Projects Funded

For the Bayou is pleased to grant funds for the following projects. We would like to thank our volunteers, donors and supporting companies for making these grants possible.

$5000 to Port Fourchon Mangrove Planting Project
For the Bayou granted $5000 to the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana for the Port Fourchon Mangrove Planting Project. This project works with volunteers to restore 4 acres of marsh by planting mangrove trees and marsh grasses along a newly backfilled canal in Port Fourchon, LA. Port Fourchon is located on the southern tip of Lafourche Parish in Southeastern Louisiana. The salt marshes surrounding Port Fourchon play a vital role in protecting the port’s infrastructure from wave action and storm surge while providing habitat to a wide variety of fish and shellfish.

For more information on this grant or if you have interest in volunteering, please contact: info@forthebayou.org

$10,000 to Jean Lafitte National Park Cypress Forest Restoration
For the Bayou granted $10,000 to the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana for the Jean Lafitte National Park Cypress Forest Restoration. The project’s objectives are to increase habitat quality and promote a healthy riparian area within the park by re-establishing native cypress trees to provide critical habit for migratory birds and provide storm protection to adjacent marsh. Historically, spoil banks in that region were lined with bald cypress. Unfortunately, over the last 50 years, most spoil banks been overrun by invasive the Chinese Tallow tree. CRCL will partner with the park and lead volunteers to plant native cypress trees along the spoil banks of the park. The project would recruit approximately 80 volunteers to plant 1,000 trees along 7,500 linear feet of canal bank within the park. Volunteers would meet at the Jean Lafitte National Park Visitor’s Center and be transported to the planting sites by taking a short boat ride on a swamp tour boat provided by the Louisiana Tour Company.

For more information on this grant or if you have interest in volunteering, please contact: info@forthebayou.org

The Crisis

Every 30 minutes Louisiana loses the equivalent of one football field of wetlands. These are America’s largest wetlands, and this is the most urgent ecological crisis in the history of the United States.

What’s At Stake?

The economic, ecological and social value of the Louisiana wetlands is essential to the security and prosperity of the United States.

Environment at Stake

  • 40% of US coastal wetlands are in Louisiana
  • 90% of coastal wetland loss occurs in Louisiana – one acre every half hour
  • Over 2 million people call this area home, including the unique Cajun and Creole cultures who’s food and music are enjoyed nation-wide
  • Every 2.7 miles of wetlands diminishes storm surges by 1 foot, buffering against hurricanes and storms
  • Louisiana wetlands support hundreds of species of birds, plants, trees and other wildlife
  • Louisiana wetlands provide about 280,000 acres of National Wildlife Habitat
  • It is the #1 US winter habitat for millions of migratory waterfowl
  • It is the #1 Nursery in the Caribbean Basin

Industry at Stake

  • 30% of U.S. commercial seafood comes from Louisiana
  • 30% of US crude oil production & 20% of US natural gas production comes from Louisiana’s coast
  • Direct maritime commerce is enjoyed by 31 U.S. States through the waterways and wetlands of Louisiana
  • The largest US port (based on tonnage) is located in South Louisiana & the 5th largest of the 15 largest US ports is in South Louisiana.
  • $2 billion in revenues is created annually from recreational fishing in South Louisiana

Causes of Wetland Loss

  • Mississippi River Dams and Levee Architecture
  • Saltwater Intrusion caused by manmade canals for federally-maintained waterways
  • Hurricanes and Storm Surges
  • Oil Spills