A concrete culvert separates water into a canal that feeds marshes behind Breton Sound. Breton Sound has been losing land but this diversion has shown to increase marsh and freshwater plant acreage. Coast 2050 also recommended that federal agencies should dredge souls and old sand bars to create new marshlands. Other things that were recommended were to plug up the Mississippi Gulf Outlet, and to build up barrier islands which are the first and main defense against hurricanes. But the cost for these projects were too big to even consider them.
People then noticed that the Army Corps of Engineers already dredge 40 to 45 million cubic yards of sediment from the delta each year. This could be put to good use but instead the sediment is dumped off at the edge of the continental shelf because that’s the least expensive way. From 2000 to 2003, the Army Corps of Engineers and the state of Louisiana argued on a study for a $17 billion coastal restoration plan lasting 30 years. But this plan was also to farfetched at the time. In November 2004, state and federal agencies explained a near-term deal. The name of it was the Louisiana Coastal Area Ecosystem Restoration Study.
The results from this study led to the idea of the 2005 Water Resources Development Act. This Act calls for Congress to spend $1. 9 billion over 10 years on restoration plans in the delta. This act was intended to be a stepping stone toward a 30 year, $17 billion plan. Which follows the plan of Coast 2050. Some people do not believe in this act and say nothing can be done now because Katrina and other horrible hurricanes have upped the price of restoration plans too much. They say that the only thing than can be done now is to let the river take its own course and allow it to rebuild the marsh.
Others also say that the problems with acts such as Coast 2050 is that they do not stop wetland destruction in the same areas they are trying to restore. If water control projects were terminated and the Mississippi River were allowed to take its own way, it would eventually become captured by the Atchafalaya River, which also empties off the south central coast of Louisiana. With both rivers combined, the flow of increased sediment would help build up the most land-starved region of Louisiana’s coast. Senator Mary Landrieu has proposed a Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief and Economic Recovery Act.
Which was cosponsored by Senator David Vitter. This proposal would provide $250 billion for hurricane reconstruction, including $40 billion in ecosystem restoration and levee improvements. Some say that his proposal might actually hurt Louisiana’s opportunity for restoration money by appearing to be asking for too much to fund a bag of projects. The sad part about this is that it has taken a major hurricane to show the nation it is mandatory to rebuild the wetlands and barrier islands of Louisiana. However, stakeholders have agreed on a plan to restore these resources, major funding has not been available.
In June 2012, Congress passed the RESTORE Act, which commits 80 percent of all potential Clean Water Act Administrative and civil penalties associated to the Deepwater Horizon spill to a Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund. The RESTORE Act also shows a structure by which the funds can be used to restore and protect the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, coastal wetlands, and economy of the Gulf Coast region.
The RESTORE Act reviews the following work for the distribution of the Trust Fund. 5 percent equally divided among the five states for ecological restoration, economic development, and tourism promotion. 30 percent plus interest managed by the Council for ecosystem restoration under the Comprehensive Plan. Another 30 percent divided among the States claimed by a formula to implement State plans, which needs the approval of the Council. 2. 5 percent plus interest for the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Science, Observation, Monitoring and Technology program within the Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Also 2. percent plus interest distributed to the States for Centers of Excellence Research grants, which each will focus on science, technology, and monitoring related to Gulf restoration. In January 2013, Transocean agreed to pay $1 billion to fix federal Clean Water Act civil penalties. Since 2007, the state has significantly increased its financial dedication to the coast, and the result of it has been a tremendous amount of progress. The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority has built or improved approximately 250 miles of levees. Benefited over 25,700 acres of coastal habitat.
Has achieved about $18 billion in state and federal funding for protection and restorations projects. Identified and used dozens of different federal, state, local and private funding sources for projects. Has put over 150 projects into design and construction. Constructed projects in 20 parishes and constructed 45 miles of barrier islands and berms. Over 59 projects will begin or continue construction during the year 2015, including 19 protection projects, 38 restoration projects, and 2 infrastructure projects. All of these projects represent a total state investment of nearly $477 million in the year of 2015.
With the impact of the destruction of wetlands also comes the destruction of wildlife. Just as oil spills, pollution, and hurricanes affect the wetlands, they affect the wildlife that live in it as well. Many wildlife count to production of money towards the state. One major industry in Louisiana is commercial fishing. The Louisiana Coastal Zone supports the largest commercial seafood region in the U. S. Accounting for 20 to 25 percent of the annual fisheries harvest. More than 1. 4 billion pounds were landed in coastal Louisiana ports in 2000 alone.
The number one producing state for the alligator economy nationwide is Louisiana. In which the value of wild and farm raised alligators exceed $30 million annually. Louisiana is known as the Sportsman’s Paradise. Waterfowl hunting is also a major industry in coastal Louisiana. Millions of ducks and geese are harvested annually. This contributes more than $100 million dollars in economic activity to the state. In which the loss of wetlands severely threatens these resources, as well as many other wildlife in habitants of the Louisiana Coastal Zone. Wildlife resources also generate ecotourism for the state of Louisiana.
It is one of the fastest growing parts of outdoor recreation nationwide. Louisiana activities such as bird watching, camping, and visitation of natural areas all accounted for more than $200 million in 1996 alone. Which now has probably increased due to the popularity of TV shows and natural disasters. Not only wildlife bring revenue to the state of Louisiana but so does agriculture. Agriculture commodities and others contribute $1. 35 billion annually to the state economy. But as the state’s coastal wetland erodes, intrusion of the Louisiana Coastal Zone is becoming a major threat to Louisiana’s agriculture.
All of this revenue that is generated is mainly because of our wetlands. Which is why we cannot let them erode and disappear. These are many reasons as to why we have to keep our wetlands healthy and running. They provide not only for us but for the entire environment. This also shows that our state notices these problems with our wetlands and are trying very hard to restore them. The problem with restoring them is getting the money to fund the projects. Also to make sure that the project is going to be useful so that the time and money does not go to waste.
