Visit us: http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov 

The NRCS Plant Materials Program eNewsletter for the conservation community 

July-August 2005

Building a Coastal Maritime Ridge and Marshlands in Louisiana 

Working with the Golden Meadow 

Plant Materials Center (PMC), the 

Barataria-Terrebourn National 

Estuary Program and the Greater 

Lafourche Port Commission are 

constructing a maritime-forest 

ridge and marshlands-restoration 

project in southeast Louisiana. The 

main purpose of reestablishing the 

ridge and marshlands is for the 

protection of coastal lands and to 

provide habitat for migratory birds 

and other wildlife. 

“This will be one of the first created or restored ridge and 

maritime-forest initiatives in Louisiana,” said Gary Fine, 

Golden Meadow PMC manager. 

One of the goals of this 120-plus acre project is to use 

appropriate herbaceous-woody plants to restore habitat that 

once existed on the site. And, most significantly, not only 

will this project begin to restore local fisheries by adding 

productive-marshland edges; it will also help to protect the 

local area’s coastal defenses from severe storms. 

Using heavy machinery, a forest ridge will be shaped along 

a 2,000 to 6,000 foot area. Once 

constructed to specifications, both 

the upland and marshland areas 

will be planted with woody 

species. The species selection will 

be determined by compatibility as 

well as by elevation across the 

site. 

“We feel it’s important to point 

out that this restoration effort is 

not being developed as part of 

existing mitigation policies 

imposed by any governmental 

agency,” said Fine. “This project 

is an example of how coastal restoration can work with 

multiple partners and provide multiple benefits while 

creating an appreciation of these habitats and wildlife for all 

to see.” 

 

The final phase of the project will include marshland 

approximately 100-feet wide on both edges and will have an 

estimated elevation of over one and half feet. The ridge 

itself will be approximately eight feet in height. 

Upper left, 

middle right, 

middle: High 

school 

students 

volunteer to 

help 

plant new 

ridge

“We’ll build tidal channels every 1000 feet along the length 

of the marsh,” said Fine. “This will provide access for 

maritime wildlife from the open water to the north and the 

constructed marshlands to the south.” 

Upon completion of all three 

phases, project managers plan 

to build foot paths and 

boardwalks, observation 

platforms and bridges along the 

ridge that extend onto the 

marsh. Kiosks and interpretive 

signage will be constructed as 

well. Long-term plans include a 

nature/interpretive center. The 

Greater Lafourche Port 

Commission will manage and 

maintain the site. 

For more info: http://plantmaterials.nrcs.usda.gov/news/chieftour.html

Contact: Gary Fine, gary.fine@la.usda.gov
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 Visit us: http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov 

Festival Park Restoration of Coastal Marsh and Maritime Forest 

In 2000 Festival Park in the District of Wilmington, North 

Carolina was faced with an environmental problem. 1,500 

feet of coastal marsh and maritime forest was eroding along 

the shoreline. Not only was this marsh an important habitat 

for oysters, fish, sea grass and wildlife it also supported 

commercial fisheries. 

The Cape May Plant Materials Center in New Jersey in 

cooperation with the Wilmington District and State of North 

Carolina began an ambitious restoration project of Festival 

Park with an approximate cost of $1 million for planning, 

design and construction. 

Ultimately the project restored and now protects five acres 

of maritime-forest and shallow-estuarine habitat. 

As was hoped, sea grasses are becoming established in the 

protected open water between the shoreline and the rock sill 

and marsh grass show vigorous growth and good seed 

production. 

A letter sent from the Roanoke Island Commission sums up 

the success of the project: There now exists a project that 

all are proud to claim...the public will not only enjoy the 

site, but also become educated about the value of 

environmental restoration and management. 

 

 Before: Eroding Shoreline After: Stable Shoreline 

 Lacking Low Marsh Low Marsh Fringe

For more info: The Cape May PMC, http://plantmaterials.nrcs.usda.gov/njpmc

Contact: Wm. Skaradek, william.skaradek@nj.usda.gov

From the Field

Plans are underway for the National Park Service (NPS) to 

construct a new visitor’s center at Homestead National 

Monument in Beatrice, Nebraska. The Natural Resources 

Conservation Service Manhattan, Kansas Plant Materials 

Center (PMC) is going to provide technical assistance for 

the project. Russ Haas, RCS/NPS 

liaison, visited the Homestead 

National Monument on May 11, of 

this year to provide guidance on 

projects the NRCS Plant Materials 

Program could assist the park in 

completing. 

The process of providing seed for 

landscaping around the visitors center will use local 

commercial seed vendors and specifying local cultivars or 

source identified releases from neighboring states. The 211- 

acre monument or park, like the Homestead Act that it 

represents, has no undisturbed prairie other than a small 

area around the site of a one-room period school house. 

The Homestead Act of 1862 was one of the most significant 

and enduring events in the westward expansion of the 

United States. Signed by President Lincoln, the act granted 

160 acres of free land to claimants, thus allowing nearly any 

man or woman a chance to live the American dream. 

The Manhattan PMC has worked on 

one other national park service 

project. The project involved 

producing seed and transplants for 

the Agate Fossil Beds National 

Monument located in Western 

Nebraska. Through out the country, 

the Plant Materials Program is 

assisting many national parks to revegetate and retain the 

genetic integrity of native plants found within the parks. 

For more info: Homestead National Monument, 

http://www.nps.gov/home

Contact: Richard Wynia, Richard.Wynia@ks.usda.gov

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