Section 320 of the CWA authorizes the administrator of the EPA to convene management conferences to develop comprehensive conservation and management plans for estuaries of national significance…

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 awarded $1.7 million to Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON) under the National Estuary Program (CFDA 66.456) to support implementation of the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) for the Barataria-Terrebonne Estuary from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2028. The award funds ecosystem-based management activities addressing water quality assessment, habitat monitoring, natural resource evaluation, and coordination of implementation efforts across state and federal agencies, local authorities, stakeholders, non-governmental organizations, and community partners. LUMCON serves as the management conference coordinator responsible for monitoring the effectiveness of CCMP activities and managing the annual workplan.

The funded work includes four primary sub-award initiatives: the Native Plant Education Program, which expands native plant accessibility and education in Southeast Louisiana urban landscaping to highlight ecological benefits; the Thibodaux Glass Recycling Program, which establishes free glass collection and recycling infrastructure that converts material into beach-quality sand for coastal restoration and disaster relief projects; the South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center Swamp Camp, which provides field-based wetland education and coastal industry awareness for students; and the Wetland Education for Teachers Workshop (WETSHOP), which increases educator awareness and knowledge of Louisiana's wetland resources. These activities directly support EPA's Pillar 1 objective of clean air, land, and water for every American through integrated habitat assessment, conservation action coordination, and environmental education and community engagement.

Section 320 of the CWA authorizes the administrator of the EPA to convene management conferences to develop comprehensive conservation and management plans for estuaries of national significance that are threatened by pollution, development, or overuse. The agreement provides funding to louisiana universities marine consortium (lumcon) for the barataria-terrebonne for national estuary program (NEP) to support implementation of the NEP comprehensive conservation and management plan (ccmp). This work is in support of EPA's pillar 1: clean air, land, and water for every american. Activities:the projects included will support activities that address the key challenges facing the estuary including assessing trends in water quality, habitats, natural resources and uses; coordinating implementation of the ccmp by the NEP, along with the state, federal, local agencies, stakeholders, ngos, citizens, partners, and others; and monitoring the effectiveness of activities conducted under the management conference approved ccmp and annual workplan. Subaward activities include: project name: native plant education program objective: expand the use of native plants in urban landscaping across southeast louisiana by expanding accessibility to them and providing engaging education content that highlights their ecological benefits and beauty project name: thibodaux glass recycling program objective: to bring glass collection and recycling to the thibodaux area. Residents can recycle their glass for free, to be sorted, processed, pulverized, and refined into beach-like sand to use for local coastal restoration projects and disaster relief efforts. Project name: south louisiana wetlands discovery center swamp camp objective: educate students about louisiana's wetlands and the importance of the coast's industries using daily field trips and activities. Project name: wetland education for teachers workshop (wetshop) objective: to increase awareness about louisiana's wetland values, coastal issues, and history among teachers and their students through place-based lessons. Project name: cajun and native american traditions: passing on our heritage objective: to reopen the friends for traditional louisiana boat building museum and workshop at a temporary location after the existing location suffered irreparable damage from hurricane IDA. The museum and workshop allow the public a glimpse into the lifeways of our ancestors and how they interacted with the environment around them through presentations, demonstrations, and artifact displays in an effort to preserve the heritage of the estuary. Project name: barataria-terrebonne investigations integration local phenomena into teacher training objective: to enhance 6TH-12TH grade science teachers' ability to deliver hands-on, place-based stem instruction (see workplan for more information). Subrecipient:subaward activities include: project name: native plant education program objective: expand the use of native plants in urban landscaping across southeast louisiana by expanding accessibility to them and providing engaging education content that highlights their ecological benefits and beauty project name: thibodaux glass recycling program objective: to bring glass collection and recycling to the thibodaux area. Residents can recycle their glass for free, to be sorted, processed, pulverized, and refined into beach-like sand to use for local coastal restoration projects and disaster relief efforts. Project name: south louisiana wetlands discovery center swamp camp objective: educate students about louisiana's wetlands and the importance of the coast's industries using daily field trips and activities. Project name: wetland education for teachers workshop (wetshop) objective: to increase awareness about louisiana's wetland values, coastal issues, and history among teachers and their students through place-based lessons. Project n