LA Coastal Restoration A National Challenge

Mississippi River

Importance of Coastal Louisiana to the Nation  Production & distribution infrastructure supplies U.S. with 27% of its oil and over 26% of its natural gas  Ports rank 1 st in Nation by tonnage  Coastal wetlands reduce storm damage costs  Home to 70% of Mississippi River Valley’s migratory waterfowl  Home to 35% of U.S. commercial fisheries  Production & distribution infrastructure supplies U.S. with 27% of its oil and over 26% of its natural gas  Ports rank 1 st in Nation by tonnage  Coastal wetlands reduce storm damage costs  Home to 70% of Mississippi River Valley’s migratory waterfowl  Home to 35% of U.S. commercial fisheries

Louisiana’s Coastal Ecosystem  During the 20 th century million acres (~ 400,000 football fields) of coastal wetlands have converted to open water  Every 40 to 45 minutes - a football field (3+ acres) of coastal wetlands disappears  Incurred 90% of coastal marsh loss within the lower 48 states  Home to 30% of remaining coastal marshes in lower 48 states  During the 20 th century million acres (~ 400,000 football fields) of coastal wetlands have converted to open water  Every 40 to 45 minutes - a football field (3+ acres) of coastal wetlands disappears  Incurred 90% of coastal marsh loss within the lower 48 states  Home to 30% of remaining coastal marshes in lower 48 states

Coastwide Restoration Plan

ISSUES Given the visibility that Hurricane Katrina and Rita have provided for the issues of watershed management, how do you see the national debate changing? With regard to the City of New Orleans, how have past policies made the city more vulnerable? How can we structure a debate to proceed with rational and perhaps cost effective policies toward reconstruction? Given the huge challenges regarding coastal restoration, both scientific and budgetary, at what pace ought we to proceed? Is there time to develop more rational policies and better science, or does the situation dictate that we proceed as quickly as possible. How can we better balance the traditional uses of our rivers, navigation, water supply, industrial development, agriculture, with the newer claimants such as ecosystem restoration and recreation? What does this say about how we should think about the way ahead?

ISSUES Given the visibility that Hurricane Katrina and Rita have provided for the issues of watershed management, how do you see the national debate changing? With regard to the City of New Orleans, how have past policies made the city more vulnerable? How can we structure a debate to proceed with rational and perhaps cost effective policies toward reconstruction? Given the huge challenges regarding coastal restoration, both scientific and budgetary, at what pace ought we to proceed? Is there time to develop more rational policies and better science, or does the situation dictate that we proceed as quickly as possible. How can we better balance the traditional uses of our rivers, navigation, water supply, industrial development, agriculture, with the newer claimants such as ecosystem restoration and recreation? What does this say about how we should think about the way ahead?