The latest draft of the Louisiana Comprehensive Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast has been made available to the public, and will be subject to public comments in the coming weeks.
The 172 page document details the plans and commitment to Louisiana Coastal restoration and protection, and the projects that aim to attain that goal.

“Louisiana is in the midst of a land crisis that has claimed 1,885 square-miles of land since the 1930’s,” the document outlines in its introduction. “Given the importance of so many of South Louisiana’s assets—our waterway, natural resources, unique culture, and wetlands—this land loss crisis is nothing short of a national emergency.”
And while local officials completely agree that this coastal zone loss is an emergency, after a preliminary review of the document, some of those Plaquemines officials are less than thrilled at the draft presented.
“Plaquemines spent a considerable amount of time and money to protect the entire parish,” Councilman Dr. Stuart Guey, District 4, said. “That plan does not seem to be incorporated in the State’s Master Plan.”

Guey and the other members of the Council cited the State’s continuing failure to recognize the Parish in these plans, nor have they acknowledged the damage Plaquemines has seen in the past from proposed measures. Some of the plans included, such as large-scale fresh water diversions, are still part of the current draft plan released only days ago, despite local protest from officials and residents.
All this, Guey said, despite years, if not decades of evidence to the contrary effect on rebuilding and land loss.

The concern as this plan moves forward, according to Councilman P.V. Griffin, is that the State is falling into a pattern of deciding how to use the money, even though State committees and their members have no familiarity with the area impacted by their projects. Griffin said the problem is reminiscent of the Parish’s previous talks with federal government about recovery, a pattern he hopes not to see repeated.

As the release is only a draft document, meetings will be conducted to collect additional public comments, and Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser and the Parish Council are encouraging participation in the process.

The first, and closest, public comment meeting is to be held on January 23, in New Orleans. For additional dates and ways to add your comments, visit http://www.coastalmasterplan.louisiana.gov.

Save The Date:
Master Plan Public Meeting (New Orleans)
When: January 23 from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
What: 2012 Master Plan Public Meeting
Where: University of New Orleans, Lindy Boggs Center
Details:
Community meeting open to the public
to share information and obtain public
comments on Louisiana’s 2012 Coastal
Master Plan.