natural hydrology of over 1,850 acres of essential fish habitat and to reduce flooding on Highway 3090.
Wisner leveraged $250,000 of its funds, a $150,000 NOAA CRP grant, and a $100,000 Restore America’s Estuaries (RAE) grant into a $800,000 project that still protects Port Fourchon. Partners included NOAA, RAE, Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL), University of New Orleans, ChevronTexaco, the Greater Lafourche Port Commission, the Barataria Terrebonne National Estuary Program, Morris P. Hebert engineering firm, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Coastal Dredging Company, LSU Agricultural Center, and Mitch’s Landscaping and Lawn Care.
Cathy Norman’s work on this project resulted in her being awarded both NOAA’s 2004 Environmental Hero Award, the CRCL’s 2004 Environmental Stewardship Award, as well as being recognized by the City of New Orleans. Ms. Norman was the Secretary Treasurer from November 1992 to January 2013. The project was featured in Audubon’s October 2004 magazine.