Bayou Rebirth was founded in 2007 partly in response to the environmental and community needs present in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Bayou Rebirth envisions a revitalized and restored city through local and visiting citizens’ connection to the ecology of the coastal wetlands. These coastal wetlands not only protect the city from storm surges during hurricanes, they also support an intricate and unique biodiversity.

Bayou Rebirth was founded on the belief that the people whose lives were most directly affected by the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita—local residents and their families—can become engaged and empowered to restore their communities and revitalize the wetlands. They can, in turn, help to educate visiting volunteers about the issues that face the coastal areas. While the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and others plan major wetlands restoration projects to protect New Orleans and other communities from future hurricane damage, Bayou Rebirth is offering local residents and visiting volunteers a way to get involved in solutions now.