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Jefferson Parish Christmas Tree Marsh Restoration Project 2012

 

From Jefferson Parish,

Jefferson Parish is preparing for its 22nd Annual Christmas Tree Marsh Restoration Project. All Jefferson Parish residents, including unincorporated areas, the Town of Jean Lafitte, Gretna, Harahan, Kenner and Westwego, wishing to participate in the program are asked to remove all lights, tinsel, garland, ornaments, tree stands and plastic bags from their Christmas trees and leave them on the curb for collection. Artificial, flocked or painted trees are not eligible for the program.


Residents are advised to place trees curbside on the evening of Wednesday, January 11, 2012, whereas in years’ past, trees were typically collected on the second scheduled garbage collection day. Garbage trucks will make one pass through each neighborhood to collect trees within the dates of January 12, 13, and 14, 2012.


The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Fire Departments of the West Bank Presidents and Chiefs Association will again this year offer the use of their boats and personnel, and the 24th Judicial District Court, State Probation and Parole as well as other parish related justice programs are assigning court ordered community service workers to participate in supporting coastal restoration.


The New Orleans Fire Department is also supporting the Tree Marsh Restoration Project as will several Jefferson Parish municipal Police Departments. Fire Department and law enforcement personnel will use boats to transport recyclable Christmas trees, using this as a training exercise for maneuvering shallow draft boats in tight quarters to specific GPS coordinates, while court ordered community service workers will load trees into
boats. Court ordered participants will have their service hours tracked and submitted to the appropriate justice program by employees of the Operations division of the Parish President’s Office.


“The Louisiana Department of Natural Resources eliminated funding for Christmas tree marsh restoration programs throughout the state, but because of the generosity and cooperation of the 24th Judicial District Court, Sheriff Normand, and our Fire Fighters, we are continuing the vital work of saving our coastline,” said Jefferson Parish President John Young.


Trees will be placed into pre-constructed shoreline fences in Goose Bayou, near the town of Jean Lafitte. Project Coordinator Jason Smith added that “A monitoring study by Louisiana State University found that these tree fences dramatically reduce the rate of shoreline retreat and, by effectively trapping sediments, result in higher accretion rates in nearby marshes. Sediments carried over and through the fences by wave action are slowly accreting and building land between the shoreline and the fences.”


For more information contact Marnie Winter, Director, Jefferson Parish Department of Environmental Affairs at 731-4612.


A little history

 

Louisiana is losing 25 - 35 square miles of coastal wetlands each year. The Barataria Basin is the fastest-eroding area of Louisiana's coast. Jefferson Parish once had 50 miles of near-solid healthy wetlands between it and the Gulf of Mexico. The wetlands protect developed areas against hurricane surges, provide natural treatment for storm water, and provide a rich nursery ground for fisheries. Now, a large percentage of these wetlands have been converted to open water, significantly reducing storm protection.
 

 

  • Since 1991, over 750,000 Christmas trees have been recycled by using them to rebuild wetlands rather than taking up valuable landfill space.

  • Tree fences slow wave action, trap sediments, and combat erosion.

  • Wetlands will be created and protected behind shoreline cribs and by filling in dead-end, abandoned, oil-access canals.

  • Project increases public awareness of wetland losses, solid waste issues, and conservation of natural resources.

  • Project received national attention in 1997 when we received seventy Christmas trees from the White House.

  • Project is funded by Jefferson Parish and the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources Coastal Restoration Division.

  • Project is largely dependent on community volunteers and assistance from other government agencies such as the Louisiana Army Air Guard and LA Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries.

  • Project relies heavily on cash and in-kind contributions from corporations, such as past support from Chevron, Texaco, Shell, Exxon, Entergy, and Home Depot.

  • 1994 - National Association of Counties Environmental Achievement Award.

  • 1995 - Bureau of Governmental Research Excellence in Government Keller Award.

  • 1996 - Renew America National Award for Environmental Sustainability.

  • 1999 - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 Regional Administrator's Environmental Excellence Award for Environmental Education.

  • 2000 - SWANA/NCTA Christmas Tree Recycling Excellence Award.

  • 2001 - Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana s Coastal Stewardship Award.

  • 2001 - Walter B. Jones Memorial Award: Excellence in Local Government for Coastal and Ocean Resource Management.

     

VOLUNTEER FOR THIS "HANDS ON" ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT
 

RECYCLE YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE
Projects like this would not be possible without you.
For more information please contact:
Jefferson Parish Department of Environmental Affairs
4901 Jefferson Hwy., Suite E
Jefferson, LA 70121
(504) 731-4612

 


 

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