NGA CENTER FOR BEST PRACTICES Waves of Change: Examining the Roles of States in Emerging Ocean Policy

Karen Gautreaux Louisiana Governor’s Office September 4, 2003 Key Issues Confronting State Officials: The America’s WETLAND Restoration Initiative

THE PROBLEM EXISTING & PREDICTED LAND LOSS Land Loss Predicted Land Loss

At least 25% of all oil and gas consumed in the U.S. and over 80% of offshore oil and gas supply travels through Louisiana’s wetlandsAt least 25% of all oil and gas consumed in the U.S. and over 80% of offshore oil and gas supply travels through Louisiana’s wetlands More than 30% of U.S. fisheries catch from the lower 48 states comes from offshore LouisianaMore than 30% of U.S. fisheries catch from the lower 48 states comes from offshore Louisiana ECONOMIC & ENERGY SECURITY THE IMPACT

One of the largest habitats for migratory waterfowl in the worldOne of the largest habitats for migratory waterfowl in the world Many plant and animal species in wetlands listed as threatened or endangeredMany plant and animal species in wetlands listed as threatened or endangered WORLD ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE THE IMPACT

Louisiana Coastal Area Study Continuation of efforts beginning in 1989 with state legislation and 1990 passage of the Coastal Wetlands Planning Protection and Restoration (Breaux) Act. Continuation of efforts beginning in 1989 with state legislation and 1990 passage of the Coastal Wetlands Planning Protection and Restoration (Breaux) Act. Coast 2050 developed under auspices of Breaux Act Coast 2050 developed under auspices of Breaux Act LCA - Comprehensive plan for rehabilitating LA’s Coastal wetland ecosystem LCA - Comprehensive plan for rehabilitating LA’s Coastal wetland ecosystem

Vision Sustain coastal ecosystem that supports and protects the national economy, significant environmental values, and the unique culture of coastal Louisiana. Sustain coastal ecosystem that supports and protects the national economy, significant environmental values, and the unique culture of coastal Louisiana. Study Goal Explore strategies and develop long-range, large- scale plans to restore and protect central Gulf coast. Explore strategies and develop long-range, large- scale plans to restore and protect central Gulf coast. Our Direction

Objectives Hydro-geomorphic Hydro-geomorphic Maintain salinity gradientsMaintain salinity gradients Increase sediment deliveryIncrease sediment delivery Maintain or establish natural landscape featuresMaintain or establish natural landscape features Ecosystem Ecosystem Improve productivity and sustain diverse flora, fauna, and habitatImprove productivity and sustain diverse flora, fauna, and habitat Reduce nutrient delivery to the gulfReduce nutrient delivery to the gulf Achieve consistency of all coastal activities in support of the vision Achieve consistency of all coastal activities in support of the vision Our Direction

Report Purpose Present compelling rationale for national action and long-term commitmentPresent compelling rationale for national action and long-term commitment Present a Plan of action at a coast-wide scalePresent a Plan of action at a coast-wide scale Provide basis for Congressional approval of a Comprehensive Plan in WRDA 2004Provide basis for Congressional approval of a Comprehensive Plan in WRDA 2004

What will the report include? Benefit focused primarily on National Ecosystem Restoration Benefit focused primarily on National Ecosystem Restoration Broad-scale description of potential economic effects Broad-scale description of potential economic effects Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement General Project feature locations General Project feature locations Cost estimates Cost estimates

Mississippi River & Delta Mississippi River Basin Mississippi River Basin Meandering of the Delta Meandering of the Delta Gulf of Mexico Gulf of Mexico Change over time Change over time Building the delta Building the delta Natural Characteristics Natural Characteristics Introduction to Coastal Louisiana (map) Introduction to Coastal Louisiana (map) Building the Nation Managing the River Managing the River LA Purchase LA Purchase 1912,1927 floods 1912,1927 floods Navigation Projects- Benefits/Effects Navigation Projects- Benefits/Effects Development of Communities Development of Communities Agriculture/ Forestry Agriculture/ Forestry Soil Conservation Soil Conservation Energy action/ effects/ benefits Energy action/ effects/ benefits Fisheries Fisheries Loss of America's Wetlands Rates and causes of losses Rates and causes of losses Ecological impacts of future without Ecological impacts of future without Economic impacts Economic impacts  Hurricane protection systems  Navigation systems  Oil and Gas  Fisheries  Cultural Saving America’s WETLAND: Initial Phase Breaux Act Breaux Act Other Activities Other Activities Not solving the Problem Not solving the Problem Saving America’s WETLAND: Comprehensive Plan LCA Teams LCA Teams Alternatives (brief descriptions) Alternatives (brief descriptions) The plan The plan Comparison plan costs to benefits to the Nation Comparison plan costs to benefits to the Nation Coastal Consistency Coastal Consistency Implementation Strategy Implementation Strategy LCA Comprehensive Report Storyboard

COASTWIDE RESTORATION PLAN

The Nation’s Resource The Nation’s Resource Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA)

Funding Strategies Provide for use of multiple appropriations to fund project construction Provide for use of multiple appropriations to fund project construction Define new funding sources Define new funding sources Develop Federal partner programs in support of LCA Develop Federal partner programs in support of LCA Reallocate existing funding sources Reallocate existing funding sources

