Broomfield, Colo., October 9, 2014 – MWH Global, the premier solutions provider focused on water and natural resources, has been awarded a $3 million contract by the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) to provide engineering services for the restoration of the East Timbalier Barrier Island off the coast of Louisiana at an estimated cost of $75 million.
East Timbalier Island is under threat of disappearing due to a combination of hurricane and coastal storm events, subsidence and other factors.
East Timbalier Island is part of the Louisiana barrier island chain that separates Terrebonne and Timbalier bays from the Gulf of Mexico. In recent years, East Timbalier Island has experienced significant loss of land due to multiple hurricanes, subsidence and reduced sediment loads from the Mississippi River. The island currently consists of two severely degraded segments and is anticipated to disappear unless restoration activities are undertaken to replenish sediment that has been lost.
The coastal barrier islands in the Gulf of Mexico off the Louisiana coast provide critical beach, dune and marsh habitat. They also serve to protect fragile interior marshes and infrastructure and provide quiescent bay habitats preferred by many fish and invertebrate species by lowering wave energy and storm surges originating from the Gulf. The Louisiana CPRA has identified the restoration of a number of islands similar to East Timbalier Island as an important part of the state’s 2012 Coastal Master Plan and the Fiscal 2013 Annual Plan for Ecosystem Restoration and Hurricane Protection in Coastal Louisiana.
The MWH project scope includes engineering and design to re-establish the historic island footprint with beach, dune, and marsh habitat creation, reconnecting the two segments. Project scope activities will be accomplished with close support from MWH key project team members to include Coastal Engineering Consultants, Ocean Surveys, Inc., GeoEngineers, Fugro/John Chance Land Surveyors, R.C. Goodwin & Associates, and Coastal Technology Corporation.
“This project represents a unique opportunity for the Louisiana coastal region to become better prepared for the future and to combat ongoing issues jeopardizing the long-term health of the coastal ecosystem,” said Marshall Davert, president for government and infrastructure for MWH in the Americas and Asia Pacific. “MWH is extremely proud to be a partner with CPRA and the associated agencies on such an important restoration project.”
Significant effort will be applied toward identifying suitable nearshore and offshore sediment sources to build the desired island habitats through coastal geotechnical investigation and engineering analysis. Throughout the 32-month contract term, extensive coordination will be undertaken by MWH with Federal and State agencies for permitting along with oil and gas operators that have significant infrastructure in the region.
Construction and restoration of the improved East Timbalier Island is expected to begin in 2017.
To see photos of the degradation of East Timbalier Island from 1989 to the present-day, click the below image.
