The MRGO Ecosystem Restoration Plan Draft Feasibility Report and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) prepared by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is now available to the public. The formal public comment period closed on March 5, 2011.

The Draft Feasibility Report is a supplement to the June 2008 MRGO Deep-Draft De-Authorization Report to fully meet the requirements of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2007 Section 7013 (Public Law 110-114). The report describes the planning process undertaken for the development and evaluation of alternative ecosystem restoration plans. A Tentatively Selected Plan (TSP) is identified in the Draft Feasibility Report. The TSP would restore and protect approximately 58,861 acres of habitat in the study area, including 13,950 acres of fresh and intermediate marsh; 33,966 acres of brackish marsh; 10,430 acres of cypress swamp; 466 acres of saline marsh; and 48 acres of ridge habitat. The TSP also recommends approximately 70 miles of shoreline protection (including 7.5 miles of artificial oyster reef development).

The Draft EIS provides a detailed description of the proposed action, the purpose and need, reasonable alternatives, affected environment, as well as presents the analysis of the anticipated beneficial and adverse environmental impacts from the alternatives.

Questions regarding the current status of the project can be submitted by clicking here, over the phone at (504) 862-2318 or by email at Joshua.T.Carson@usace.army.mil. Hard copies of the reports are also available upon request, by contacting Josh Carson at (504) 862-2318.

Additional Documents:

• Engineering Appendix
• Real Estate Appendices and Exhibits