FY02 I FY03 I FY04 I FY05 I FY06 ComprehensiveDesign LCA Project Schedule OMB/CEQ Briefing04 Sep 03 Submit Preliminary Report to 12 Sep 03 OMB/CEQ File DEIS/Report with EPA18 Sep 03 Public Review Begins26 Sep 03 Complete Public Review24 Nov 03 File FEIS/Report with EPA20 Feb 04 MRC Meeting31 Mar 04 Chief’s Report Sent to ASA(CW)30 Jun 04

LESSONS LEARNED

GOALS Adopt specific goals for the plan Adopt specific goals for the plan Periodically review and revise programmatic goals Periodically review and revise programmatic goals Establish a formal process for review and update the restoration plan at defined intervals Establish a formal process for review and update the restoration plan at defined intervals

LESSONS LEARNED LEADERSHIP Secure and maintain support at the highest levels possible Secure and maintain support at the highest levels possible Program management leadership should create a vision and organizational identity Program management leadership should create a vision and organizational identity Plan for leadership succession to ensure continuity Plan for leadership succession to ensure continuity Assign a single project manager for each project Assign a single project manager for each project

LESSONS LEARNED STAKEHOLDER & PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT Provide opportunities for involvement at both the program and project levels and implement outreach and education Provide opportunities for involvement at both the program and project levels and implement outreach and education Target “opinion leaders” and the leaders of key stakeholder groups Target “opinion leaders” and the leaders of key stakeholder groups Fully utilize the Governor’s Advisory Commission as a vehicle for outreach and as a forum for consensus-building on key issues Fully utilize the Governor’s Advisory Commission as a vehicle for outreach and as a forum for consensus-building on key issues Provide adequate funding and staff support for outreach and educational activities Provide adequate funding and staff support for outreach and educational activities

LESSONS LEARNED PROGRAM AND PROJECT CONTROLS Focus early on programmatic policy and procedures Focus early on programmatic policy and procedures Invest early in the development of program and project control systems Invest early in the development of program and project control systems Put program-specific policy, procedures, and controls in place before ramp-up of project development Put program-specific policy, procedures, and controls in place before ramp-up of project development

Lessons Learned PROJECT DEVELOPMENT & IMPLEMENTATION Establish process for definition and prioritization of projects Establish process for definition and prioritization of projects Define project development process before initiating project development Define project development process before initiating project development Provide flexibility in the project development process Provide flexibility in the project development process Consider regional approaches to project development and implementation Consider regional approaches to project development and implementation

LESSONS LEARNED SOUND SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING A “science program” should be established to support the implementation of the restoration plan and should include: A “science program” should be established to support the implementation of the restoration plan and should include: Decision support systems (DSS) Decision support systems (DSS) Adaptive management Adaptive management Research & Development (R&D) Research & Development (R&D) Independent scientific peer review Independent scientific peer review

LESSONS LEARNED SOUND SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING Overall objective is to reduce uncertainty and improve decision-making: Overall objective is to reduce uncertainty and improve decision-making: R&D should focus on critical gaps in data, information and knowledge R&D should focus on critical gaps in data, information and knowledge Define an organizational structure that provides formal linkages between science and programmatic and project-level decision- making Define an organizational structure that provides formal linkages between science and programmatic and project-level decision- making

LESSONS LEARNED SOUND SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING Provide stable funding and staff support for “science program” Provide stable funding and staff support for “science program” Establish formal process for identification of needs and priorities; review and update at regular intervals Establish formal process for identification of needs and priorities; review and update at regular intervals Establish programmatic monitoring and assessment program early Establish programmatic monitoring and assessment program early

LESSONS LEARNED RESOURCE REQUIREMENTS Commit resources early to the development of program management infrastructure Commit resources early to the development of program management infrastructure Evaluate human resources requirements in terms of both capability and capacity Evaluate human resources requirements in terms of both capability and capacity Determine which functions will be performed with in-house resources and which will be outsourced Determine which functions will be performed with in-house resources and which will be outsourced Allow adequate time to build capability and capacity Allow adequate time to build capability and capacity

LESSONS LEARNED PROGRAM ORGANIZATION & DECISION- MAKING STRUCTURE Don’t defer discussion and resolution of organization issues Don’t defer discussion and resolution of organization issues Embrace collaborative and consensus-oriented decision-making Embrace collaborative and consensus-oriented decision-making Ensure high-level representation and clearly define the roles and responsibilities of participating agencies Ensure high-level representation and clearly define the roles and responsibilities of participating agencies Define a process for dispute resolution Define a process for dispute resolution

LESSONS LEARNED PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT Continuously monitor and assess program performance Continuously monitor and assess program performance Metrics should be quantitative and time- specific Metrics should be quantitative and time- specific Report results regularly Report results regularly Demonstrate success and learn from failure Demonstrate success and learn from failure

SPECIAL THANKS TO: U.S. Army Corps of EngineersU.S. Army Corps of Engineers Parsons EngineeringParsons Engineering PBS&JPBS&J USGSUSGS America’s WETLAND: Campaign to Save Coastal LouisianaAmerica’s WETLAND: Campaign to Save Coastal Louisiana