Old River Mitigation Bank (Prien Lake)

[cmdrost]

same type project they (Stream Property & PPG) did under 210 bridge

[Duck Butter]

Originally Posted by cmdrost

same type project they (Stream Property & PPG) did under 210 bridge

not familiar with it, good? bad? waste of money?

[Gottogo49]

What I saw for the PPG 210 project was just levee off tidal marsh land and turn it in to a big non tidal contaminated mud flat. I did not see any dredge spoil pumped into the PPG project. A dredge spoil flat will not support much grass or vegetation in our life times. I agree, the ship channel needs to be dredged periodically and the spoil material needs to be disposed of. I know, let's levee off part of North Big Lake an fill it in. No, there were too many negative comments on that proposal. How about levee off 1/4 of Black lake and fill it in, Oh yea, that's already been done.
OK, I done ranting, sorry.

[cmdrost]

wrong on all accounts gottago:

By JOHN GUIDROZ / AMERICAN PRESS
Nearly 20 acres of open water next to the Interstate 210 bridge should be completely converted into wetlands within 18 months, according to officials with PPG Industries.
“There’s probably nowhere you can have more visibility of coastal restoration than exactly where this is occurring,” said Mike Huber, PPG environmental projects manager. “Everybody coming across the interstate can see it happening.”
The effort is the last phase in a $10.8-million project funded by PPG to remediate and reroute the more than 60-year-old water discharge canal at its local facility.
Stream Wetlands Services was hired by PPG to work on the project, which began last February. The Coastal Conservation Association assisted PPG and Stream in designing the project.
The discharge point was moved from Bayou D’Inde to the Calcasieu River by digging 4,500 feet of new canal.
About 80,000 cubic yards of dredged material from the rerouting phase was used to create the wetlands site. Huber said that about five acres of existing wetlands was destroyed during the rerouting.
In an agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, PPG was required to restore at least eight acres of wetlands.
Dean Roberts, nursery manager for Stream Wetlands Services, said levees were placed along the perimeter of the area to contain the dredged material and control water levels.
He said that four different species of marsh grasses will be planted as a buffer that will “prevent wave action from deteriorating the levees.”
Once the grasses are removed from the nurseries, Roberts said, they must be planted within 48 hours to maintain their viability. Close to 30,000 plants should be planted by the end of this month, he said.
The four grasses include:
Roseau cane, which will serve as the first line of defense to prevent erosion along the containment levees.
Marsh hay cordgrass and joint grass, which will spread across the tops of the levees to protect them and provide benefits to marine wildlife.
Oyster grass, which will help solidify the dredged materials by tolerating salt from saline waters that come into the site.
Some of the grasses were grown for three to six months in greenhouses at the Gray Estate on Shell Beach Drive, Roberts said. The rest were cultivated at an off-site state nursery south of Carlyss.
David Richard, executive vice president of Stream Wetlands, said the effort is a “model project” that uses “methods that should be used on all dredged material in Louisiana.”
“There’s millions of cubic yards that are being dumped off (Outer) Continental Shelf that should be used beneficially,” he said.
Richard said the plants should be visible from the I-210 bridge as early as July.
He said that Stream officials will monitor the site for at least three years to meet corps specifications.

[Duck Butter]

Originally Posted by Gottogo49

What I saw for the PPG 210 project was just levee off tidal marsh land and turn it in to a big non tidal contaminated mud flat. I did not see any dredge spoil pumped into the PPG project. A dredge spoil flat will not support much grass or vegetation in our life times. I agree, the ship channel needs to be dredged periodically and the spoil material needs to be disposed of. I know, let's levee off part of North Big Lake an fill it in. No, there were too many negative comments on that proposal. How about levee off 1/4 of Black lake and fill it in, Oh yea, that's already been done.
OK, I done ranting, sorry.

No!!! That is sediment that needs to go somewhere else to build more marsh, valuable marsh that we are losing every day. Southwest La may actually be gaining land, whereas SE is losing acres a day. Save the marsh!!!!!!!!!

[Gottogo49]

I stand corrected Mr. Drost. That is the kind of projects that we need. Most of the ship channel dredging that I have seen are not restored like that. It didn't sound to me like the PPG site was used for ship channel dredge spoil only for dredge material from rerouting the plant discharge. Anyway, mitigation with vegetation is good. If that is the kind of project that is planned for Prien Lake that will be great.

[Ray]

It was marsh at one time. Now it is open shallow water.

["K"]

It is apparent that Stream Wetland Services did not provide disclosure to all involved residents.
It is also apparent that no regard has been given to the effects of dredge spoil or fill material into navigable waters. This material will eventually enter the existing water and bottoms negatively impacting a currently stable and environmentally sound ecosystem.

