Dredged Material Could Be Used To Rebuild Wetlands

BELLE CHASSE, La. (AP) — Material dredged from the lower Mississippi River for navigation purposes could find its way into marsh creation projects. It's part of an agreement signed by Plaquemines Parish and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The Advocate reports different groups have long called for using more of this dredged material to create coastal wetlands instead of releasing the material into the river or the Gulf of Mexico.

Plaquemines President Billy Nungesser says it's the latest step in making the Louisiana Coastal Area Beneficial Use of Dredged Material Program a reality.

Under the program, Col. Richard Hansen, the corps' New Orleans district commander, says the Corps conducts normal dredging operations on the river through regular funding mechanisms but the LCA program then pays to move the material to a marsh-creation area.