WHEREAS, since the 1950’s Louisiana has lost about one million acres of coastal wetlands to erosion and subsidence and for over 20 years the State of Louisiana and the Federal Government have been working on various plans and projects to slow coastal land loss, and
WHEREAS, Louisiana’s coastal restoration effort got a big boost with the establishment of the Coastal Restoration Trust Fund, the Coastal Restoration Task Force, the Coastal Restoration Program and the enactment by Congress of the Coastal Wetlands Protection, Planning and Restoration Act, also known as the Breaux Act, nearly 10 years ago, and
WHEREAS, in late 1998 a milestone was reached with the publication of a strategic “plan” for coastal restoration, Coast 2050, a document developed through the collaboration of state and federal agencies, local governments, coastal scientists, and interested citizens, and
WHEREAS, the Corps of Engineers chairs a Task Force created by the Breaux Act to evaluate and approve coastal restoration projects to be built with the $40 – $50 million provided each year by the Act, thus imposing on the Corps significant administrative responsibilities associated with Act implementation that are crucial to an efficient and successful coastal restoration program, and
WHEREAS, the corps is undertaking a Feasibility Study of the Coast 2050 Plan which will have major ramifications for future coastal restoration efforts and funding, and
WHEREAS, as the Nation’s chief construction agency with a role in coastal restoration work, the Corps of Engineers will garner even more coastal restoration responsibilities should Congress adopt the Conservation and Reinvestment Act directing more than $300 million a year to Louisiana for coastal impact assistance, and
WHEREAS, due to the frequent change in command at the district, and many competing programs, it is difficult for the Corps to increase the priority for its coastal restoration responsibilities that is warranted by the importance of the work and the funding that is now and perhaps soon will be available, and
WHEREAS, considering its key role in coastal restoration it would be reasonable and proper for the Corps of Engineers to continue to raise the level of priority for the coastal restoration program at its district headquarters in New Orleans and to assign a senior-level person with primary, full-time responsibility for coordinating and expediting all of its coastal restoration work.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Louisiana Wildlife Federation urges the U. S. Army, Corps of Engineers to raise the priority of its coastal restoration work at its New Orleans District and assign a permanent executive with the primary, full-time responsibility of coordinating and expediting all coastal restoration work.
Adopted by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation in convention assembled, March 12, 2000 in Alexandria, Louisiana