Louisiana Watershed Initiative

Louisiana Watershed Initiative
Name	Louisiana Watershed Initiative
Formation	2015
Type	Statewide watershed planning program
Headquarters	Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Region served	Louisiana, United States

Louisiana Watershed Initiative The Louisiana Watershed Initiative coordinates statewide coastal restoration and floodplain management efforts across the State of Louisiana with input from federal partners such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the United States Army Corps of Engineers. It integrates planning tools used by the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, and the Governor of Louisiana's office to address risks identified after Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita, and Hurricane Ida. The Initiative also engages regional entities like the Atchafalaya Basin Program, the Pontchartrain Conservancy, the Mississippi River Delta restoration community, and local parish officials.

Overview

The Initiative fosters integrated watershed planning across major basins such as the Mississippi River, Atchafalaya River, Calcasieu River, and Vermilion River through collaboration with entities including the U.S. Geological Survey, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Trout Unlimited conservation network, and academic partners like Louisiana State University, Tulane University, and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. It seeks to align projects from programs such as the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act, the National Fish Habitat Action Plan, and the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council while coordinating with local initiatives like the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority and regional authorities such as the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority.

History and Development

Launched in 2015 under the administration of Governor John Bel Edwards and building on recommendations from post-disaster reports by President's Hurricane Katrina Rebuilding Task Force and studies by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New Orleans District, the Initiative drew on models from the Chesapeake Bay Program and interstate efforts like the Missouri River Recovery Program. Early technical guidance incorporated data from the National Water Quality Monitoring Council, the National Weather Service, and the Louisiana State Climatologist, while stakeholder processes referenced public meetings held in locations such as Baton Rouge, Lafourche Parish, and Jefferson Parish.

Goals and Objectives

Primary objectives include reducing flood risk for parishes and municipalities like New Orleans, Lafayette, and Shreveport; improving water quality in watersheds draining to Gulf of Mexico estuaries such as Lake Pontchartrain and Vermilion Bay; promoting habitat restoration for species protected under the Endangered Species Act and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and aligning investments across agencies including the Restoration Advisory Committees and the Louisiana Recovery Authority. The Initiative emphasizes resilience strategies used by programs such as the Community Development Block Grant disaster recovery efforts and guidance from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Organization and Governance

Governance integrates state offices like the Louisiana Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, the Louisiana Legislature, and the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board with federal liaisons from the Department of the Interior and the Department of Commerce. A technical advisory committee includes representatives from Army Corps of Engineers, USGS, NOAA, and universities including Nicholls State University and University of New Orleans. Regional watershed planning teams operate in coordination with parish governments such as St. Tammany Parish and Terrebonne Parish and non-governmental organizations like the Nature Conservancy and Sierra Club.

Watershed Projects and Programs

Project types include stormwater management retrofits in urban centers like Metairie, large-scale sediment diversion planning from the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet corridor, freshwater reintroduction in basins such as the Atchafalaya Basin, and riparian restoration along tributaries including the Bayou Teche and Bayou Lafourche. Programs coordinate with funding streams from the Coastal Impact Assistance Program, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and federal programs administered by the Environmental Protection Agency Region 6. Pilot projects have partnered with local entities such as the Pontchartrain Levee District and conservation groups like the Audubon Society.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding sources include state appropriations approved by the Louisiana State Legislature, federal grants from agencies such as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and EPA, philanthropic support from foundations like the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation model grants, and in-kind contributions from institutions such as Entergy Corporation and Denka Performance Elastomerics Louisiana, LLC. Partnerships span municipal partners like the City of New Orleans, parish governments, regional levee districts, academic research centers including the Louisiana Sea Grant, and interstate organizations like the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission.

Outcomes and Challenges

Outcomes reported include completed watershed management plans for multiple basins, improved coordination across agencies such as the CPRA and LDH (Louisiana Department of Health), and pilot infrastructure investments achieving measurable reductions in localized flooding in communities like Houma and Thibodaux. Challenges persist due to competing priorities among stakeholders including energy companies such as Shell Oil Company and Chevron Corporation, constraints in federal funding cycles tied to legislation like the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018, data gaps noted by USGS and researchers at LSU Coastal Studies Institute, and the accelerating impacts of climate change on sea level rise documented by IPCC assessments.

Category:Environment of Louisiana