Restoring critical wetlands in an urban community through science-based prioritization and design
The Bayou Bienvenue Wetland Triangle (BBWT) is a culturally significant and ecologically critical wetland area in New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward. Severely damaged by the construction and operation of the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO), BBWT has been a focal point of coastal restoration conversations for decades. Located within the state's Coastal Master Plan priority areas, BBWT continues to face ongoing habitat degradation and wetland loss without intervention. Predictive models indicate this trajectory will worsen without targeted restoration strategies that address hydrology and sediment deficits.
Prior efforts by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act (CWPPRA) have laid important groundwork, as have locally driven efforts by the Pontchartrain Conservancy and others. Yet, the complexity of restoring the entire BBWT—due to landownership fragmentation and scale—has prevented comprehensive implementation. The surrounding community, particularly the Lower 9th Ward, remains highly vulnerable to flooding, with limited access to resilient natural infrastructure.
Building a Foundation for Restoration
This project aims to overcome these long-standing barriers by developing a science-based restoration prioritization plan using structured decision-making. The effort will consider key factors such as restoration costs, sediment availability, land tenure, and ecological benefits.
In September 2025, the National Wildlife Federation prepared The Bayou Bienvenue Wetland Triangle Assessment. The Assessment provides an overview of the history of the Bayou Bienvenue Wetland Triangle in the Lower 9th Ward, community vision for restoration, physical conditions of the area, and accounting of restoration initiatives.
By approaching this challenge through a deliberate and collaborative framework, the project sets the stage for scalable restoration in a landscape where momentum has been difficult to sustain.
Communities at the Center
Located adjacent to New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward, the BBWT is tightly linked to a community that remains disproportionately affected by environmental vulnerability and economic disinvestment. Once home to over 14,000 residents, the Lower 9th saw catastrophic flooding during Hurricane Katrina and now has a population of just over 4,000, more than 90% of whom are African American, with approximately one-third living below the poverty line.
Restoring the BBWT offers not only ecological benefits but also cultural and social significance. Long used for hunting, fishing, and recreation, this wetland is deeply rooted in the community’s identity. Local organizations like the Center for Sustainable Engagement and Development (CSED) and Common Ground Relief have long championed restoration and environmental education efforts in the area, hosting school groups and public tours in partnership with national nonprofits.
Public Engagement
Community engagement is crucial to the success of restoring the BBWT. The first workshop included opportunites to hear from local residents about their restoration ideas, concerns and questions.
Anticipated Benefits
This project delivers immediate and long-term impacts, including:
- Development of a restoration prioritization plan that enables phased, cost-effective wetland restoration aligned with community values and environmental needs.
- Enhanced wildlife habitat and ecosystem services in a degraded urban wetland.
- Opportunities for education and recreation that connect youth and residents to local ecology.
- Improved urban resilience through natural flood protection and the expansion of green space.
Partners and Collaborators
This initiative brings together a diverse coalition of science, policy, and community leaders:
- The Water Institute of the Gulf
- City of New Orleans
- National Wildlife Federation
- Nunez Community College
- Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA)
- Flood Protection Authority East
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Restore the Mississippi Delta Coalition
- Center for Sustainable Engagement and Development (CSED)
- Common Ground Relief
Together, these partners aim to not only restore a damaged ecosystem but to foster ecological resilience and community pride. The Charter expands upon the partner committments.
The City has been awarded two grants for development of this project, including $489,813 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Coastal Habitat Restoration and Resilience Grants for Underserved Communities Program and $888,000 from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s National Coastal Resilience Fund.