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

Restore Enhance Preserve 1

Presentation of the

Draft FY 2011 Annual Basin Plan

to the

Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority

December 9, 2009

Restore Enhance Preserve

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


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


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


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.


The First Annual Basin PlanApproved and Funded June 2009


FY2011 Annual Basin Plan Development


Atchafalaya BasinResearch & 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)


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


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


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


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


Project Funding & PrioritizationPage 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 606 75% 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


FY2011 Annual Basin Plan

Water Management Projects

Proposed for Funding


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)


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

Warner’s Lake

= Authorized By Federal & State Master Plan


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


Final Project Locations

Cocodrie Swamp

Bayou Sorrel Oilfield Canals

Brown Bayou @ I-10

Bayou Fourche

Big Bayou Pigeon

Little Bayou Pigeon

16”and 21” Pipelines



Access Projects



Access Projects Proposed for Funding (Page 22)

1. Bayou Sorrel Landing

2. Butte LaRose Landing

3. King’s Ditch Landing

4. Wilson’s Landing



Other Projects



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


Annual Plan Path Forward

1. Consideration of the plan by the Coastal Protection & Restoration Authority (CPRA) – December 9, 2009 & January 2010

2. Consideration of the plan by the Research & Promotion Board – January-February 2010

3. Consideration of the plan by the Louisiana Legislature – March 29 through June 2010


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


Atchafalaya Basin Natural Resource

Inventory & Assessment System

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en-commons/thumb/a/a4/180px-Bayou_Teche_and_Atchafalaya_River.jpg


ABNRIAS1. 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

Documents

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