WHEREAS, the entire coastal zone of Louisiana was formed over thousands of years by sediments from the Mississippi River, and
WHEREAS, the Louisiana coastal zone comprises the largest contiguous area of wetlands in America, and
WHEREAS, Louisiana wetlands function as some of the most productive habitats on earth and provide protection from hurricanes and storm surges, and
WHEREAS, the lower Mississippi River has been leveed for 70 years thereby eliminating replenishment of sediments to coastal wetlands, and
WHEREAS, Louisiana coastal wetlands are being lost at an alarming rate due to erosion, subsidence, and man induced activities such as dredging
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Louisiana Wildlife Federation (LWF) urges the
Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, the US Army Corps of Engineers, the US Environmental Protection Agency, and other appropriate entities with responsibilities and jurisdictions in the Louisiana Coastal Zone to develop a master plan to manage Mississippi River sediments to benefit coastal Louisiana wetlands.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that LWF recommends that any such Mississippi River sediment master plan incorporate alternatives to reduce sediment loss off the Continental Shelf and emphasize the use of sediments to replenish wetlands.
Adopted by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation in convention assembled, 3 March 2002, in Marksville, Louisiana.