Louisiana Oyster Cultch Project
Implementing Organization
State of Louisiana
Overview
DWH Project Funding
$14,874,300
Known Leveraged Funding
$0
Funding Organization
Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustees (NRDA)
Funding Program
Natural Resource Damage Assessment NRDA
Details
Project Category
Environmental
Project Actions
Species Restoration
Targeted Resources
Oysters/Reefs
Project Description
The Louisiana Oyster Cultch Project involves (1) the placement of oyster cultch onto approximately 850 acres of public oyster seed grounds throughout coastal Louisiana; and (2) construction of an oyster hatchery facility that will serve to improve existing oyster hatchery operations and produce supplemental larvae and seed. Oyster Cultch Placement Component: The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) will contract for the placement of cultch material onto approximately 850 acres of public oyster seed grounds throughout coastal Louisiana, including 3-Mile Bay, Drum Bay, Lake Fortuna, South Black Bay, Hackberry Bay, and Sister Lake. Cultch material consists of limestone rock, crushed concrete, oyster shell, and other similar material that, when placed in oyster spawning areas, provides a substrate on which free swimming oyster larvae can attach and grow into oysters. The cultch materials are planned to be placed at a planting density of 200 cubic yards/acre, although adjustments to this planting density may be made depending upon water bottom characteristics at the time of project implementation. The oyster cultch placements will employ cultch planting approaches utilized by LDWF since 1917. Oyster Hatchery Component: The second portion of the project involves constructing an oyster hatchery facility that will serve to improve the state's oyster hatchery capabilities to help facilitate and expedite success of the cultch placement. In order to provide a supplemental source of oyster larvae and oyster seed, LDWF will construct a new building adjacent to the existing Sea Grant oyster hatchery located at the LDWF facili...click on "More Info" link below
Contact
Carolina Bourque(337) 735-8726
cbourque@wlf.la.gov
Project Website
None
For official trustee information regarding the Deepwater Horizon NRDA, including information regarding the NRDA process and the status of projects, see https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/