THE LAKE HERMITAGE MARSH CREATION PROJECT – A LESSONS LEARNED
PERSPECTIVE ON THE MANAGEMENT, DESIGN, AND CONSTRUCTION OF A LARGE
SCALE MARSH CREATION PROJECT
Rudy Simoneaux1, Kevin Roy2
1
2
Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, 450 Laurel Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70801, USA;
(225) 342-0981; rudy.simoneaux@la.gov
United States Fish and Wildlife Service, 646 Cajundome Blvd., Suite 400, Lafayette, LA 70506, USA;
(337) 291-3120; Kevin_Roy@fws.gov
Abstract:
Utilization of hydraulically dredged sediments for wetland creation and nourishment is a widely used
ecosystem restoration measure, particularly in coastal Louisiana. The Coastal Wetlands Planning,
Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA) program refers to this restoration technique as Marsh Creation.
Over the past two decades, dozens of these projects have been designed and constructed through the
CWPPRA program, resulting in the nourishment and creation of thousands of acres of new wetlands.
Creating over 1,000 acres of new wetlands, the Lake Hermitage Marsh Creation Project is one of the largest
restoration projects to be built in Louisiana, and one of the first Marsh Creation projects to be constructed
using Mississippi River sediments. Planning and project management was led by the United States Fish
and Wildlife Service (USFWS), which served as the Federal Sponsor. The Louisiana Coastal Protection
and Restoration Authority (CPRA) performed engineering and design (in-house), landrights services,
environmental support, and construction oversight.
The original scope of Lake Hermitage project included the dredging of 3.7 MCY of sediment from the
Mississippi River to create approximately 550 acres of wetlands. Additional features included 7,300 LF of
earthen terraces and a 7,400 LF shoreline berm, the first of its kind to be constructed through the CWPPRA
program. Through additional funding that became available after construction started, the project team was
able to permit, design, and implement an additional 500 acres of wetlands. This presentation will provide a
‘lessons learned’ perspective on the multiple aspects and phases of the project with a primary focus on the
engineering and design process, the ecological analyses, an overview of the modeling and tests that were
performed, a summary of the pertinent data that was collected, the steps that were taken to ensure
environmental compliance and landowner cooperation, and the challenges that were encountered during
construction. Additionally, the presentation will highlight the CWPPRA program’s flexibility and the
project team’s ‘on-the-fly’ management and design effort that took place during construction and allowed
the project to double in size.
Presenter:
Rudy Simoneaux currently holds the position of Manager of CPRA’s Engineering Division where he has
worked since 2004. He has been involved in the planning, engineering, and construction of several large
scale restoration projects including the Lake Hermitage Marsh Creation (lead designer/engineer of record),
Cameron Parish Shoreline Restoration, Grand Liard Marsh and Ridge Restoration, Lower Barataria and
Breton Sediment Diversions, and the Expanded Small Scale Physical Model of the Lower Mississippi
River. Mr. Simoneaux received a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Louisiana State University in 2003 and is
a Registered Professional Engineer in State of Louisiana.