Paul J. Rainey Widllife Sanctuary

The marshes in Paul J. Rainey Wildlife Sanctuary in Vermillion Parish, Louisiana have degraded due to periods of flooding by rivers and canals that result in prolonged inundation periods, subsidence, and salinity increases. To restore elevation and decrease inundation, dredged material was placed on 105 square kilometers of the marsh. This thin-layer placement project slightly increased marsh elevation and resulted in increased plant productivity. Partners on this project included Louisiana State University, the Cooperative Institute for Coastal and Estuarine Technology, Louisiana SeaGrant, National Atmospheric Administration, and the Louisiana Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration.