Chevron continued its commitment to restoring and enhancing critical wetlands along the Louisiana coast by partnering with Ducks Unlimited (DU) to support three marsh terracing projects in Lafourche Parish. Terraces enhance water quality by reducing turbidity and allowing for the growth of submerged aquatic vegetation, an important food source for waterfowl and a key habitat for invertebrate and fishery resources. Providing food for many birds, wildlife, and fish species boosts the natural resource-based economy and supports Louisiana’s unique culture.
“Chevron is proud to continue our longstanding support of Ducks Unlimited’s Gulf Coast Initiative in Louisiana,” said Jeremy Haken, Chevron Corporate Affairs Senior Manager. “Since 2013, Chevron has contributed $5 million to DU in support of wetland restoration efforts in coastal Louisiana. These projects will help strengthen and restore wetlands that protect communities, support wildlife habitat, and help sustain vital assets like Port Fourchon and Highway 1 that are so important to Lafourche Parish.”
Importantly, these projects, which are supported by Chevron and a coalition of public and private partners committed to coastal restoration, will help protect critical infrastructure, including Port Fourchon, the South Lafourche Levee System, and Highway 1—the only hurricane evacuation route for Grand Isle residents. The stability of this corridor is essential for ensuring public safety during severe weather events.
The three specific projects supported by Chevron’s 2026 grant include:
- Highway 1 Marsh Terracing and Living Shoreline Project - West of Hwy 1 near Golden Meadow community, this roughly $7.8-million project will include earthen marsh terraces and a living shoreline feature to enhance approximately 500 acres of brackish marsh in the Terrebonne Basin.
- Port Fourchon Terracing Project Phase 2 – East of Port Fourchon, this $7-million project will enhance approximately 1,000 acres of salt marsh in the Barataria Basin. Phase I of the project was completed in 2025. This work will improve foraging, loafing, and nesting habitats for coastal birds, including waterfowl, wading birds, shorebirds, colonial seabirds, and secretive marsh birds. In addition, the project will help protect Port Fourchon facilities and adjacent marshlands, which provide vital storm-surge reduction and ecological services.
- Bayou L’Ours Terracing Project Phase 5 – East of the Larose to Golden Meadow Hurricane Protection System, near Golden Meadow, this $2.3-million project will construct and plant approximately 56,000 linear feet of earthen terraces in an area that lost 400 acres of marsh as a direct result of Hurricane Ida. The project is expected to deliver measurable ecosystem benefits to the surrounding community, including improved water quality, enhanced fish and wildlife habitat, and increased resilience.
“DU is working diligently to address wetland loss through partnerships like this one with Chevron,” explained DU Director of Development Erin Brown. “Together, we are improving water quality, community resilience, and wildlife habitat, while growing economic opportunities associated with outdoor recreation and making nationally vital energy infrastructure more resilient.”
These projects are also supported by ConocoPhillips, the North American Wetlands Conservation Council, Jefferson Parish Government, Woodside Energy, LOOP, Ed Wisner Trust, Louisiana Outdoors Forever Program, Louisiana CPRA, Apache Louisiana Minerals LLC, Lafourche Parish Government, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Shell, and DU’s Gulf Coast Initiative Sponsors.
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Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing wetlands, grasslands and other waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has restored or protected more than 20 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science, DU’s projects benefit waterfowl, wildlife and people in all 50 states. Learn more at www.ducks.org.
