After the Storms: Planning for Louisiana s Future Larry Ardoin Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Integrated Planning Team
Today s Presentation Background Objectives Draft Master Plan Upcoming Schedule
Background
Hurricane Katrina the most destructive hurricane to ever strike the U.S. NOAA
Hurricane Rita Rita was the third most intense hurricane ever in the Atlantic Basin behind Hurricane Gilbert in 1988 and the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane NOAA
LA DOTD
So what does all this mean to Louisiana?
Over 65% of the population of Louisiana. lives within 50 miles of the coast (over 2 million according to 2000 census)
Why do we live where we do?
Louisiana s Economy is Concentrated in the Southern Region of the State 73.5 % of state employment Almost 60% of oil and gas employment 77% of construction employment 67% of all manufacturing employment in the state.
Commerce and Trade US Army Corps of Engineers Navigation Data Center
Commerce and Trade The hurricane also disrupted operations at the Port of South Louisiana and the Port of New Orleans. Together, these ports account for $150 billion and 20 percent of U.S. import/export cargo traffic annually Department of Commerce Service Assessment, NOAA, Hurricane Katrina August 23-31, 2005 photo LA DOTD
Sea Ports are also River Ports Sept. 16, 2005, 11:36PM KATRINA'S AFTERMATH Corn farmers feel storm's aftershocks Disabled ports lead to clogged shipping lines By JIM SUHR Associated Press COLUMBIA, ILL. - His face smudged with dark grit, Glen Mueller stepped down from a mammoth combine this week and stared out cross a corn crop jeopardized by quandaries far larger than the machinery towering over him. He and other farmers are facing a double whammy as the harvest begins. The record yields of last year are a faded memory, replaced by crops parched, browned and thinned by months of drought. And now, damage done by Hurricane Katrina threatens to push up the cost and create delays in getting this year's crop to export terminals down the Mississippi River. Houston Chronicle Port of New Orleans Port of South Louisiana Port of Baton Rouge as of August 2005, these three ports serve as a gateway for nearly 55 to 70 percent of all U.S. exported corn, soy, and wheat North American Export Grain Association And now, damage done by Hurricane Katrina threatens to push up the cost and create delays in getting this year's crop to export terminals down the Mississippi River.
Energy
Based on its energy producing value to the nation, acre for acre, Louisiana is the most valuable real-estate in the nation. Scott Angelle Secretary, Louisiana Department Natural Resources in testimony before the Committee on Resources, U.S. House of Representatives
Commercial Seafood Landings The Times-Picayune
Source: NOAA Fisheries 2004
Louisiana s Coastal Harvest is More than Oil, Gas and Seafood Sugar Cane Rice Soybeans Cotton Cattle Citrus Timber Crawfish Alligator photo courtesy La Dept. Agriculture & Forestry and others
The total value of the sales from Louisiana beef cattle in 2005 was $406.4 million. Louisiana cattle producers have more than 1 million acres in pasture and hay production. Louisiana s herd is estimated in excess of 600,000 head raised by more than 12,000 producers. About 8,000 head of cattle in Cameron parish alone were estimated lost due to Rita. About 35,000 head of cattle lost coast wide in south Louisiana from both storms. photos courtesy La Dept. Agriculture & Forestry and others
What are we doing?
Three Planning Efforts State directed Coastal Protection & Restoration Authority Master Plan (CPRA) http://www.louisianacoastalplanning.org Congressionally directed USACE Louisiana Coastal Protection Report (LaCPR) State established Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) and its Louisiana Speaks Initiative
Ongoing Planning Efforts
Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Established in December 2005 by the Louisiana legislature through Act 8 of the First Extraordinary Session of 2005 LA DNR
Act 8 of the Louisiana Legislature First Extraordinary Session of 2005 hurricane protection is vital to survival Coastal land loss in Louisiana continues in catastrophic proportions Hurricane protection and coastal restoration must be integrated to achieve a long-term solution of coastal protection.
