• Volunteers planted trees and grasses to help protect Louisiana’s coast from erosion.
• The planting effort is part of a larger project to fortify 34 man-made islands between Fourchon and Grand Isle.
• These islands and their new vegetation are designed to act as a barrier against storm surges.
• The project was organized by the environmental groups Restore or Retreat and Ducks Unlimited.

Twenty-five volunteers slipped and sloshed through mud to plant trees Nov. 7 and 8 to shield Louisiana’s coast.

Restore or Retreat and Ducks Unlimited rallied volunteers to plant 12,000 black mangroves and 12,000 Vermillion smooth cordgrass plants along the edges of 34, 1,000-foot-long, man-made mud islands located between Fourchon and Grand Isle. The volunteers went out on four boats, armed with gloves, two augers and four dibble bars to finish the last nine islands and plant the last 6,000 trees.

“Your back does feel it by the end of the day,” Restore or Retreat’s Executive Director and Louisiana State Rep. Joseph Orgeron said as he demonstrated to volunteers how to use the auger. “Polly, why don’t you show them the dibble dance?”

Project Coordinator Polly Glover plunged the dibble bar into the soft mud and wiggled it to create an indention for the grass. The dibble bar had a flat, almost paddle-like shape on one end, with a T-shaped handle on the opposite end.

Earth, Wind, and Fire’s “Boogie Wonderland” played over a cellphone as volunteers swarmed the edges of the islands. Everywhere they touched went from black mud to patches of green. Curious dolphins and stone crabs popped up to investigate the commotion.

The small islands act as a barrier against storm surges, Orgeron said, by truncating the initial surge and slowing the progress of water. The roots of the plants will act as anchors, holding the land in place against erosion, and the trees also will help block the wind.

Volunteer Tina Dieudonne traveled from New Orleans to help with the planting.

“Because I believe conservation in the state must be done,” she said as she planted the grass. She said the lock and levee systems weren’t enough alone. “Even with the large steel walls, we still lose the land real fast.”

South Alabama picked up its third victory of the year on Saturday, winning 26-14 at Louisiana-Monroe.

The Jaguars (3-7, 2-4 Sun Belt Conference) trailed 14-0 in the first quarter before scoring four unanswered touchdowns. Bishop Davenport and Kentrel Bullock each ran for two touchdowns for the victors.

South Alabama plays its final home game of the season next Saturday, welcoming Southern Miss to Hancock Whitney Stadium. Before that, here are three takeaways from the Jaguars’ 12-point win over the Warhawks:

1. After woeful first quarter, Jaguars dominate

A combination of special teams breakdowns and poor ball security led South Alabama to fall behind 14-0 in the first quarter. Anthony Eager muffed a fair catch on the opening kickoff, meaning the Jaguars began with the ball on their own 2-yard line. After a three-and-out, Aleksi Pulkkinen’s line drive punt was returned to the USA 29-yard line. ULM scored on the next play. South Alabama’s Davenport later fumbled, and the Warhawks returned it for a touchdown. After that, however, the Jaguars played a clean game and more or less had their way with the home team. Any notion that South Alabama’s players had “quit” or that the coaching staff had “lost the team” after a 2-7 start went out the window with how the Jaguars played hard and executed over the final 3 ½ quarters Saturday.

2. South Alabama defense played its best all year

ULM has serious limitations on offense, but South Alabama’s defense continually made plays when it counted to keep the Warhawks off the board in the final three quarters. The Jaguars totaled six tackles for loss, two sacks and five pass breakups, and limited ULM to 154 total yards and one offensive touchdown. The Warhawks hurt themselves with penalties, but averaged only 3.8 yards per play. ULM also went 1-for-11 on third and fourth down in the game. Safety Ty Goodwill pulled off one of the Jaguars’ defensive highlights of the season early in the fourth quarter, an acrobatic interception during which he juggled the ball two or three times before pinning it against his shoulder and helmet with one hand before falling to the turf in the end zone.

3. Jaguars continue to own the Warhawks

South Alabama has now beaten ULM four straight times, including twice consecutively at Malone Stadium, where it had never won prior to 2023. The Jaguars also dealt the Warhawks their seventh loss of the season, meaning they will not be bowl-eligible. South Alabama won’t make it to a bowl game this year, either, but has a chance to enter the offseason with a bit of momentum. The Jaguars host suddenly vulnerable Southern Miss next Saturday before finishing up at Texas State. A 5-7 or 4-8 final record wouldn’t exactly be a success, but after a 1-6 start would at least be encouraging.

NEXT UP: South Alabama vs. Southern Miss, Nov. 22 (2:30 p.m., ESPN+)