ConocoPhillips in Louisiana
“The coastal wetlands are not only vital to the survival of many species of concern, they also provide crucial storm protection for the nation's shipping, seafood, and energy industries. We are proud to be on the front lines driving habitat-enhancement projects with key partners to promote coastal resiliency and sustainability.”
- The Louisiana Land and Exploration Company LLC (LL&E) is a wholly owned subsidiary of ConocoPhillips. Through LL&E, ConocoPhillips owns approximately 636,000 acres of predominantly wetlands in southeast Louisiana, making us the largest private wetlands owner in Louisiana.
- Our coastal wetlands acreage extends 120 miles west to east and 85 miles north to south across eight parishes.
- Through a variety of contracts, we support recreational and commercial activities such as fishing, oyster harvesting and hunting activities.
- We are a longstanding collaborator with public and nonprofit entities on projects designed to protect and restore Louisiana’s coast.
Our Long History of Restoration
ConocoPhillips’ history as a landowner in Louisiana dates back more than 100 years. Through its subsidiary, the Louisiana Land and Exploration Company LLC (LL&E), the company owns approximately 636,000 acres of predominantly wetlands across eight parishes, spanning 120 miles west to east and 85 miles north to south.
For decades, through LL&E, ConocoPhillips has practiced responsible stewardship of its coastal wetlands. Since the early 1950’s, the company has conducted a corporate wetlands conservation program that has evolved to include a diverse set of activities.
In 1990, the Louisiana legislature passed Houston Concurrent Resolution No. 189, commending LL&E for its many contributions to the preservation and restoration of the environment and natural resources of Louisiana, particularly the vast wetlands of the state’s coastal region.
LL&E is a pioneer of water control structure implementation, with installation dating back to the 1950s. A significant number of historical LL&E structures operated for nearly 70 years and several new structures have been installed through ConocoPhillips’ continued collaboration with Ducks Unlimited and the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA).
Other examples of LL&E’s long history of restoration include:
- 1956: All activities on company property by lessees and contractors are controlled by LL&E to ensure protection of the wetlands. Lessees were required to take actions to prevent wetlands losses.
- 1975: A study funded by LL&E and conducted by Louisiana State University supports the positive aspects of the company’s conservation program in reducing wetlands degradation.
- 1984 and 1985: Three marsh managements units containing 20,000 of our acres were permitted for intensive management programs developed in collaboration with Louisiana Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
- July 1997: LL&E donated 1,630 acres of its surface interest on four barrier islands, East, Trinity (less 23 acres) Whisky and Racoon in the Isles Dernières (Last Islands) barrier island chain to the State of Louisiana in Terrebonne Parish to ensure that environmental benefits provided by the islands remain under state jurisdiction in perpetuity.
Our Unique Position
As a landowner, we are uniquely positioned to evaluate and support sustainable solutions. Significant portions of ConocoPhillips’ LL&E property are within the State of Louisiana’s Coastal Master Plan overseen by the Coastal Protection & Restoration Authority (CPRA).
We actively work with other landowners, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and parishes as well as state and federal agencies to recommend and support potential collaborative project opportunities to enhance habitats and resiliency in Louisiana’s coastal zone.
ConocoPhillips has actively supported CPRA by providing free access and rights-of-way to LL&E property for CPRA-led coastal restoration projects, spanning hydrological restoration, shoreline protection, marsh creation, terracing, and long-distance sediment delivery. These CPRA projects have benefitted over 140,000 acres of wetlands.
Collaboration – Our Partners in Restoration
"As the largest private wetlands owner in the state, we believe in partnering with organizations that share our commitment to protecting Louisiana’s coast."
— ConocoPhillips Coastal Wetlands Director John Harrington
Restoration projects delivered with ConocoPhillips’ collaboration enhance marsh conditions, benefit a wide variety of species and strengthen communities. The company works with local, state and federal agencies to ensure property access and synergies for current and future flood control plans. For many years, ConocoPhillips has provided free land access, and in some cases earthen material, for critical flood control infrastructure including levees. A large portion of our property is within the state of Louisiana’s master plan.
Ducks Unlimited Partnership
The company’s longstanding partnership with Ducks Unlimited focuses on finding innovative solutions to coastal restoration. Joint projects include marsh terracing, freshwater enhancements, marsh creation, and a variety of shoreline protection techniques. Through the partnership with Ducks Unlimited (DU), the company has provided funding, free access, rights-of-way, and support through our Coastal Wetlands office in Houma for 22 DU-led projects. These DU projects have enhanced more than 25,000 acres of wetlands in the state.
Education
Our vast wetlands are ideal for coastal restoration research. We partner with Louisiana State University, Nicholls State University, University of South Alabama and Mississippi State University to support studies on marsh terraces, bird habitats and a variety of other environmental and ecological research projects.
"The ultimate goal of this project is to develop best management practices for marsh terrace design to inform engineering and construction plans. The hydrodynamic models will allow us to determine how future terraces will perform and persist and how to best allocate resources for greatest future impact. The real value of the partnership with ConocoPhillips is that we are collaborating to better understand restoration efforts, which has broad, long-term benefits."
— Brian Davis, Associate Professor, Mississippi State University Forest and Wildlife Research Center
Restoration Projects
Explore the map below to learn more about some of our collaborative restoration projects with a variety of partners that enhance marsh conditions, benefit species and strengthen communities.
A Legacy of Conservation and Collaboration
Coastal Wetlands Patrol Josh Soileau and Jeff Bacon refresh property signs to maintain boundary lines and preserve company assets. Behind them, a tree that succumbed to saltwater intrusion protrudes from the marsh.
ConocoPhillips’ Coastal Wetlands office in Houma, Louisiana was built in the 1930s and maintains much the same footprint today.
Ordis “Buddy” Smith, supervisor, Coastal Wetlands Operations prepares to embark on an aerial surveillance flight to observe permitted operations.
A fisherman harvests oysters by hand near Cocodrie on LL&E lands. This small footprint method is sometimes utilized in lieu of larger vessels and equipment to minimize potential disturbance to surrounding marsh. ConocoPhillips supports commercial activities such as oyster harvesting, hunting, trapping and camping through leases.
An immature alligator basks along the banks of Lake Hatch. Coastal marsh waters are important habitat for the nearly 2 million alligators.
This water control structure promotes effective freshwater flow and combats saltwater intrusion.
An aerial view of a barge installing a rock-and-mud plug along the shoreline of Lost Lake in Terrebonne Parish to help maintain an existing marsh habitat unit.
ConocoPhillips and Ducks Unlimited team members measure water depths near the Golden Meadow Marsh Creation Project in Lafourche Parish.