2.Storm surges must be considered. This will not act as a barrier, its elevation will only be five feet. Our two last hurricanes (Rita and Ike) had 11 foot storm surges in this area. Photos are enclosed. The water was able to quickly recede but the elevated marsh land and levee system will likely trap this water. A significant flooding concern exists and Stream Wetland Services can anticipate numerous lawsuits as a result of their project.

3.Water flow into this area will be impeded. Stagnant areas of water will be likely be prevalent. De-watering may prove to be an unintended consequence rendering boat slips, boathouses and bulkheads useless.

PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNS:

1.The dredged material is of grave concern in that it will likely contain hazardous materials from nearby chemical plants. In addition, these materials will contain foul and noxious odors that will have to be endured for a ten year period. Also, these carcinogenic compounds will enter our waters, water bottoms and the air we breath. The Calcasieu Estuary Remedial Investigation from 1999-2002 depicts alarming data of the EPA’s Region Superfund program. Spoils from this Superfund site are known to contain PCB’s,
dioxins, furans, and heavy metals.

2.Creation of a marsh in a residential neighborhood will also become a danger to public health. Marshes are breeding grounds for disease carrying mosquitoes. Efforts to control this will be futile.

3.Noise from the construction site, amplified over water, continuing for a ten year period will become a deterrent to outdoor activities and our way of life. This is a residential neighborhood.


FISH, WILDLIFE AND RECREATION CONCERNS:

1.As stated in the public notice the project will result in “ the destruction or alteration of 220 acres of EFH utilized by various life stages of red drum and penaeid shrimp. In addition to these, we also contend that populations of numerous specimens of spotted sea trout, shad, flounder, catfish, etc. will most certainly be effected and would be a tragedy. Recreational fishing, boating and water sports on these waters will end for this community and those who enjoy it.

2.Numerous species of birds use and inhabit this open water. Migratory ducks and geese, brown pelicans, white pelicans in cooler months, egrets, Great Blue Heron, osprey, Bald Eagle, etc. are an integral part of this environment. If the area is altered or destroyed, it will cease to be home to these species.

[Ray]

Marsh needs to be fixed farther South to fix storm surge.
The more marsh you have down south, the more it will knock down the surge.
This is being done little by little, but mainly to help with erosion in the Miami marshs.

[Duck Butter]

Originally Posted by "K"

It is apparent that Stream Wetland Services did not provide disclosure to all involved residents.
It is also apparent that no regard has been given to the effects of dredge spoil or fill material into navigable waters. This material will eventually enter the existing water and bottoms
This material was already IN the existing water and bottoms
negatively impacting a currently stable and environmentally sound ecosystem.


2.Storm surges must be considered. This will not act as a barrier, its elevation will only be five feet. 5 feet HIGHER than sea level Our two last hurricanes (Rita and Ike) had 11 foot storm surges in this area. Photos are enclosed. The water was able to quickly recede but the elevated marsh land and levee system will likely trap this water. A significant flooding concern exists and Stream Wetland Services can anticipate numerous lawsuits as a result of their project.

3.Water flow into this area will be impeded. The above paragraph just stated that this will not act as a barrier Stagnant areas of water will be likely be prevalent. De-watering may prove to be an unintended consequence rendering boat slips, boathouses and bulkheads useless.

PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNS:

1.The dredged material is of grave concern in that it will likely contain hazardous materials from nearby chemical plants. In addition, these materials will contain foul and noxious odors that will have to be endured for a ten year period. Also, these carcinogenic compounds will enter our waters, water bottoms and the air we breath. They are there already, this is not some foreign material coming from the Japan nuclear plant. The Calcasieu Estuary Remedial Investigation from 1999-2002 depicts alarming data of the EPA’s Region Superfund program. Spoils from this Superfund site are known to contain PCB’s,
dioxins, furans, and heavy metals. So.....?

2.Creation of a marsh in a residential neighborhood will also become a danger to public health. Marshes are breeding grounds for disease carrying mosquitoes. So there are no mosquitoes in this area already? Mosquito larvae are at the base of the food chain also. Efforts to control this will be futile.

3.Noise from the construction site, amplified over water, continuing for a ten year period will become a deterrent to outdoor activities and our way of life. This is a residential neighborhood.
And there it is, all this writing and we finally get to the jist of it

FISH, WILDLIFE AND RECREATION CONCERNS:

1.As stated in the public notice the project will result in “ the destruction or alteration of 220 acres of EFH utilized by various life stages of red drum and penaeid shrimp. In addition to these, we also contend that populations of numerous specimens of spotted sea trout, shad, flounder, catfish, etc. will most certainly be effected and would be a tragedy. Recreational fishing, boating and water sports on these waters will end for this community and those who enjoy it. Who fishes or boats in a 18" mudflat

2.Numerous species of birds use and inhabit this open water. Migratory ducks and geese, brown pelicans, white pelicans in cooler months, egrets, Great Blue Heron, osprey, Bald Eagle, etc. are an integral part of this environment. If the area is altered or destroyed, it will cease to be home to these species. That sucks for all these birds they will have no open places to go Guess they will be rendered unable to fly 1/4 mile to the next mudflat. They WILL find suitable habitat elsewhere. This is how people spin things, throw in some flagship species like BALD EAGLE and people start to listen. Never once mentioned laughing gulls everyone likes those

I understand these people are upset because of the construction, but this argument is pretty lame

[Duck Butter]

Originally Posted by Ray

Marsh needs to be fixed farther South to fix storm surge.
The more marsh you have down south, the more it will knock down the surge.
This is being done little by little, but mainly to help with erosion in the Miami marshs.

