Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority

Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority
Name	Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority
Formation	2005
Type	State agency
Headquarters	Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Region served	Louisiana, Gulf of Mexico
Leader title	Chairman
Parent organization	Louisiana Department of Natural Resources

Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority The Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority was established to plan, coordinate, and implement coastal protection and restoration across Louisiana following catastrophic flood and storm events. Created in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and working alongside federal entities such as the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Authority integrates science from institutions like Louisiana State University, Tulane University, and University of Louisiana at Lafayette to address land loss in the Mississippi River Delta and Coastal Zone Management challenges in the Gulf Coast.

History

The Authority was formed after the 2005 passage of state legislation responding to damage from Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita, aligning with federal initiatives like the Water Resources Development Act and programs administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency. Early planning incorporated recommendations from commissions such as the Governor's Advisory Commission on Coastal Protection, Restoration and Conservation and scientific reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Technical Committee. Major milestones included the 2007 State Master Plan adoption, subsequent updates aligned with guidance from the Bipartisan Policy Center and partnerships with agencies including the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the National Ocean Service.

Organization and Governance

The Authority operates under a board structure modeled on commissions like the New Orleans Levee District and staffed by professionals recruited from institutions such as Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center and consulting firms that have worked with the Army Corps of Engineers. Governance mechanisms reference statutes in the Louisiana Revised Statutes and coordinate with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Technical Advisory Board, and local entities such as Plaquemines Parish and Jefferson Parish. The Authority submits plans and reports to the Louisiana Legislature and collaborates with federal partners including the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the Federal Highway Administration on multi-jurisdictional projects.

Mission and Responsibilities

The Authority’s mission aligns with directives from the Coastal Zone Management Act and priorities reflected in state planning instruments like the Louisiana State Master Plan for Coastal Protection and Restoration. Responsibilities include designing projects in coordination with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, assessing risks highlighted by the National Research Council, and implementing nature-based solutions studied by the Smithsonian Institution and the Natural Resources Defense Council. The Authority also integrates data from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the United States Geological Survey to inform resilience strategies addressing subsidence in the Mississippi River Deltaic Plain and storm surge exposures affecting communities such as New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

Major Programs and Projects

Major initiatives overseen or advanced by the Authority include marsh creation projects in concert with the Army Corps of Engineers and the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act framework, sediment diversions influenced by proposals from the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council, and levee and flood protection programs comparable to work by the New Orleans District, USACE. Signature projects involve sediment diversion planning for the Lower Mississippi River and large-scale marsh restoration near the Chenier Plain and Terrebonne Basin, often funded through settlements like the Deepwater Horizon oil spill litigation administered by the Department of Justice and implemented with contractors experienced with Turner Construction Company and construction partners linked to the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund.

Funding and Budget

Funding streams for the Authority have included state appropriations approved by the Louisiana Legislature, allocations from federal legislation such as the Biggert–Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act, and settlement proceeds arising from the Deepwater Horizon litigation distributed through the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council. Additional finance mechanisms have leveraged bonds issued under state statutes, grants from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and cooperative agreements with the Natural Resources Conservation Service; budgeting decisions are periodically reviewed by the Legislative Auditor of Louisiana and the State Bond Commission.

Controversies and Criticism

The Authority has faced critique resembling disputes around projects overseen by the Army Corps of Engineers and controversies involving the Mississippi River Commission, including debates over sediment diversion impacts raised by local stakeholders such as fishermen and advocacy groups like the Louisiana Shrimp Association and environmental organizations including the Sierra Club and the National Audubon Society. Critics have pointed to perceived influence from contractors and consultants with ties to firms previously contracted by the Gulf Offshore industry and to tensions between restoration priorities and navigation interests represented by the Port of New Orleans and the American Petroleum Institute. Legal challenges have referenced state statutes and administrative procedures adjudicated in state courts including filings in the Louisiana Supreme Court.

Impact and Outcomes

The Authority’s interventions have contributed to measurable gains documented by the United States Geological Survey and academic studies from Tulane University and LSU Coastal Studies showing marsh acreage changes, altered sediment budgets in the Lower Mississippi River, and enhanced flood risk reduction for communities like Plaquemines Parish and parts of Jefferson Parish. Outcomes include implemented marsh creation, shoreline protection, and community resilience projects, though long-term metrics continue to be evaluated against sea level rise scenarios modeled by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and climate projections published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Category:Environmental agencies of the United States Category:Organizations based in Louisiana