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NOAA outlines Raccoon Island engineering‑design alternatives; team advances to 30% design
Summary
NOAA Fisheries presented a detailed engineering‑design update on the Raccoon Island restoration project, describing sand source options, alternative designs that include breakwater and bayside features, preliminary cost ranges and next steps toward a 30% design and environmental review.
NOAA Fisheries’ Restoration Center presented a technical status update on March 19 for the Raccoon Island engineering‑design restoration project, which NOAA and partners said derives from Deepwater Horizon natural resource injury funding managed by the Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group (TIG).
Why it matters: Raccoon Island is a barrier island in Terrebonne Parish that provides habitat for birds and fisheries and acts as a transition between marine and estuarine environments. NOAA and co‑implementing agencies told the CPRA board that the project aims to restore island form and habitat while establishing longer‑term erosion resistance.
What NOAA said: Patrick Williams of NOAA’s Restoration Center said the TIG funded an engineering‑design project after the Louisiana Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment No. 8, and NOAA awarded a design contract to a Baird‑Stantec joint venture. He described two primary sand sources evaluated: Ship Shoal Block 88 (about 9 miles south) and the nearer Raccoon Point Shoal. NOAA engineers concluded both bars have sufficient sand quantity and quality, but pumping from Ship Shoal would be materially more expensive — NOAA estimated roughly $30–$35 million more — because of the longer pump distance.
Design alternatives and findings: NOAA presented five alternatives (No Action, plus Alternatives 2–5), each including a sand‑fill component and maintenance of existing gulf breakwaters. Alternatives differed mainly in bayside treatments: low‑overflow living shoreline options versus higher emergent rock rubble‑mound solutions and, in the most robust alternative, additional gulf‑side rock breakers. Reconnaissance‑level modeling presented in the meeting showed all restoration alternatives increased island acreage at year 20 compared with no action; NOAA said outputs show substantial gains in beach, dune and back‑barrier habitat and estimated the most conservative upper‑bound restoration cost for the robust alternative at roughly $130 million (reconnaissance estimate).
Schedule and next steps: NOAA said it has advanced to 30% design, expects to complete remaining data acquisition in the coming weeks, anticipates a 30% design review meeting this year, and expects to finish 60% design in 2025. NOAA said it will then prepare the restoration plan and environmental assessment for public review and target a Louisiana TIG construction funding request in early to mid‑2026.
Quotes and technical points: Williams said, “Both borrow areas, Raccoon Point Shoal and Ship Shoal, have sufficient quantity and quality of sand,” and cautioned that pumping from Ship Shoal is more expensive. He described design features under consideration — beach, dune, back‑barrier marsh restoration, and elevated mounds to provide nesting habitat — and said the team will screen down to a single preferred restoration alternative after the 30% design review.
What remains open: NOAA said final construction design, selection of borrow source, permits and the TIG construction funding resolution remain to be completed. Costs presented at the meeting were reconnaissance estimates and will be refined in later design stages.
