RestoreEnhancePreserve 1 Presentation of the Draft FY 2011 Annual Basin Plan to the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority December 9, 2009

RestoreEnhancePreserve Atchafalaya Basin The Atchafalaya Basin Floodway System (ABFS) encompasses 838,000 acres, and extends south from the Old River Control Structure to Morgan City The ABFS is bound on the east and west by the Atchafalaya Basin Floodway Levee Protection System Land Ownership –approximately 400,000 acres of publicly owned lands, which include state and federal fee title lands, federal easement lands and state water bottoms. –approximately 438,000 acres of privately owned lands which include upland forested habitats as well as deep-water swamps Flood control efforts and other changes to the system have modified historical flow patterns and impacted the hydrology and habitat of the Basin

RestoreEnhancePreserve A Place Worth Restoring Largest contiguous bottomland hardwood forest and alluvial swamp remaining in the United States Habitat for endangered and threatened species Significant fisheries Vast recreational opportunities Preservation of culture and heritage Tourism Economic impact

RestoreEnhancePreserve 4 Challenges In The Basin 1.Ever-Changing Hydrology 2.Sedimentation 3.Hypoxic Conditions 4.Invasive Exotic Plant Species 5.Land Use/Resource Issues 6.Subsidence and Land Loss

RestoreEnhancePreserve 5 Game Changer HB1135 (Act 606) Established the Atchafalaya Basin Annual Plan Process –shall be approved by the Research & Promotion Board, Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority and the Louisiana Legislature Created the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to bring science into proposed solutions Created a focus on water management and water quality to accelerate restoration of the Atchafalaya Basin Created a focus on access to enhance public use of the recreational opportunities in the Atchafalaya Basin Created the Atchafalaya Basin Conservation Fund –75% shall be used for water management, water quality, or access projects –25% may be used to complete ongoing projects, and for projects in accordance with the mission statement of the Atchafalaya Basin Master Plan.

RestoreEnhancePreserve 6 The First Annual Basin Plan Approved and Funded June 2009

RestoreEnhancePreserve 7 FY2011 Annual Basin Plan Development

RestoreEnhancePreserve Atchafalaya Basin Research & Promotion Board 1.Louis Buatt – Chair - Dept. of Natural Resources 2.Gerald Alexander –Vice Chair - Atchafalaya Levee Board 3.Brad Spicer - Dept. of Agriculture & Forestry 4.Stuart Johnson - Dept. of Culture, Recreation & Tourism 5.Alex Appeaning - Dept. of Environmental Quality 6.David Guilbeau - Dept. of Health and Hospitals 7.Nick Rabalais, Dept. of Transportation & Development 8.Gary Tilyou - Dept. of Wildlife & Fisheries 9.Cynthia Duet - Office of the Governor (Coastal Activities) 10.Charles St. Romain - State Land Office 11.Marty Triche - Assumption Parish (non- voting) 12.Mitchell Ourso - Iberville Parish (non- voting) 13.Guy Cormier - St. Martin Parish (non- voting) 14.Paul Naquin - St. Mary Parish (non- voting)

RestoreEnhancePreserve 9 FY2011 ABP Timeline –July 1, 2009 – Technical Advisory Group Meeting to discuss FY2010 Annual Plan status and revisions needed to annual plan process used last year; –July 15, 2009 – Research & Promotion Board Meeting to discuss R&P Criteria and FY 2010 Annual Plan Status and FY 2011 proposed schedule –August 11, 2009 – Public Meeting – Plaquemine –August 13, 2009 – Public Meeting – Henderson –August 17, 2009 – Public Meeting – Morgan City –August 27, 2009 – TAG meeting to review proposed projects –September 17, 2009 – TAG meeting to discuss proposed projects –October 1, 2009 – TAG meeting to approve projects –October 5th, 2009 – TAG forwards approved projects to R&P –Week of October 26, 2009 – Draft Annual Plan Completed

RestoreEnhancePreserve 10 FY2010/11 ABP Timeline (continued) –November 4th, 2009 – R&P Meeting to approve draft annual plan for public comment –November 19th, 2009 – R & P Public Meeting - Plaquemine –November 23, 2009 – R & P Public Meeting - Henderson –November 24, 2009 – R & P Public Meeting – Morgan City –December 2, 2009 – R & P Meeting –December 9, 2009 – Present draft annual Plan to CPRA –January 2010 – CPRA Consideration of Annual Plan –February 2010 – R & P Meeting –2/28/2010 – Submit FY 2011 Annual Plan to Legislature –03/29/2010 – Legislative Session Begins * Additional meetings may be held when deemed necessary

