Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Technical Advisory Board

Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Technical Advisory Board
Name	Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Technical Advisory Board
Formation	2005
Type	Advisory board
Headquarters	Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Leader title	Chair
Parent organization	Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority

Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Technical Advisory Board is an expert advisory body established to provide scientific, technical, and policy guidance for coastal restoration and protection efforts in Louisiana. It synthesizes input from academic, engineering, environmental, and legal institutions to inform statewide planning, resource allocation, and project selection. The board interacts with federal agencies, state departments, academic centers, and nongovernmental organizations to integrate engineering, ecology, and public policy into actionable recommendations.

History

The board was formed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the subsequent statewide reassessment that involved the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Early work referenced studies from Louisiana State University, the University of New Orleans, and the Tulane University Hurricane Center, building on precedent set by the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act and planning frameworks such as the Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA) Study. Over time the board has engaged with national entities including the National Research Council, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Smithsonian Institution, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to refine approaches to subsidence, sea level rise, and sediment diversions.

Mission and Functions

The board’s remit aligns with statutory mandates derived from the Louisiana Coastal Resources Program and coastal statutes administered by the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources. Its functions include scientific peer review of proposals from the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, technical evaluation of projects involving marsh creation, barrier island restoration, and diverter operations, and recommendation of performance metrics consistent with guidance from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the United States Geological Survey. The board advises on integration of engineering practices promoted by the American Society of Civil Engineers, ecological restoration principles advocated by the Society for Ecological Restoration, and adaptive management strategies endorsed by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.

Membership and Appointment

Membership typically comprises academics, engineers, ecologists, economists, and legal scholars nominated by institutions such as Louisiana State University, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, the National Audubon Society, and the The Nature Conservancy. Appointments are made through procedures involving the Governor of Louisiana and confirmation by the Louisiana Legislature or designated state authorities, following criteria similar to those used by boards such as the Mississippi River Commission. Members have included specialists with prior affiliations to the American Geophysical Union, the Ecological Society of America, and the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation. Conflict-of-interest policies mirror standards used by the Office of Management and Budget and the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Meetings and Procedures

The board convenes regular public meetings in locations including Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and regional sites across the Louisiana Coast, following open-meeting principles akin to the Sunshine Law. Meeting procedures incorporate agendas, public comment periods, and documentation consistent with practices used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration advisory committees and the National Academy of Sciences. Technical subcommittees use modeling tools referenced by the Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory, data from the Louisiana Coastal Observatory, and methodologies from the Hydrologic Engineering Center. Minutes and recommendations are transmitted to the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority and made available to stakeholders including the Tribal Nations of Louisiana and regional planning commissions.

Major Projects and Recommendations

The board has reviewed and recommended elements of major initiatives such as the Coastwide Master Plan, sediment diversion projects at the Mississippi River, barrier island restorations along the Chenier Plain, and marsh creation proposals for areas like the Plaquemines Parish and the Terrebonne Basin. It has issued guidance on incorporating features from pilot projects like the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion and has evaluated engineering designs influenced by the New Orleans Hurricane Protection System. Recommendations have addressed integration of restoration finance mechanisms exemplified by the RESTORE Act, habitat conservation approaches similar to those of the Ramsar Convention sites, and metrics of success consistent with the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act.

Relationship with Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority

The board functions as an independent advisory entity to the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority while coordinating with state offices such as the Governor's Office of Coastal Activities and the Louisiana Office of Community Development. It provides peer review and technical validation of CPRA’s science and engineering, paralleling interactions between advisory boards and agencies like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the National Marine Fisheries Service. The relationship emphasizes evidence-based decision-making consistent with standards from the National Science Foundation and collaborative frameworks used by the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council.

Funding and Resources

Funding for the board’s operations has been supported by state appropriations, grants administered through programs like the RESTORE Act and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and technical assistance from federal agencies such as the United States Geological Survey and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Resources include access to datasets from the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration (CPRA) GIS, modeling tools used by the Coastal Modeling System, and lab facilities at institutions like Louisiana State University and the University of New Orleans for monitoring, analysis, and pilot studies.

Category:Louisiana coastal restoration