Oil Spill Cash Revives Raccoon Island and Coastal Marshes
Published Date: 10/14/2026
Notice
Summary
The Louisiana Trustee group is ready to restore wetlands and coastal areas hurt by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. They picked two projects—East Orleans Landbridge and Raccoon Island—to get funding and start fixing these important habitats. This work will help wildlife and communities along Louisiana’s coast, with plans moving forward as of October 2026.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
East Orleans Landbridge: 5.0M yd³, 1,320 acres
The Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group selected East Orleans Landbridge Restoration Alternative 4, which would dredge and place about 5.0 million cubic yards (3.8 million m³) of sediment to restore up to 1,320 acres (534 hectares) of wetland and add 14,867 linear feet (4.53 km) of shoreline protection. The approximate cost to implement this preferred alternative is $109.4 million.
Raccoon Island: 2.9M yd³, 410 acres
The Louisiana TIG selected Raccoon Island Restoration Project Alternative 3, which would dredge about 2.9 million cubic yards (2.2 million m³) of sand to restore up to 410 acres (166 hectares) of barrier island habitat, maintain existing Gulfside breakwaters, construct four bayside breakwaters, and build nine living shoreline structures. The approximate cost to implement this preferred alternative is $156.3 million.
Combined Funding: $265.7 million allocated
The total estimated cost to implement the two preferred alternatives (East Orleans Alternative 4 and Raccoon Island Alternative 3) is approximately $265.7 million. Funding to implement these alternatives would come from the Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitats Restoration Type allocation.
NEPA FONSI issued, plan finalized
The Louisiana TIG prepared and finalized the Phase 2 Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment #8.1 and issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). With the FONSI, the Louisiana TIG selected the preferred design alternatives for funding and implementation; the document was published on October 14, 2026.
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