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THE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS PROJECT IS THAT JUST ANY CITIZEN IN JEFFERSON PARISH, EVEN OUR MUNICIPALITIES OF KENNER AND GRETNA, UM, AND A FEW OTHER PLACES HAVE DONATED TREES TODAY.
BUT THE TREES ARE COLLECTED BY OUR GARBAGE COLLECTION COMPANY, THEIR TRUCK DOWN HERE TO LAFITE.
WE'VE GOT 3,700 TREES COLLECTED THIS YEAR.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S A BENEFIT IN YOUR LIVING ROOM, AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
ONCE YOU TAKE THOSE ORNAMENTS OFF, WE CAN PUT IT DOWN IN THE MARSH TO CREATE THIS BENEFIT FOR OUR SHORELINE.
AND, AND NOT ONLY DOES THE SHORELINE PROTECT IT, BUT IT CREATES A GREAT HABITAT FOR OUR FISH CRABS.
IT'S IT'S OWN ECOSYSTEM WHERE THESE CHRISTMAS TREES LIVE OUT IN THE MARSH.
WE HAVE ABOUT 200 VOLUNTEERS IN LOWER LAFITTE THAT HAVE COME DOWN TO HELP US, UM, PUT RECYCLED CHRISTMAS TREES IN BOATS, GET IN BOATS, TAKE 'EM OUT INTO THE MARSHY AREAS TO, UM, STACK THESE TREES UP, UM, ALONG A SHORELINE.
THE WAVES ARE, ARE BEATEN AGAINST THE SHORELINE, AND WHEN THAT WAVE ACTION HITS THE SHORE, IT HELPS.
AND SO ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THESE CHRISTMAS TREES ARE DOING IS CREATING THAT FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE AGAINST THE SHORELINE.
SO THE CHRISTMAS TREES ARE TAKING THE BRUNT OF THE WAVE ENERGY AS OPPOSED TO THE SHORELINE.
WE'VE BEEN REALLY FORTUNATE OVER THE PAST FOUR TO FIVE YEARS, UM, TO LET THE TREES KIND OF STACK UP IN THE CRIBS, BUT OBVIOUSLY WITH THE, WITH THE SPAN THAT WE'VE GONE WITHOUT THE STORMS, IT'S BEEN VERY HELPFUL FOR THAT SHORELINE TO GET A LITTLE BIT OF A CHANCE TO LET SOME SEDIMENT ACCUMULATE BEHIND AND BUILD UP A LITTLE BIT.
WE'VE BEEN VOLUNTEERING FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS NOW, DOING THE CHRISTMAS TREE DROP.
UH, I HAVE A CAMP IN LOWER ARIA THAT, UH, THIS ALL HELPS MY CAMP, UH, STAY PROTECTED.
IT'S SLOWLY TO SEE A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE COME OUT AND HELP PROTECT LOUISIANA FROM COASTAL EROSION.
IT'S BEEN A BLESSING TO COME OUT HERE AND SEE OTHER PEOPLE HELP AS WELL.
I JUST WANNA CERTAINLY THANK ALL OF THE VOLUNTEERS THAT WE HAVE OUT HERE TODAY.
UM, WE HAVE FIREFIGHTERS, WE'VE GOT, UM, INDIVIDUALS FROM OUR FIREHOUSES THAT BROUGHT BOATS.
WE COULDN'T DO THIS WITHOUT A HUGE GROUP OF PEOPLE FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE.
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF ENGINEERS AND STUDENTS AND, AND IT'S JUST SO ENCOURAGING TO SEE PEOPLE OUT HERE INVESTED IN OUR, NOT JUST THE COMMUNITY, BUT OUR ECOSYSTEM AND, AND THE WATERS THAT SURROUND US.