Act 8 of the Louisiana Legislature First Extraordinary Session of Mandated an integrated team effort to jointly coordinate master plan development with federal agencies and political subdivisions, including levee districts 2005
CPRA Integrated Planning Team (IPT) As charged by Act 8, the CPRA established an Integrated Planning Team (IPT). Team consists of expert staff from the LA DNR and DOTD Jointly coordinates development of a master plan with state agencies, federal agencies, and political subdivisions (including levee districts) Includes a liaison from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District
Act 8 of the Louisiana Legislature First Extraordinary Session of 2005 Produce a long-term comprehensive coastal protection plan combining hurricane protection and the protection, conservation, restoration, and enhancement of coastal wetlands and barrier shorelines or reefs
Act 8 of the Louisiana Legislature First Extraordinary Session of 2005 shall address hurricane protection and coastal restoration efforts from both shortterm and long-range perspectives shall incorporate structural, management, and institutional components of both efforts
Plan Objectives
Reduce Risk to Communities Courtesy of USACE Courtesy of Shirley Laska, CHART, UNO Digital Globe
Restore Sustainability to the Coastal Ecosystem Caernarvon Diversion Clay deposition on organic marsh surface
Maintain a Diverse Array of Fish and Wildlife Habitats
Sustain Louisiana s Unique Heritage and Culture Scott Russell Scott Russell
Master Plan Timeline Formation of IPT Feb 2006 First Plan Formulation Workshops May 2006 First Plan Formulation Report Jun 2006 Stakeholder Meetings Initiated Jul 2006 Second Plan Formulation Workshops Oct 2006 Release Preliminary Draft Master Plan Nov 2006 Public, Scientific, and Technical Review Dec 2006- Jan 2007 Release Draft Master Plan Feb 2007 Public Hearings/Meetings Feb 2007 Submit Final Master Plan to Legislature Apr 2007
State Coastal Protection Master Plan Policy, legislative, and institutional recommendations for change to remove impediments to implementation. Must be explicitly stated and addressed as part of implementation process. Must include federal initiatives, including implementation processes for USACE projects and programs. A baseline schedule for planning, design, and construction activities. To be in the annual plan. To facilitate long-range planning, policy, and funding decisions.
Listening and Focusing Program Coordination Utilized inputs from pre-storm planning efforts Leveraged post-storm planning and technical analyses from Corps of Engineers and Louisiana Recovery Authority Stakeholder participation Nearly 3 dozen focused stakeholder meetings 2 Interdisciplinary Technical Team Workshops, each attended by approximately 100 technical stakeholders Additional participation from technical experts in State and Federal resource agencies Formal Scientific and Engineering Review Louisiana Coastal Area Ecosystem Restoration Science Board Science and Engineering Review Team Public information and involvement Web site and electronic newsletter Nine public meetings on Preliminary Draft Plan
What Have We Learned? Concurrent public and scientific/technical review highlights issues: The public s protection and restoration expectations may not always be achievable. Protection measures may not be the best way to meet restoration objectives. Scale of necessary restoration actions will shift natural resource distribution. There is a great need for rapid advances in science and technology. There is great need for enhanced dialogue between scientists, planners, and the public.
The Draft Master Plan
Report Contents www.louisianacoastalplanning.org Main Report Appendix A Final Plan and Implementation Appendix B Preliminary Draft Plan Formulation Process (Nov 2006) Appendix C Public Comment on Preliminary Draft Plan Appendix D Sustainable Management and Mississippi River Resource Availability Appendix E Hurricane Surge Analysis Appendix F Economic Analysis Appendix G Coastal Louisiana Ecosystem Assessment and Restoration (CLEAR) Report Appendix H Alternative Plan Formulation Process (May 2006) Appendix I Measures Appraised: Alternative Plans 1 and 2 (May 2006) Appendix J Glossary of Terms Appendix K Bibliography
Restoring Sustainability to the Coastal Landscape Restoration of system hydrology Land-building diversions Land-sustaining diversions Navigation channels used to convey water Marsh creation with dredged material Barrier island and shoreline restoration Ridge habitat restoration Shoreline stabilization
Sustainable Delta Plain
Sustainable Chenier Plain
Reduce Risk to Communities Restored ecosystem Levees and flood gates Non-structural measures Elevated homes and businesses Improved building codes Evacuation planning Land-use planning Insurance Hazard mitigation plan implementation
Reduce Risk to Communities
Reduce Risk to Communities
Identified Barriers Rapid plan implementation is dependent on resolving several key policy, legislative, and institutional issues: Must develop structure for Master Plan implementation to maintain focus and integration of the program (Integrated Planning Team was an interim method used to compile the plan). Must focus Federal involvement in plan implementation, including process modifications to speed implementation. Effective mechanisms for focused land use regulation is needed to maintain program effectiveness (must avoid inducing development in unsafe areas). Must develop fair, equitable and expedient methods for acquiring surface land rights for project implementation. Must articulate a strategy for preserving and managing our wetland forests.
Program Management An adaptive implementation framework Focus scientific, engineering and technical advances. Assess plan implementation performance. Promote program learning. Revise the Master Plan, if necessary, in a deliberate manner while maintaining focus. Process for identifying priority actions within the Annual Plan development framework. Must develop structure for Master Plan implementation to maintain focus and integration of the program.
Where Are We Now and What s next?
Schedule Release Draft Master Plan 6 Feb Release Draft Annual Plan 26 Feb Public Hearings Houma 26 Feb Lake Charles 27 Feb New Orleans 28 Feb Abbeville 1 Mar End of Public Comment Period Submit Master Plan and Annual 1 Apr Plan to CPRA Submit Master Plan and Annual Plan to Legislature 30 Apr
For access to the report and technical appendices, please visit www.louisianacoastalplanning.org
QUESTIONS? www.louisianacoastalplanning.org