Editing Grand Isle, Louisiana (section)

== History ==
Grand Isle has been repeatedly pummeled by [[hurricane]]s throughout its history. On average, the town and barrier island of Grand Isle has been affected by tropical storms or hurricanes every 2.68 years (since 1877), with direct hits on average every 7.88 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hurricanecity.com/city/grandisle.htm|title=Grand Isle, Louisiana hurricanes|website=www.hurricanecity.com|access-date=April 25, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925091428/http://www.hurricanecity.com/city/grandisle.htm|archive-date=September 25, 2017}}</ref> Some of the more severe are listed here.

In 1860, a {{convert|6|ft|m|0|adj=on}} storm surge and great winds resulted in the total devastation of the island. In the [[1893 Atlantic hurricane season]] Grand Isle was devastated by a {{convert|16|ft|m|0|adj=on}} storm surge. In the [[1909 Atlantic hurricane season]] the island was hit with a second {{convert|16|ft|m|0|adj=on}} storm surge. A category 4 hurricane devastated Grand Isle on September 29 during the [[1915 Atlantic hurricane season]]. Grand Isle was hit by a {{convert|3.6|ft|m|adj=on}} storm surge on August 22 during the [[1947 Atlantic hurricane season]]. In 1956, [[Hurricane Flossy]] damaged the island.

[[Hurricane Betsy]] in September 1965 and [[Tropical Storm Frances (1998)|Tropical Storm Frances]] in 1998 put the entire island under water. On September 26, 2002, Grand Isle was hit by [[Hurricane Isidore]], soon followed by [[Hurricane Lili]] passing to the west of the island, causing significant damage. [[Hurricane Cindy (2005)|Hurricane Cindy]] made a direct hit on Grand Isle on July 5, 2005. Even though damage was essentially limited to power outages and [[Coastal erosion|beach erosion]], the storm's strength still caught residents by surprise.

[[File:Katrina-grand-isle-la-2005.jpg|thumb|left|Storm damage from [[Hurricane Katrina]] in September 2005]]
[[File:Storm damage on Grand Isle LA -a.jpg|thumb|right|Storm damage from [[Hurricane Gustav]] in September 2008]]
[[File:Grand Isle collecting samples.jpg|thumb|right|Two men collecting oil samples from the [[Deepwater Horizon oil spill]] at a beach in Grand Isle in May 2010]]

[[Hurricane Katrina]] pounded Grand Isle for two days, August 28–29, 2005, destroying or damaging homes and camps along the entire island. Katrina's surge reached {{convert|5|ft|m|abbr=on}} at Grand Isle. Large waves severely damaged the only bridge linking Grand Isle to the mainland.<ref>"NBC5.com - Katrina: At A Glance" (September 15, 2005), ''NBC5.com WMAQ TV Chicago'', web: [http://www.nbc5.com/katrina/4976462/detail.html NBC5-Chicago] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051029111109/http://www.nbc5.com/katrina/4976462/detail.html |date=October 29, 2005 }}.</ref> A news report published less than two days after the hurricane hit falsely noted, however, that the area had been completely destroyed, reporting a scene similar to that which befell [[Last Island, Louisiana|Last Island]] in 1856.<ref>{{cite web|last=Beitler|first=Stu|title=Last Island, LA Hurricane, Aug 1856|url=https://www.gendisasters.com/louisiana/11337/last-island-la-hurricane-aug-1856|work=Louisiana Disasters|publisher=gendisasters.com|access-date=November 27, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110817181554/http://www3.gendisasters.com/louisiana/11337/last-island-la-hurricane-aug-1856|archive-date=August 17, 2011}}</ref> Less than a month later, Grand Isle was further affected by [[Hurricane Rita]]. By mid October, a number of businesses were again open on the island.

[[Hurricane Gustav]] reached shore west of the island on September 1, 2008, at 9 am [[Central Daylight Time (North America)|CDT]], and hit it with a measured wind speed of {{convert|105|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}}. It was one of the few locations in Louisiana affected while the storm was still classified as a major hurricane. While both storms' eyes passed the island at similar distances, Katrina's eastern passing caused the greatest damage on the bay side. The Gustav surge that washed over the island caused less damage than Katrina, in part due to the most vulnerable structures having already been destroyed by Katrina. Current construction codes prevented the rebuilding of such vulnerable structures.  Barataria Pass water levels peaked at {{convert|5|ft|m|abbr=on}} above recent high tide. Homes along [[Louisiana Highway 1]] had {{convert|2|ft|m|abbr=on|sigfig=1}} of water below them. Large sections of levee/dunes were washed onto the highway.

