Bayou Auguste

Bayou Auguste is located in west Biloxi. It is a tidally influenced estuarine marsh system home to countless birds, fish, and even an alligator or two. Siltation of this system degraded the bayou to a point where native plants and animals were struggling to survive here. Siltation is a form of water pollution caused by soil erosion that unfortunately occurs frequently in urbanized waterways in which silt, clay, and other sediments remain suspended in the water, causing poor water quality, increased flooding potential, and the loss of plants resulting in the destruction of suitable breeding grounds and habitat.

The Land Trust partnered with Cypress Environmental in order to lead the engineering design and construction administration. The Gulf Coast Community Design Studio organized and assisted volunteers from Climb CDC in an effort to restore Bayou Auguste. First, 1,174 cubic yards of material was removed, and the area regraded to a slope that is suitable for the native marsh plants that once dominated the bayou. Invasive species were removed, and erosion control materials were installed to stabilize the bank in areas vulnerable to the tidal action that impacts the site. Finally, 5,900 native marsh grasses were planted, including Juncus roemerianus, Spartina alterniflora, Spartina patens, and Schoenoplectus californicus. An additional 30 native trees were planted on the banks of the bayou in order to further stabilize the shore and provide additional biodiversity to the area for improved habitat.

This is an example of work the Land Trust does in our community to improve the land, even on property we don’t have the ownership of.

Please check out the following websites for further information on our wonderful partners!

Cypress Environmental: https://cypressei.com/

Gulf Coast Community Design Studio: http://gccds.org/

Climb CDC: https://www.climbcdc.org/