Wednesday Why: Down the Bayou without a Paddle?

At a rate of an area of land the size of a football field lost every 30-38 minutes in coastal Louisiana, it doesn’t seem too far fetched to think that some day we could be paddling north to the beach. But we know that we can work together to reverse the tide.

We can rebuild our barrier islands. We can harvest sediment to rebuild our coastal forests and marshes. We can build river diversions to provide fresh water to nourish our wetlands without destroying communities in the process.

But just because we have the know-how to create a sustainable coast that can protect communities, it doesn’t mean that we will.

Right now, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority is finalizing the 2012 Louisiana Coastal Master Plan, the legislatively required five year update to the first coastal master plan published in 2007. The 2012 Master Plan presents a list of specific projects that the CPRA believes represent the best investments for the coast.

The DRAFT plan was released for public review and comment on January 12, 2012 and can be viewed here. The plan will be presented to the Louisiana Legislature this spring for approval. Once approved, this plan will drive how the state believes it should act to protect and restore some areas of our dynamic coast.

Understanding the plan is critical to the future of our communities and we urge all residents to review the plan and share their thoughts and suggestions with the 2012 Coastal Master Plan team. Public comments are being accepted now. The public comment period ends February 25th. Comments can be made online or mailed to:

Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority

c/o Karim Belhadjali

PO Box 44027

Baton Rouge, LA 70804-4027 

If you’d like to add your voice to the “Why should we save coastal Louisiana?” project, send your submission to photoproject@bayougrace.org. And don’t forget to check out other great submissions in our Why Gallery.

Become a Friend of Bayou Grace, Get Cool Stuff!

Show us your support by becoming a Friend of Bayou Grace during our year-end fundraising campaign. Your generous tax-deductible gift will help ensure that we can continue our important work together.

Choose your level of support and in appreciation, we’ll send you (or that hard to shop for person on your list) a terrific thank you gift.

$25 Level of Support: The “Re-divert the Dirt” Shirt

Sport your bayou pride with this classic “Re-divert the Dirt” t-shirt. Available in S, M, L, XL, and 2XL. You know all the cool kids are wearing them! And so are all the geeky kids like us!

 

$50 Level of Support: Cooler/Lunch Bag

Whether you’re heading down the bayou for a day of fishing or heading to the links for a quick round of nine, this rugged Bayou Grace cooler will keep you looking cool and your beverages even cooler.

$75 Level of Support: 2012 Bayou Scenes Calendar

Plan your next trip down the bayou with this 13” x 10.4” 2012 calendar filled with beautiful scenes from our beloved coastal landscape. We suggest hanging this baby above your desk at work so you have something pretty to stare at during daydream breaks.

$100 Level of Support: “Why Should We Save Coastal Louisiana?” Photo Project Companion Book

You love tuning in for the Wednesday Why each week! Now get your very own 8 ½” x 11” hardcover “Why Should We Save Coastal Louisiana?” Photo Project companion book and enjoy sharing your love of the bayou with friends and family.

$250 Level of Support: 16″ x 20″ Canvas Print

Add a little bayou to your décor with this beautiful signature Bayou Grace scene. This 16×20 canvas print will be stretched over a wooden frame ready to hang in your living room, den or office. Heck, you can even hang it in your bathroom. We won’t be offended.

                                                                                                                                                                    

Becoming a Friend of Bayou Grace is E-Z (with a capital Z)! Just  follow the directions below:

1. Click  the Donate button below.

2. Input your desired level of support. (Think BIG, we do!)

3. Input your payment information in the secure form. You don’t need to create a Paypal account make your donation.

4. Click the “+ Add special instructions to the seller” link and tell us which thank you gift you would like. If you would like your thank you gift to be “re-gifted”, just tell us the name and address of the lucky duck and we’ll take care of the rest. If you wish to decline your thank you gift, you can tell us that here as well and please accept our deepest gratitude from the bottom of our bank account.

5. Sit back and enjoy knowing that you just made a great investment in the future of your beloved 5 Bayou Communities!

 

 

If you’d prefer to use snail mail, you’re in luck because we have a mailbox! Send your gift and instructions for the delivery of your thank you gift to:

 

Bayou Grace Community Services

PO Box 238

Chauvin, LA 70344

 

Your support helps to affirm that our mission to restore and protect coastal Louisiana is a shared value and that Bayou Grace is part of a much larger network of individuals, organizations and businesses that share the vision of a healthy, sustainable and bountiful Gulf Coast for generations to come.

Thank You! Merci! Gracias! Danke! Mahalo! Grazie! Domo Arigato!

Wednesday Why: Drafting Decisions

As Americans, we like to think that if we work hard and play by the rules, we have the ability to write our own futures—the ability to decide where we will live, where we will raise our families, where we will live out our days. But for  Americans living in south Louisiana, the future is uncertain and we must all work together to determine our fate.

The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority is finalizing the 2012 Louisiana Coastal Master Plan, the legislatively required five year update to the first coastal master plan published in 2007. The 2012 Master Plan will present a list of specific projects that the CPRA believes represent the best investments for the coast.

The DRAFT plan was released for public review and comment on January 12, 2012 and can be viewed here.  The CPRA will host three public meetings (see below  for more details) next week and the public comment period will remain open until February 25, 2012.  The plan will be presented to the Louisiana Legislature this spring for approval. Once approved, this plan will drive state action to protect and restore our dynamic coast.

Attendance at the public meetings is critical to the future of our communities and we urge all residents to attend and share their thoughts and suggestions on the 2012 Coastal Master Plan. Please come out and learn about these efforts and show that you are “Committed to Our Coast”!

There will be an Open House between 1:00pm-5:30pm to learn about project selection, flooding risks, and how our landscape is changing. The formal public hearing will start at 5:30pm.