Governor's Advisory Commission on Coastal Protection, Restoration and Conservation

Governor's Advisory Commission on Coastal Protection, Restoration and Conservation
Name	Governor's Advisory Commission on Coastal Protection, Restoration and Conservation
Formation	2005
Type	Advisory commission
Headquarters	Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Region served	Louisiana
Leader title	Chair

Governor's Advisory Commission on Coastal Protection, Restoration and Conservation is a state advisory body established to advise the Governor of Louisiana on strategies for coastal protection, restoration and conservation in Louisiana. The commission connects state policy with technical guidance from institutions such as Louisiana State University, Tulane University, Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium, and federal agencies including the United States Army Corps of Engineers, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and United States Fish and Wildlife Service. It operates at the intersection of regional planning, environmental engineering, and disaster resilience related to the Gulf of Mexico coast and the Mississippi River Delta.

History

The commission was created in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita as part of broader reform efforts following reports by Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force and recommendations from the Coast 2050 planning process initiated after the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act. Early convenings included stakeholders from National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Environmental Protection Agency, and the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority predecessor bodies. Over time the commission incorporated findings from the 2007 Mississippi River flood response, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (2010), and scientific assessments by the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority and the Water Institute of the Gulf. Key milestones include alignment with the Coastal Master Plan (2012), Coastal Master Plan (2017), and Coastal Master Plan (2023), drawing on research from Southeastern Louisiana University and Nicholls State University.

Organization and Membership

Membership typically includes appointees from the office of the Governor of Louisiana, elected officials from parishes such as Plaquemines Parish, technical experts from Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, and representatives from NGOs including The Nature Conservancy and National Audubon Society. Federal participation has included ex officio members from the United States Army Corps of Engineers and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The commission has convened advisory panels composed of academics from Tulane School of Architecture, engineers affiliated with University of New Orleans, and economists from University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Chairs and vice-chairs have often been figures with prior service in agencies like the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Meetings have been held in venues across New Orleans, Lafayette, Louisiana, and Morgan City, Louisiana.

Mandate and Responsibilities

The commission advises on implementation of the Louisiana Coastal Master Plan, coordination with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and integration with federal programs such as the Stafford Act disaster recovery framework. Responsibilities include reviewing proposals for marsh creation projects, sediment diversions tied to the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet controversy, and oyster reef restoration in coordination with the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council. It evaluates engineering alternatives like barrier island restoration, levee improvements in partnership with the United States Army Corps of Engineers, and living shoreline projects supported by NOAA Restoration Center. The body assesses socioeconomic impacts on communities including Venice, Louisiana and Grand Isle, Louisiana, consulting legal guidance related to the Coastal Zone Management Act and aligning with funding mechanisms such as programs under the RESTORE Act.

Major Initiatives and Programs

The commission has influenced projects including sediment diversion feasibility tied to the Mississippi River Delta, marsh creation modeled after experiments at Biloxi Marsh, and barrier island reconstruction similar to programs on Grand Isle. It has coordinated pilot projects with the Water Institute of the Gulf, restoration trials involving the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet, and living shoreline projects implemented with partners like Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana and The Nature Conservancy. The commission supported monitoring networks integrating data from the Louisiana Coastal Observing System and academic observatories at Louisiana State University and Tulane University. It has been a forum for grant coordination with entities such as the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council, and philanthropic partners like the Kresge Foundation and Rockefeller Foundation.

Funding and Legislative Authority

Funding streams advising the commission’s recommendations have included allocations from the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, appropriations from the Louisiana Legislature, and federal grants under the Disaster Recovery Reform Act and RESTORE Act. Legislative authority derives from statutes enacted by the Louisiana State Legislature and executive orders issued by the Governor of Louisiana. The commission’s guidance has directed expenditures from state-dedicated revenue sources tied to oil and gas royalties managed through entities like the Louisiana Department of the Treasury and programs administered via the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Impact and Controversies

The commission influenced adoption of elements of the Coastal Master Plan (2017) and the Coastal Master Plan (2023), affecting projects in Plaquemines Parish, Jefferson Parish, and the Terrebonne Basin. Supporters cite strengthened partnerships with United States Army Corps of Engineers and expanded monitoring with NOAA and USGS. Critics have highlighted disputes over sediment diversion locations, weighing perspectives from stakeholders in New Orleans and fishing communities in Cameron Parish and Jefferson Davis Parish, and referencing debates similar to those surrounding the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO) and outcomes of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (2010). Environmental organizations such as Sierra Club and Environmental Defense Fund have both collaborated and clashed with commission recommendations, particularly on balancing restoration and navigation interests advocated by the Port of New Orleans and industry groups like American Petroleum Institute.

Future Plans and Policy Directions

Future directions emphasize integration of climate projections from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change into the Coastal Master Plan, expanded use of natural and nature-based features championed by The Nature Conservancy and National Audubon Society, and enhanced coordination with federal recovery funds from the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council. Anticipated priorities include accelerating sediment diversion pilots influenced by modeling at the Water Institute of the Gulf, scaling marsh creation projects informed by Louisiana State University research, and improving resilience for communities such as Venice, Louisiana and Grand Isle. The commission is likely to engage with interstate collaborations involving Texas and Mississippi entities on basin-scale issues, and with international partners experienced in delta management such as the Netherlands and institutions like Delft University of Technology.

Category:Louisiana coastal restoration