The Science and Policy of Louisiana Coastal Ecosystem Restoration

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The Science and Policy of Louisiana Coastal
EcosystemRestoration
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Coastal Land Loss

• 1.2 million acres (1,875 square miles) of land
  since the 1930s.
• Primarily caused by imbalance between sediment
  deposition by the Mississippi River and its
  distributaries, and sediment loss due to
  subsidence and erosion.
• Largely the result of human activities.
• Changes in the hydrologic processes
• The problem is compounded by global warming.

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Consequences of Coastal Land Loss

• Environmental
• Loss of habitat for many estuarine and
  terrestrial species.
• Implications for food webs.
• Hurricane protection
• Storm surge reduction
• Reduced pressure on levees.

• Economic
• Collapse of Fisheries
• 100 Billion in existing infrastructure.
• Tourism industry

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Management Strategies

• Vegetation planting
• Beneficial use of dredged material (BUDM
  programs).
• Freshwater
• diversion projects.
• Mississippi River
• Diversion projects

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Current Legislation Process

• 1990 - Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and
  Restoration Act (CWPPRA or the Breaux Act)
• 1998 - Coast 2050 report
• Nov. 2004 - LCA Ecosystem Restoration Study
• April 2005 Coastal Area Restoration Bill and
  Together-Immediately Defeating Erosion Act of
  2005 (Sen. Vitter)

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• Coastal Area Restoration Bill
• In General The Secretary may carry out a
  program for ecosystem restoration, Louisiana
  Coastal Area, Louisiana, substantially in
  accordance with the report of the Chief of
  Engineers, dated January 31, 2005.
• Together-Immediately Defeating Erosion Act of
  2005
• seeks to encourage Federal agencies to carry out
  comprehensive, interagency projects relating to
  the conservation, protection, and restoration of
  the coastal area of the State of Louisiana.

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Points of Dispute

• Not enough action. The wetlands are being
  studied to death
• Funding.
• Impacts on water quality
• Impact on fisheries
• The structure of the Science and Technology
  Program
• The involvement of the USACE

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Conclusions