Chandeleur Islands Restoration Team Finds Evidence of Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle Nest

Kemps ridley hatchling

While conducting overflights for the Deepwater Horizon NRDA-funded Chandeleur Islands Restoration Project in July 2022, project managers discovered evidence of nesting Kemp’s ridley sea turtles.

Then, on September 14, the restoration team and several others visited the island to talk about the ongoing engineering and design work, a potential future restoration project, and the evidence of sea turtle nesting. A briefing was given to Louisiana State Representative Stuart Bishop, Louisiana House Natural Resources and Environment Committee staffer Su King, Kristi Trail with the Pontchartrain Conservancy, Amanda Moore with the National Wildlife Federation, and John Snell, a Fox News reporter. Todd Baker, Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) Project Manager described the "whole ecosystem restoration" approach the team would employ if a future construction project is approved. Michael Poff, President of Coastal Engineering Consultants, Inc., was onsite to answer questions about the engineering and design support his company is providing. 

Following the guests’ site visit, the restoration team worked quickly to recover a previously hatched Kemp’s ridley sea turtle nest. The team concluded 76 hatchlings emerged from the nest and was the second documentation of successful sea turtle nesting on the islands! 

This proposed restoration project is truly a collaborative effort, and the dedication and hope for the project’s success continues to grow with each new discovery. 

Was this page helpful?

Please provide a comment