Not familiar with this, but the Miami Corp probably has duck hunting leases in there?

["K"]

Mr. Butter:

You may view these concerns as "lame", however currently over fifty residents, and I am one, deem these as viable concerns. You are welcome to attend the next neighborhood meeting so you may understand the issues, since you post from central Louisiana. I am not an environmental expert, just a concerned citizen. Myself and many others see this as a major problem. Anyone that views the propspectus proposed by the wetland service company will see the spin is really on the "enhancement" of the environment. I do know there are a number of fisherman that do fish eighteen inches of water in this area.... I see it everyday in the spring and summer.

Thanks!

[Duck Butter]

Originally Posted by "K"

Mr. Butter:

You may view these concerns as "lame", however currently over fifty residents, and I am one, deem these as viable concerns. You are welcome to attend the next neighborhood meeting so you may understand the issues, since you post from central Louisiana. I am not an environmental expert, just a concerned citizen. Myself and many others see this as a major problem. Anyone that views the propspectus proposed by the wetland service company will see the spin is really on the "enhancement" of the environment. I do know there are a number of fisherman that do fish eighteen inches of water in this area.... I see it everyday in the spring and summer.

Thanks!

That was in no way directed towards you and sorry if it seems that way. Was directing it at the letter itself. I do NOT live there and have only seen 2 sides of the story, the proposition and this letter. I said before that ON PAPER, the mitigation bank is a great idea. I am sure there are lots of politics involved because its the COE and it already seems to me that this Miami Corp is somehow going to benefit from this The argument AGAINST this is kind of weak though. I hope that the citizens get together and that if it goes to a trial that the best outcome is reached. Maybe a different area would be better for this thing, I do not know. Just from my point of view, start digging a little harder, maybe look up some endangered species if you truly want leverage. Find some pictures or take some pictures of Least Terns or Piping Plovers foraging or loafing on these mudflats and there you go Endangered Species will win out. Bald Eagles are no longer endangered, just one of those warm and fuzzy creatures everyone loves. Good luck

[Big Kahunaz]

Family friend lives in this area w/ lake front property....it really is a great setup (beautiful)....point built for sunsets....boathouse ........fishing, birdwatching, etc.....I can understand completely why this is being opposed! Could you imagine if your back yard/lake where to be filled in. Think about it... you've worked your arse off for a piece of waterfront property to call home and retire...live there for 15 years and a proposition to fill in your dream surfaces? I think they can find another piece of waterfront to fill in with more use than partially restoring a marsh thats still a marsh....Think about it

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Duck Butter

Not familiar with this, but the Miami Corp probably has duck hunting leases in there?

It was done by Ducks Unlimited.

[weedeater]

30 acres of useless marsh behind my house would be a great dump place, nothin but a skeeter infested hole but i would feal diff if it was my front yard

[huntin fool]

Originally Posted by jasonandrus

30 acres of useless marsh behind my house would be a great dump place, nothin but a skeeter infested hole but i would feal diff if it was my front yard

Surely your not talking about the Burns...

[weedeater]

Originally Posted by huntin fool

Surely your not talking about the Burns...

no not the burns, I live by a small marsh trap by houses that use to drain to Indian Bayou, looks like that nasty so called pond in SH park

[huntin fool]

Originally Posted by jasonandrus

no not the burns, I live by a small marsh trap by houses that use to drain to Indian Bayou, looks like that nasty so called pond in SH park

Ahh got a bud that lives on Indian By...The burns are my back yard

["K"]

Originally Posted by Big Kahunaz

Family friend lives in this area w/ lake front property....it really is a great setup (beautiful)....point built for sunsets....boathouse ........fishing, birdwatching, etc.....I can understand completely why this is being opposed! Could you imagine if your back yard/lake where to be filled in. Think about it... you've worked your arse off for a piece of waterfront property to call home and retire...live there for 15 years and a proposition to fill in your dream surfaces? I think they can find another piece of waterfront to fill in with more use than partially restoring a marsh thats still a marsh....Think about it

Totally agree Big Kahunaz!! You would think that the wetland service company, with as many other acres as they own, could find another place take dump spoils. It is hard for me to understand how the destruction of 230 acres of open water in Lake Charles will enhance the environment. Where are the local government officials in this? Also, this appears to me to completely alter fish habitat. There is a shad and shrimp nursery in this area that will be devasted.