Morgan City Ducks Unlimited Banquet

DU Project Summaries – Vicinity of Morgan City, LA

Older Projects

·         Avoca Island Marsh Management – DU delivered a project on Avoca Island in 2011.  It was the enhancement of approximately 650 acres via the water control structures.

·         Louisiana Waterfowl Project – Three private lands projects were delivered in western St. Mary Parish back in early 2000s.  These projects were in the vicinity of Jeanerette and Baldwin and enhanced approximately 600 acres.  These projects were infrastructure improvements to better manage water within waterfowl units.

·         Reforestation – One conservation easement reforestation project was delivered in 2018 that benefitted 96 acres.  It was tree plantings in old agricultural fields.

·         Attakapas WMA – DU was involved in a 250-acre project at Attakapas WMA in 2004. 

Recently Completed

·         Atchafalaya Delta WMA Crevasses – DU constructed or cleaned out approximately 12 crevasses at the mouth of the Atchafalaya River south of Morgan City.  The work occurred from 2020 to 2024 and was done in four phases as funding was secured.  The crevasses were constructed to deliver freshwater and sediment to shallow open water areas disconnected from the river.  They also were built to provide access for hunting and fishing.  Amerada Pass was also dredged to improve access to the Main Delta Campground and improve flow to the western side of the Main Delta.  DU also assisted with dredging of the houseboat mooring area (paid by LDWF).

·         Marsh Island Refuge Structures Phase I – DU replaced two water control structures on north side of the refuge.  They were the Northeast Unit Structure and Joe Aucoin Structure.  The new structures were installed in 2024.  These new structures will improve LDWF’s ability to manage water and salinity levels and improve waterfowl habitat.  The Joe Aucoin Structure will also provide recreational crabbing and shrimping opportunities.

Ongoing

·         Lake Hackberry Shoreline Protection – DU is currently installing wave break / erosion control structures along the southern bank of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway in western Terrebonne Parish.  This project is near Bayou Copasaw.  It is intended to protect thin mat floating marsh and increase aquatic vegetation.  Construction is ongoing and anticipated to be completed this winter. 

·         Carencro Bayou Bankline Repairs Phase I – DU is working with ConocoPhillips to repair the bankline of Carencro Bayou in western Terrebonne Parish.  This is a maintenance project to improve hydrologic conditions and force water to flow through water control structures rather than breaches in the bankline.  Construction of phase I is ongoing.  Future phases are planned for future years.

·         Marsh Island Refuge Phase II – DU will be soliciting bids in September 2025 to replace the Big Impoundment East Water Control Structure that is part of the 8,000-acre Big Impoundment waterfowl management unit.  The new structure will replace a structure that was installed in the 1980s by DU.  The new structure will improve salinity and water level management and enhance waterfowl habitat.  The project will also include the installation of two plugs to fix two large breaches.    

·         Bateman Island Hydrologic Evaluation – DU is working with ConocoPhillips to conduct an evaluation of restoration opportunities at Bateman Island south of Morgan City.  This includes using a hydrologic and hydraulic model to estimate benefits of various restoration techniques.

Future Funded Work and/or Pending Proposals for Funding

·         Raccourci Bay Terraces Phase II – DU has secured funding to construct a large earthen terrace field near Bayou Decade in western Terrebonne Parish.  The project is fully funded and construction is ongoing.

·         Marsh Island Refuge Phase III – Southeast Unit Structure – Funding has been secured to replace the SE Unit Structure at Marsh Island Refuge in Iberia Parish, LA.  This replacement structure will help improve waterfowl management at the refuge.  Construction is planned to start in late 2026 or early 2027. 

·         Carencro Bayou Freshwater Introduction Engineering and Design Proposal – DU is working with Terrebonne Parish and other agencies to plan and evaluate a freshwater delivery project in western Terrebonne Parish.  The idea is to re-dredge Carencro Bayou from Bayou Penchant to Little Carencro Bayou and install a rock plug in Superior Canal to divert water down Carencro Bayou.  The design is to move more freshwater eastward to enhance wetlands as far east as Bayou Decade.  DU submitted a proposal to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in 2025 requesting funding for this design work.

·         Lost Lake Engineering and Design Project – DU has engineering and design funding to evaluate a shoreline protection and terracing project on the west side of Lost Lake.  Design is slated to start in 2026 and will end with securing state and federal permits required to implement the project.  This project will be shovel ready in the event construction funding becomes available.

·         Avoca Island Terraces – DU is working with Avoca Island Hunting Club to build a large-scale terracing project on Avoca Island.  A proposal was submitted in 2026 and ~$1.5M in NAWCA funding was secured.  The work will be done in 2028.