Over the past 70 years, the Paradis Field has produced more than 149.4 million barrels of oil and 49.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas for the nation’s energy needs.  The natural gas produced to date would supply all the residential customers for the state of Louisiana for over 11 years. 

• Provide linkages with the Partners in Flight, U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan, North American Waterbird Conservation Plan and the North American Waterfowl Management Plan.  The project area has been internationally recognized for its wetland functions and values and for the conservation of migratory birds by the Partners in Flight Initiative.  The Lower Mississippi Valley is a component of the Conservation on Wetlands of International Importance; 
• Provide breeding, migration and wintering habitat for mid-continental populations of neotropical songbirds, shorebirds and waterfowl species;
• Increase the assimilative capacity of the watershed by increasing the moisture gradient throughout the project area;
• Create overland flows to enhance water storage and water quality by naturally filtering sediments and human-related nutrient loading from upstream sources;
• Increase particulate organic matter and lower level consumers into the water column for downstream, detritally based estuarine resources;
• Increase edge to area ratios for ecotones and biological diversity;
• Decrease forest fragmentation in the Lower Mississippi Valley ;
• Increase habitat for the federally-listed bald eagle, wood stork and Bachman’s warbler; and
• Sequester carbon (approximately 3 million tons) rather than producing greater amounts of green house gases.