The Port of South Louisiana has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Nicholls State University to promote the university’s successful Coastal Restoration Program, dedicated to provide storm surge protection, ending coastal land loss and restoring Louisiana land.
Port of South Louisiana Executive Director Paul G. Aucoin and Nicholls State University President Dr. Bruce Murphy signed the agreement, which commits the Port to financially assist Nicholls in their endeavors. In turn, Nicholls will supply monthly status reports and other data pertaining to Nicholls’ goals and milestones.
“Restoration of our coast is important to all Louisianians,” Aucoin said. “It’s important for our country. Coastal restoration benefits all of us, male and female, young and old. The Port of South Louisiana is proud to assist Nicholls State University with its coastal restoration efforts.”
The Louisiana coast loses one football field of coastline every hour. Nicholls’ Coastal Restoration Program came to fruition in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The first community-based restoration project that received funding was for plantings in Leeville, New Orleans City Park, and Fifi Island (adjacent and northwest of Grand Isle). The program’s restoration efforts include mainly grass and mangroves plantings but also installation of sand fences. At the same time, participants monitor changes within the marshes, whether they are positive or negative. Because industry has such an enormous impact on the economy of Louisiana, the program aims to teach its students how changes in the coastline affects industries and, at the same time, instills a sense of stewardship of our natural habitats.
“The Port of South Louisiana’s partnership represents a valuable investment in Nicholls State University and our coastal communities,” Dr. Murphy said. “Since July 2014, Nicholls biology students and faculty have grown, harvested and planted over 16,000 grasses and plants in coastal habitats. Thanks to the Port of South Louisiana’s generous support, Nicholls will be able to expand its Coastal Restoration Program, which provides tremendous assistance for Louisiana’s coastal region and valuable hands-on experiences for Nicholls biology students.”
The Port of South Louisiana recognizes the continued success of the Nicholls State University program, which not only increases safety to life and property, but also benefits the economy of the region, the state of Louisiana, and the United States. As the leading energy transfer port in America, the Port of South Louisiana has an obligation to help protect the region’s oil and gas production, which accounts for 20% of the U.S. energy supply.
Pictured L-R: Nicholls State University Professor and Head of Biological Sciences Dr. Quenton Fontenot, Port of South Louisiana Executive Director Paul G. Aucoin, Nicholls State University President Dr. Bruce Murphy, and Nicholls State University Professor of Biological Sciences Dr. Allyse Ferrara
About Nicholls State University
Nicholls State University, located in Thibodaux, Louisiana, delivers accredited degree programs and comprehensive learning experiences to a diverse population of about 6,200 undergraduate and graduate students. Since first opening its doors in 1948, Nicholls has been the only university serving the Bayou Region. The family-oriented campus offers more than 100 bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, 90-plus student organizations and 14 Division I athletic teams. Nicholls capitalizes on its prime location and rich culture by offering distinctive academic programs in culinary arts, maritime management, marine and environmental science, petroleum engineering technology and safety management. The university serves a large population of first-generation college students and has consistently been designated as a Military Friendly School. Striving to be the intellectual, economic and cultural heart of the Bayou Region, Nicholls has a $275 million annual economic impact and contributes 3,000 direct jobs to the community. To learn more, go to www.nicholls.edu or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn.
About the Port of South Louisiana
The Port of South Louisiana is a 54-mile port district on the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, encompassing the parishes of St. Charles, St. John and St. James. The facilities located within the port’s district consistently handle over a quarter billion short tons of cargo annually, ranking it the largest tonnage port district in the Western Hemisphere, the nation’s greatest grain exporter, and the number one energy transfer port in the United States. Along the 108 miles of deep-water frontage on both banks of the river there are seven grain transfer facilities, four major oil processing plants, 11 petrochemical manufacturing facilities and several other facilities for a total of more than 50 docks owned and operated by an impressive group of resident tenants such as ADM, ArcelorMittal, Dow, Cargill, DuPont, Motiva Enterprises, Marathon, Shell, Nucor Steel., Occidental, Valero, and Occidental Chemical. To learn more, visit us at www.portsl.com, like us on Facebook, and follow us on LinkedIn.
For more information about this particular topic or about the Port of South Louisiana, contact Alexandra “Alex” Hernández, Public Information Officer, at 985-652-9278 or ahernandez@portsl.com.