[[Hurricane Ike]] passed far south of the island on September 11, 2008, while crews worked to restore power and repair the levee/dune damage caused by Gustav. Some sections of LA 1 west of the island were covered by {{convert|1|ft|m|abbr=on|sigfig=1}} of water. Wind gusts reached {{convert|50|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} and Barataria Pass water levels reached {{convert|3|ft|m|abbr=on|sigfig=1}} above recent high tide while Ike was {{convert|200|mi|km|sigfig=2}} away.

[[Hurricane Ida]]'s eastern eye wall hit the area on August 29, 2021, on the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, causing widespread damage. It was reported that 100 percent of Grand Isle's structures were damaged, and around 40–50 percent of structures were completely destroyed.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Grand Isle, Louisiana "uninhabitable" as Hurricane Ida leaves every building either damaged or destroyed|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hurricane-ida-grand-isle-louisiana-uninhabitable/|access-date=September 3, 2021|website=www.cbsnews.com|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|author=Eric Levenson and Gary Tuchman|title=Louisiana's last inhabited barrier island bore the brunt of Hurricane Ida. Here's what it looks like now|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/01/us/grand-isle-louisiana-ida/index.html|access-date=September 3, 2021|website=CNN}}</ref> Nearly all of the town's [[utility poles]] had either bent or collapsed from the extreme winds. [[Entergy]] decided to fully rebuild and strengthen the island's power grid instead of repairing it like most communities north of Grand Isle had received.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tdworld.com/disaster-response/article/21178103/entergy-louisiana-strengthening-electric-system-in-hardhit-coastal-communities|title=Entergy Louisiana Strengthening Electric System in Hard-Hit Coastal Communities|website=T&D World|date=October 14, 2021}}</ref>

===Restoration===
In 1998, the state of Louisiana and its federal and local partners approved a coastal restoration project called Coast 2050: Toward a Sustainable Coast.<ref name=Coast2050>{{cite web|title=Coast2050|url=http://www.coast2050.gov/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130323010219/http://www.coast2050.gov/|archive-date=March 23, 2013}}</ref> It is a $14 billion fund that is hoped to be allocated over 50 years in around 77 restoration projects with the aim of creating a sustainable ecosystem of coastal Louisiana.<ref name=UpliftingtheCoast>{{cite web|title=Uplifting the Coast|url=http://www.upliftingthecoast.org/historyresearch.htm|work=Uplifiting the Coast|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120613205902/http://www.upliftingthecoast.org/historyresearch.htm|archive-date=June 13, 2012}}</ref> While the plan focuses on all of Louisiana, restoration of the Barataria Basin was the first priority and Grand Isle is at the mouth of [[Barataria Bay]].<ref name="Coast2050"/> On February 18, 2000, the [[United States Army Corps of Engineers]] and the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources signed an agreement to initiate a restoration plan to this basin. The loss of wetland in Barataria Bay is estimated at 11 square miles per year from 1978 to 1990 (Fuller et al. 1995).<ref name="Coast2050"/> Most strategies in the Barataria Basin region depend on the overall input, movement, and circulation of water, sediment, and nutrients in the basin.<ref name="Coast2050"/> Other strategies can be implemented independently of these considerations.<ref name="Coast2050"/> These include barrier shoreline restoration, marsh creation in the southwestern basin, and a delta-building diversion from the lower Mississippi.<ref name="Coast2050"/> The completion of Coast 2050 was to restore and protect 450,000 acres of [[wetland]].<ref name=ReportfromCongress>{{cite web|title=Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the Coastal Louisiana Ecosystem Restoration|url=http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/crs/rs22276.pdf|work=Report from Congress|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130222033656/http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/crs/rs22276.pdf|archive-date=February 22, 2013}}</ref> [[United States Congress|U.S. Congress]] had not approved the Coast 2050 plan, and when Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita hit, the federal government was studying a less costly, scaled down proposal which could be initiated in the span of a decade.<ref name="ReportfromCongress"/>

In April 2009, the Mississippi River Sediment Delivery System was proposed to channel dredged sediment from the [[Mississippi River]] to the wetlands in South Louisiana to restore {{Convert|474|acres}} of [[tidal marsh]].<ref name="UpliftingtheCoast"/> Approximately 200 million tons of sediment flows down the Mississippi River annually, of which the Army Corps of Engineers dredges about 60 million cubic yards of the sediment to maintain Louisiana's waterways.<ref name="UpliftingtheCoast"/> According to the project documents, if successful, the Sediment Delivery system could potentially create {{Convert|18|sqmi}} of marsh a year and reduce [[wetland loss]]es by as much as two-thirds.<ref name="UpliftingtheCoast"/> The dredged sediment will be piped to Bayou Dupont via a {{Convert|1|m|sp=us|adj=on}} pipe, to a {{Convert|500|acre|adj=on}} area of open water and broken marsh.<ref name="UpliftingtheCoast"/> Once the area has been adequately filled, it will be planted with marsh grasses.<ref name=CWPPRA>{{cite web|title=Bayou Dupont Sediment Delivery System (BA-39)|url=http://lacoast.gov/new/Projects/Info.aspx?num=ba-39|work=CWPPRA|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130217150826/http://lacoast.gov/new/Projects/Info.aspx?num=BA-39|archive-date=February 17, 2013}}</ref> It is estimated that the project will cost $28 million and be completed by August 2009.<ref name="UpliftingtheCoast"/>

