The plant life that holds the marsh together is accustomed to brackish water, and the influx of saltier water caused them to die or become sickly. As the root networks deteriorated, the glue that kept the loose silt together gave way, and the very base of the marsh was weakened. This process of saltwater intrusion made coastal areas even more susceptible to the effects of the tides, and decreased the normal timetable of erosion. Under the direction of the Department of Natural Resources, Office of Coastal Restoration and Management, projects are underway to try to reclaim what has been lost. These projects receive much of their funding from federal sources, with matching state contributions.
Several projects are currently underway on the state's barrier islands.
Most of these projects are focused on repairing the islands south of Terrebonne Parish, an area that has experienced much erosion. Projects include adding breakwaters, and sediment trapping on Isle Dernieres and Raccoon Island 3 . I have personally witnessed the success of these programs in restoring lost beach. Since the installation of sediment trapping fences and the placement of rock jetties around its seaward edge, much of the lost area has indeed become beach again. Timbalier Island has also benefited from the planting of vegetation, which naturally traps sediment and anchors the soil against the effects of the tides.