Integrated Ecosystem Restoration and Hurricane Protection:

Louisiana’s Comprehensive Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast

Agenda

• Coastal Louisiana is unique.

• The Master Plan is Louisiana’s framework for sustainability.

• The Master Plan is comprehensive and innovative.

• The Master Plan is unprecedented.

Coastal Louisiana is unique.

Landscape at Risk

Assets at Risk

• Largest fishery in Lower 48 States• A significant role in reducing hypoxia problems in

the northern Gulf of Mexico• Nearly one-third of the nation’s oil and gas

supply originates or is transported through coastal Louisiana

• Connected to nearly 50% of nation’s refining capacity

• Largest port complex (by tonnage) in the world

Communities at Risk• At risk from a storm that has a 1% chance

of occurring in any given year:– Over 430,000 residences– Potential economic consequences of $34

billion coastwide

• At risk from a storm that has a 0.2% chance of occurring in any given year :– Over 871,000 residences– Potential economic consequences of $157

billion coastwide

The Master Plan is Louisiana’s framework for

sustainability.

"Scene at the Signing of the Constitution of the United States" by artist Howard Chandler Christy

Reduce Risk to Economic Assets

Courtesy of Shirley Laska, CHART, UNO

Courtesy of USACE

Restore Sustainability to the Coastal Ecosystem

Caernarvon Diversion

Clay deposition on organic marsh surface

Maintain a Diverse Array Habitats for Fish and Wildlife

Sustain Louisiana’s Unique Heritage and Culture

Scott Russell

Scott Russell

Technically Sound, Publicly Acceptable

• Maximized use of available information by partnering with other planning efforts– USACE– Louisiana Recovery Authority

• Incorporated findings of technical evaluations of system performance.

• Provided opportunities for intense stakeholder and public engagement

• Incorporated rigorous scientific and technical participation and review– Interdisciplinary Technical Team– Science and Engineering Review Team– Louisiana Coastal Area Science Board

The Master Plan is comprehensive and innovative.

Technical Challenges• Climate Change

– Sea level rise– Changes in rainfall patterns

• Integrating hurricane protection systems into a sustainable landscape

• Combined effects of multiple river diversions• Functionality of marsh restoration using dredged

material• Sediment availability for wetland restoration and

hurricane protection systems• Nutrient concentrations in the Mississippi River

Restoring Sustainability to the Coastal Landscape

• Maximizing use of the Mississippi River and its resources– Restoration of system hydrology – Land-building diversions – Land-sustaining diversions

Restoring Sustainability to the Coastal Landscape

• Sustaining critical landforms– Hydrologic control of navigation channels– Marsh restoration with dredged material– Barrier shoreline restoration– Ridge habitat restoration– Shoreline stabilization

Sustainable Restoration:Delta Plain

Sustainable Restoration:Chenier Plain

Reduce Risk to Communities

• Restored ecosystem• Non-structural measures

– Elevated homes and businesses– Improved building codes– Evacuation planning – Land-use planning– Hazard mitigation plan implementation– Insurance

• Levees and flood gates

Modification of Existing Levees:Plaquemines Parish

Feasibility Study Complete:Morganza to the Gulf

Feasibility Study In Progress:Donaldsonville to the Gulf

Reconnaissance Study Complete:Southwest Coastal Louisiana

Included in LACPR:Lake Pontchartrain Barrier Plan

Other Important Plan Elements• Outlines the Louisiana Applied Coastal

Engineering and Science Program• Recommends key changes to policy and

legislation– Land use planning– Land rights acquisition– State government structure

• Outlines an adaptive management strategy

The Master Plan is unprecedented.

Unanimous approval by the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority

and the Louisiana Legislature

First Place Gulf Guardian Award from EPA’s Gulf of Mexico Program

www.lacpra.org