Posted on June 6, 2017
The Louisiana legislature has approved an important legislative bill, the Coastal Master Plan. Below are statements from the Governor and other stakeholders:
Gov. John Bel Edwards issued a statement on the passage of two measures that will aid in protecting Louisiana’s valuable coast. Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 1 by Sen. Dan Morrish and Senate President John Alario will establish the comprehensive master plan for coastal protection, and House Resolution (HR) 1 by Rep. Jerome Zeringue sets the funding priorities for that plan. The Senate previously passed Senate Resolution (SR) 1 by Rep. Morrish, the companion bill to Rep. Zeringue’s.
“The work state lawmakers have done is commendable and necessary as we move forward with saving and protecting Louisiana’s coast,” said Gov. Edwards. “Louisiana, and the country, rely heavily on our coast. It provides jobs, protection and homes to citizens and natural inhabitants alike, and we have an obligation to restore and protect it. These bills are necessary to ensure that will continue to happen. I’m thankful to the legislators who took the lead in preserving and improving our living and lasting legacy.”
Every five years, the state’s coastal master plan is updated in accordance with state law. The 2017 Coastal Master Plan provides a path to respond to the loss of our coastal land and the threats from storm surges. Here are the recommendations:
– Calls for 124 projects that build or maintain more than 800 square miles of land.
– Reduce expected damage by $8.3 billion annually by year 50 and that are expected to pay for themselves three times over the course of implementing the plan.
– Dedicates nearly $18 billion to marsh creation.
– Provides $5 billion to sediment diversions.
– More than $2 billion will be used for other types of restoration projects.
– Commits $19 billion for hurricane protection projects and $6 billion for nonstructural risk reduction.
“It is important to have a plan in place that responds to both the needs of our coast and our communities that rely on it for their livelihoods,” said Sen. Morrish. “As we move forward, we must do all that we can to sustain and enhance the shoreline protection. Not only that, but this plan will help Louisiana become competitive for much needed federal dollars to further assist us in saving our coast.”
“Time is of the essence when it comes to saving Louisiana’s coast,” said Sen. Alario. “Having this plan is paramount to charting the right course for the future development of our state’s precious resources and people.”
In addition, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) is required to submit an annual plan (SR1 and HR1) to the legislature to detail its funding priorities for the next fiscal year and provide a three-year outlook on revenues and expenditures. The FY18 Annual Plan includes $644 million in expenditures, with 30 projects currently scheduled to begin or continue construction in FY18.
“This will continue the good work of the CPRA which is critical to the sustainability of our coast, and the natural resources for the people who depend on it,” said Rep. Zeringue. “In addition, we’re also mitigating impacts of the oil spill and creating resiliency within our coastal communities.”
“We have funding for the near future, but need to assure we receive the long-term funds we’ve been promised,” said CPRA Board Chairman Johnny Bradberry. “We are also pursuing additional sources of long-term revenue, and equally important, methods of accelerating the permitting processes in order to expedite project implementation.”
Kimberly Davis Reyher, Executive Director of the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL) released the following statement upon passage of the 2017 Coastal Master Plan:
“The passage of the 2017 Coastal Master Plan proves that saving coastal Louisiana from our ongoing land loss crisis isn’t a partisan issue. We applaud our lawmakers for having the foresight to move forward with the plan because it serves as the blueprint for ensuring that our culture, industry, economy and way of life can flourish now and in the future.
“The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority has done a lot of hard work to craft a plan that gives us a roadmap of restoration and protection that incorporates science with public input. But just having a plan isn’t enough. Now we must implement it. Otherwise, Louisiana will continue to wash into the Gulf forcing communities to retreat and livelihoods to be lost.
“The cornerstone of the master plan is sediment diversions that harness the power of the Mississippi River to rebuild land by constructing diversions to release water and sediment into our disappearing wetlands.
“CRCL has been calling for sediment diversions since 1989 when we released our report ‘Here today and Gone Tomorrow?’ We are now within years of constructing of the first such project, the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion, which may very well be the most important environmental construction project in the history of our country. It has taken more than a quarter century to get to this point, due to many factors, not the least of which is the enormity of the challenge. We can’t wait any longer.
“The passage of the 2017 Coastal Master Plan sets us on a course of ambitious implementation. This third iteration of the master plan continues to build on the best available science to ensure that Louisiana can leverage available funds to make wise, urgent choices that will build land, slow erosion, buffer our coast against storms and protect infrastructure.”
Local and national conservation groups praised both the legislature for its oversight and approval of the plan as well as the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) for developing a comprehensive, science-based vision for how our state can realistically address future environmental challenges.
In response to the plan’s approval, Restore the Mississippi River Delta – a coalition of local and national organizations that have worked on coastal restoration in Louisiana for decades, including the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, Environmental Defense Fund, the National Wildlife Federation and National Audubon Society – released the following statement:
“Today’s approval of the 2017 Coastal Master Plan validates the importance and urgency of addressing our coastal land loss crisis, which threatens the very existence of Louisiana as we know it. We are particularly grateful to Senator Dan W. “Blade” Morrish for his leadership in carrying the plan through the legislature. Our organizations are also grateful to CPRA for developing and advancing the master plan, including incorporating public feedback through tremendous community outreach and engagement efforts.
“The 2017 Coastal Master Plan process is truly an innovative, unparalleled effort that all Louisianians can be proud of – and our state desperately needs to implement the plan as quickly as possible. The master plan is grounded in science, balances coastal restoration with protection, and is publicly-informed. Louisiana has again provided a model for how coastal communities around the world can adapt to land loss, rising seas, increased storms and other climate change challenges.
“With sediment diversions as a cornerstone of the master plan, Louisiana stands ready to harness the power of the strongest tool available to build and sustain land – the Mississippi River. The state should continue this momentum by constructing sediment diversions as quickly as possible and take advantage of this amazing resource that is being wasted.
“As we start another hurricane season, we are all too aware of the existential threat facing our region and how important coastal wetlands are as a first line of defense against storm surge. While we have made notable progress since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, we have a long road ahead. Partial funding is in place, a well-researched plan is now adopted, and these projects cannot be constructed soon enough.
“We stand ready to engage with CPRA, state and federal agencies, and community members in the coming years to ensure that coastal funding is protected and that these critical restoration and protection projects proceed as quickly as possible. The very future of our state depends on no less.”
The suite of projects outlined in the 2017 Coastal Master Plan has received widespread support from a diverse array of coastal advocates, stakeholders, parish officials and communities. Additionally, a recent poll revealed that an overwhelming majority of Louisiana voters (88 percent) wanted their legislators to approve the master plan, and 97 percent of respondents recognized the value of our Louisiana’s coastal areas and wetlands.
Source: Bayoubuzz