The [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] put up $3 million in the summer of 2009 in federal stimulus grants to restore a protective marsh that will shield the island from backwater flooding.<ref name=NOAAandtheNC>{{cite web|title=Federal money to help Grand Isle coastal restoration projects|url=http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20090707/HURBLOG/907079835?p=1&tc=pg|work=NOAA and the NC|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140818220013/http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20090707/HURBLOG/907079835?p=1&tc=pg|archive-date=August 18, 2014}}</ref> The money will help Grand Isle strengthen its natural defenses, provide better hurricane protection, while also preserving a critical barrier island that buffers inland parishes from the full force of hurricanes.<ref name="NOAAandtheNC"/> In 2009, the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources used $3 million to dredge sediment from the Mississippi River and create {{Convert|50|acres}} of tidal marsh.<ref name="NOAAandtheNC"/> Not only will the marsh help support recreational and commercial fisheries by providing a healthy habitat, officials said, but it will also buffer the island and reduce storm surge and flooding.<ref name="NOAAandtheNC"/>

Also in 2009, [[the Nature Conservancy]] received a $4 million grant for its Grand Isle shoreline-restoration project, which will create four miles of oyster reefs along the beach in Grand Isle and Biloxi Marsh.<ref name="NOAAandtheNC"/> (see [[Oyster Reef Restoration|oyster reef restoration]]) The frames eventually grow into {{Convert|2|to(-)|3|feet|m|adj=mid|-high}} oyster reefs that buffer the shore and create productive ocean habitats for fish.<ref name="NOAAandtheNC"/> Once these reefs have fully restored themselves, they will also help filter the water.<ref name=OysterRestoration>{{cite web|title=Oyster Restoration|url=http://sites.duke.edu/bayougrace/2012/06/05/oyster-restoration/?vm=r&s=1|work=The Nature Conservancy Camp|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814180002/http://sites.duke.edu/bayougrace/2012/06/05/oyster-restoration/?vm=r&s=1|archive-date=August 14, 2014|access-date=March 14, 2013}}</ref> The Nature Conservancy hope that these oysters colonize on breakwater structures and that the space on these breakwater structures increase biodiversity.<ref name="The Nature Conservancy">{{cite web|title=Grand Isle Oyster Reef Project |url=http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/habitats/oceanscoasts/howwework/la_grand_isle_oyster_april_2008.pdf |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20120907071622/http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/habitats/oceanscoasts/howwework/la_grand_isle_oyster_april_2008.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 7, 2012 |work=The Nature Conservancy }}</ref>

In response the [[Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill]], the Coalition and the National Wildlife Foundation organized the planting of more than 1,600 mangroves in [[Grand Isle State Park (Louisiana)|Grand Isle State Park]] on June 25, 2011.<ref name=Restorationeff>{{cite web|title=Restoration efforts underway in oil spill-impacted Grand Isle State Park |url=http://www.wwltv.com/news/local/Restoration-efforts-underway-in-oil-spill-impacted-Grand-Isle-State-Park-124542499.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140815120352/http://www.wwltv.com/news/local/Restoration-efforts-underway-in-oil-spill-impacted-Grand-Isle-State-Park-124542499.html |archive-date=August 15, 2014 }}</ref> They hope that this planting will help stabilize the sediment and sand and provide habitat for wildlife, specifically [[pelicans]].<ref name="Restorationeff"/>

On September 29, 2012, the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL) and the [[Abita Brewing Company]] partnered together to bring out more than 100 volunteers to help restore and protect the beach dunes at Grand Isle State Park in response to [[Hurricane Isaac (2012)|Hurricane Isaac]].<ref name=CRCLandAbita>{{cite web|title=CRCL and Abita Beer Partner on Grand Isle Restoration Project|url=http://www.felicianatoday.com/?p=5820?vm=r&s=1|work=CRCL and Abita Beer Partner|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140823053747/http://www.felicianatoday.com/?p=5820%3Fvm%3Dr&s=1|archive-date=August 23, 2014}}</ref> It was the first project undertaken in Grand Isle since Hurricane Issac made landfall.<ref name="CRCLandAbita"/> Volunteers installed dune fences and planted more than 12,000 plugs of dune grass. This will help stabilize the fragile beach along Grand Isle.<ref name="CRCLandAbita"/> Abita Beer and CRCL together implemented this and other restoration projects which will directly restore dune habitat and strengthen Grand Isle State Park and other sites in the future.<ref name="CRCLandAbita"/>