RestoreEnhancePreserve FY2011 Draft Annual Basin Plan Background Funding & Prioritization Lists of Projects Proposed for Funding Descriptions of Proposed Projects Descriptions and Status of Projects Funded for FY2010 Description and Status of Ongoing Water Management and Access Projects SONRIS Information TAG Referral Letter List and map of proposed Water Management Projects

RestoreEnhancePreserve Plan Challenges 1.Short time frame for plan development 2.Plan must be developed prior to funding level being determined 3.Some projects do not have sufficient engineering needed for accurate costing 4.Regulatory unknowns 5.Private land issues

RestoreEnhancePreserve Project Funding & Prioritization Page 18 1.Flexibility for unforeseen circumstances and level of funding provided 2.Provisions for Research and Promotion approval when funding is determined or significant changes made 3.In accordance with Act % of funds provided on water management & access and 25% on ongoing projects and other projects consistent with the Master Plan 4.If funding remains deferred projects may be brought forward if process is followed

RestoreEnhancePreserve 14 FY2011 Annual Basin Plan Water Management Projects Proposed for Funding

RestoreEnhancePreserve 1.Mike Wood, Chair - Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries 2.Mike Walker - Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries 3.Lori LeBlanc - Louisiana Department of Natural Resources 4.Chris Piehler - Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality 5.Mike Thomas - Louisiana Department of Ag & Forestry 6.Charlie Demas - U.S. Geological Survey 7.Glenn Constant - U.S. Fish & Wildlife 8.Lamar Hale - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 9.Dr. William Kelso - LSU School of Renewable Natural Resources Technical Advisory Group (TAG)

RestoreEnhancePreserve Big Alabama Pigeon Bay Flat Lake/East Grand Lake Henderson Lake 13 Water Management Units Buffalo Cove Beau Bayou Swamp Upper Belle River Cocodrie Swamp Bayou Des Glaises Grand Lake Cow Island Lake Lost Lake Warners Lake = Authorized By Federal & State Master Plan

RestoreEnhancePreserve Water Management Projects Proposed for Funding (Page 20) 1.Cocodrie Swamp 2.Canal into Swamp North of Bayou Sorrel 3.Brown Bayou to I-10 Canal 4.Bayou Fourche 5.Big Bayou Pigeon 6.Little Bayou Pigeon 7.16 & 21 Pipeline Canals

RestoreEnhancePreserve Final Project Locations Cocodrie Swamp Bayou Sorrel Oilfield Canals Brown I-10 Bayou Fourche Big Bayou Pigeon Little Bayou Pigeon 16and 21 Pipelines

RestoreEnhancePreserve 19 FY2011 Annual Basin Plan Access Projects Proposed for Funding

RestoreEnhancePreserve Access Projects Proposed for Funding (Page 22) 1.Bayou Sorrel Landing 2.Butte LaRose Landing 3.Kings Ditch Landing 4.Wilsons Landing

RestoreEnhancePreserve 21 FY2011 Annual Basin Plan Other Projects Proposed for Funding

RestoreEnhancePreserve Other Projects Proposed for Funding (Page 23) 1.Assumption Veterans Park 2.Basin Clean Up 3.Basin Outreach 4.Belle River Park 5.Camp Atchafalaya 6.Engineering 7.Lake End Cabins 8.Morgan City Interpretive Plaza 9. Primitive Campground 10. Sediment Management Plan 11. Stephensville Park

RestoreEnhancePreserve Annual Plan Path Forward 1.Consideration of the plan by the Coastal Protection & Restoration Authority (CPRA) – December 9, 2009 & January Consideration of the plan by the Research & Promotion Board – January-February Consideration of the plan by the Louisiana Legislature – March 29 through June 2010

RestoreEnhancePreserve 24 ABP Path Forward –Approval and Implementation of 2011 Annual Basin Plan –Implement 2010 Annual Basin Plan –Complete previously funded projects –Work with Corps, Local Government and Stakeholders on Water Management Projects –Continued Outreach and Public Involvement

RestoreEnhancePreserve 25 Atchafalaya Basin Natural Resource Inventory & Assessment System

RestoreEnhancePreserve ABNRIAS 1.Provides scientists, executives and managers with a tool for decision making that provides historical and predictive information 2.Transparency and portability – conveys information easily to the public 3.Allows executives and managers to communicate effectively to the public 4.Helps facilitate and expedite EIS process 5.Predicts and evaluates results of planned actions 6.Ensures coastal restoration and Atchafalaya basin restoration efforts work hand in hand