More Than $9 Million Committed to Southwest Louisiana Wetland Conservation
CAMERON PARISH, La. — Long before highways and industries transformed Southwest Louisiana, the marshes of the Chenier Plain were already shaping the region. They provided habitat for wildlife, supported generations of fishermen and helped define a landscape that remains an important part of the region’s natural heritage.
Now, more than $9 million has been committed to protecting and improving thousands of acres of those wetlands.
On October 12, Ducks Unlimited announced that its Chenier Plain Marsh Enhancement III project received a $3 million federal grant through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, supported by more than $6 million in contributions from conservation partners.
The project will enhance 7,818 acres of wetlands as part of a broader effort to conserve more than 10,655 acres across Cameron and Vermilion parishes.
Among the partners are the Moore-Odom Wildlife Foundation and its associated trust, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and the Vermilion Parish Police Jury.
The Moore-Odom Wildlife Foundation also owns and manages the FR Preserve, a coastal prairie and marshland property near Sabine National Wildlife Refuge.
The Chenier Plain includes freshwater, intermediate and brackish marshes, coastal prairies and natural ridges that provide important habitat for migratory birds and native wildlife, including mottled ducks, king rails and lesser yellowlegs.
These wetlands also support fisheries, help manage water and contribute to the ecological health of Louisiana’s coast.
For Cameron and Vermilion parishes, where erosion, saltwater intrusion and land loss have altered the landscape for generations, conservation efforts offer an opportunity to protect remaining habitats while restoring areas already affected by environmental change.
The funding represents a significant commitment, although the specific properties receiving improvements and the long-term results remain to be established.
For Southwest Louisiana, conserving the Chenier Plain means protecting more than wildlife habitat. It means preserving a landscape that has shaped the region’s history and way of life for generations.
Source: Ducks Unlimited, Chenier Plain Marsh Enhancement III funding announcement, October 12, 2026.
