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.

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.