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Louisiana Coastal Wetlands Restoration Plan

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Louisiana Coastal Wetlands Restoration Plan LOUISIANA COASTAL WETLANDS RESTORATION PLAN INDEX Main Report and Environmental Impact Statement Appendix A Pontchartrain Basin Plan Appendix B Breton Sound Basin Plan Appendix C Mississippi River Delta Basin Plan Appendix D Barataria Basin Plan Appendix E Terrebome Basin Plan Appendix F Atchafalaya Basin Plan Appendix G Tecbe /Vermilion Basin Plan Appendix H Mermentau Basin Plan Appendix I Calcasieu / Sabine Basin Plan Appendix J Public Views and Responses Louisiana Coastal Wetlands Restoration Plan Table of Contents 5s INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................................... 1 Purpose of the Plan .................................................................................................................. 1 Diebution of the Planning Responsibility .............................................................................2 Interagency Planning Groups ............................................................................................2 Public Participation .........................................................................................................3 Additional Elements of the CWPPRA ......................................................................................3 Priority Project Lists.......................................................................................................... 3 Wetlands Conservation Plan ............................................................................................. 4 River Flow Modifications.................................................................................................. 4 Development of the Restoration Plan....................................................................................... 4 LOUISIANA'S COASTAL RESOURCE .........................................................................................7 Environmental Setting............................................................................................................. 7 Overview .........................................................................................................................7 Delta Formation and Deterioration ...................................................................................7 Nature's Response to Changes in the Deltas ................................................................8 Natural System Units and Dominant Processes ............................................................10 Biological Abundance of the Wetlands .............................................................................13 The Value of Coastal Wetlands ..............................................................................................17 Fish and Wildlife Values ................................................................................................17 Capital Assets and Infrastructure .................................................................................... -19 Cultural Values and Tourism ...........................................................................................21 summary ............................................................................................................................. ..22 THE PROBLEM: LOSS OF COASTAL WETLANDS..................................................................... .2!5 Introduction ...........................................................................................................................2!5 Historical Perspective ..........................................................................................................26 Characterization of Wetlands Loss ........................................................................................ 28 Regional Land Loss.......................................................................................................... 28 Wetland Loss as a Function of Plant Mortality .................................................................29 Sedimentation and the Accretion Deficit ...................................................................30 Submergence. Salinity. and Sulfide Effects on Plant Productivity................................. 31 Magnitude of the Problem: Land Loss Numbers........................................................................ 32 Background Loss .............................................................................................................. 36 Chenier Plain .................................................................................................................-38 Deltaic Plain-Abandoned Deltas ...................................................................................39 Deltaic Plain-Active Deltas ...........................................................................................40 Projected Loss by the Year 2040 .........................................................................................40 SOLUTIONS .......................................................................................................z... ....................43 Creation of Productive. Sustainable Wetlands ........................................................................45 Sediment Diversions ........................................................................................................46 Sediment Dredging........................................................................................................... 47 Sediment Capture Projects ................................................................................................47 Enhancement and Protection of Existing Wetlands ...................................................................48 Restoration of Barrier Islands ..........................................................................................49 Freshwater Diversions .....................................................................................................49 Outfall Management ........................................................................................................4 9 Hydrologic Restoration ................................................................................................... 50 Hydrologic Management of Impoundments .......................................................................50 Marsh Management .........................................................................................................50 Erosion Control................................................................................................................ 50 Other Management Techniques.............................................................................................. 51 Summary ...............................................................................................................................52 Louisiana Coastal Wetlands Restoration Plan Table of Contents (continued) THE RESTORATION PLAN .........................................................................................................53 Planning Goals and Strategies................................................................................................ 53 Development of Plans for Individual Hydrologic Basins.......................................................... 54 Integration of Basin Plans ....................................................................................................... !54 Regional . Considerations ................................................................................................... 54 Phased Elements of the Plan ............................................................................................. 55 Restoration Man Benefits ................................................................................................. 57 Monitoring and Evaluation of the Plan .................................................................................... 58 Key Issues .............................................................................................................................-59 Socioeconomic ................................................................................................................. -59 Real Estate and Legal Considerations............................................................................... 59 Program Application on Private and Public Lands .......................................................59 Public Domain Resources .............................................................................................60 Public and Private Ownership ....................................................................................61 Introduction to the Basin Plan Summaries ...............................................................................61 Terminology .....................................................................................................................61 Project Nomenclature ........................................................................................................61 Pontchartrain Basin: Summary of Basin Plan ..........................................................................63 Study Area ...................................................................................................................... 63 Existing Conditions and Problems ......................................................................................63 Future Without-Project Conditions .................................................................................... 64 Basin Plan ...........................................................
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