Finally using all that royalty money for something good

[Ray]

U.S. Representative Charles W. Boustany, Jr., (R-Southwest Louisiana), today announced the Minerals Management Service awarded a $930,919.86 grant to replace the water control structure for the West Big Burn Bridge restoration in Cameron Parish.
"Saltwater intrusion remains a major contributor to coastal erosion in Cameron Parish," Boustany said. "CIAP projects like the replacement of the water control structure at West Big Burn Bridge will help to prevent further ecosystem degradation and restore our region's natural storm protection. We must continue to reinforce our coastal protections to safeguard our people and our way of life throughout Southwest Louisiana."
The grant will be used to replace the water control structure, so salinity and water levels can be restored to pre-2005 levels.
Tina Horn, Cameron Parish Administrator, added, "this project was needed to lower water levels and restore the marsh functions for wildlife, waterfowl and fisheries. This project would not have been possible without the Coastal Impact Assistance Program funds."
This grant is part of the Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP), which distributes funds from offshore mineral royalties to rebuild wetlands and coastal protections.

[Gottogo49]

Where is the West Big Burn Bridge - Gibstown Bridge? Replace the water control structure, I guess they mean those structures at the big turn before Little Chenier Road.

[Ray]

The first bridge South of the Gibstown bridge.

[Ray]

The federal Minerals Management Service has approved a $699,400 grant to Tangipahoa Parish for the engineering and design of a project to protect the northern shoreline of Lake Pontchartrain.
Once the design work is completed, additional grant money will be
provided to build a detached breakwater system along the shoreline to reduce wave energy, and stem erosion. The breakwater will extend about 18,000 feet from Pass Manchac to the Tangipahoa River. The entire project is estimated to cost $6.6 million.
The money comes from the federal Coastal Impact Assistance Program, which funnels about $250 million a year from oil and gas produced in federal Outer Continental Shelf waters from 2007 to 2011 to Louisiana and five other states that are affected by those operations.
Tangipahoa Parish is one of 19 coastal parishes eligible for a share of the revenue.
The lake's northwestern shoreline is eroding at a rate of about 5 feet a year along the three miles to the west of the river. Based on the performance of similar restoration projects at Turtle Cove, just east of the project area, state officials believe breakwaters will reduce or halt shoreline erosion.
The coastal assistance program was co-sponsored by U.S. Sens. Mary Landrieu, D-La., and David Vitter, R-La., as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

[Gerald]

The breakwater will extend about 18,000 feet from Pass Manchac to the Tangipahoa River.

For those of you that have never seen the Cypress swamps that are located in that area of our state.......they are beautiful. The Tangipahoa river is [was ? I have not been there in 30+ years] one of the prettiest river in Louisiana that I have been on.