The Louisiana Regional Restoration Planning Program FINAL Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement January 2007 Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality Louisiana Department of Natural Resources Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator’s Office, Office of the Governor National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration U.S. Department of the Interior TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS................................................................................................................................. i List of Figures ......................................................................................................................................... viii List of Tables ........................................................................................................................................... ix EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................ ES-1 1.0 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. ES-1 2.0 Purpose and Need for Action.................................................................................................. ES-2 3.0 Alternatives............................................................................................................................... ES-4 4.0 Evaluation of Alternatives ....................................................................................................... ES-7 5.0 Environmental Consequences................................................................................................ ES-9 6.0 Coordination with Other Programs, Regulatory Authorities ............................................. ES-12 7.0 RRP Program Development Process ................................................................................... ES-12 8.0 NEPA Requirements .............................................................................................................. ES-12 9.0 Reader’s Guide to Document................................................................................................ ES-13 FINAL PROGRAMMATIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT ...................................................... 1 1.0 Purpose and Need.......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................. 1 1.1.1 Legal Mandates and Authorities............................................................................. 2 1.1.2 NRDA Trustees ...................................................................................................... 2 1.2 Setting .................................................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Purpose and Need for Action ................................................................................................. 3 1.3.1 Background ............................................................................................................ 3 1.3.2 Need....................................................................................................................... 4 1.4 Purpose of the Proposed Action............................................................................................. 4 1.4.1 Regional Restoration Planning Program................................................................ 4 1.4.2 Benefits of the Proposed Action............................................................................. 7 1.5 Programmatic NEPA Process ................................................................................................ 8 1.5.1 NEPA Requirements .............................................................................................. 9 1.5.2 Reader’s Guide to Document............................................................................... 10 2.0 Affected Environment .................................................................................................................. 12 2.1 Description of the Affected Environment .............................................................................. 12 2.1.1 Physical Environment........................................................................................... 12 2.1.1.1 Geology................................................................................................ 12 2.1.1.2 Geography ........................................................................................... 13 2.1.1.3 Soils ..................................................................................................... 15 2.1.1.4 Sediment Quality.................................................................................. 16 2.1.1.5 Water Resources ................................................................................. 17 2.1.1.5.1 Ground Water Resources.................................................... 17 2.1.1.5.2 Ground Water Quality.......................................................... 18 2.1.1.5.3 Surface Water Resources ................................................... 18 2.1.1.5.4 Surface Water Quality ......................................................... 20 2.1.1.6 Climate................................................................................................. 22 2.1.1.7 Air Quality ............................................................................................ 23 2.1.1.8 Noise.................................................................................................... 24 2.1.2 Biological Resources............................................................................................ 25 2.1.2.1 Nekton.................................................................................................. 25 2.1.2.2 Benthos................................................................................................ 27 2.1.2.3 Wildlife ................................................................................................. 28 2.1.2.4 Habitat Types and Associated Biota.................................................... 33 2.1.2.4.1 Marsh (Salt, Brackish/Intermediate, Fresh, and Flotant) ................................................................................ 33 2.1.2.4.1.1 Salt Marsh ...................................................... 33 2.1.2.4.1.2 Brackish/Intermediate Marsh.......................... 44 2.1.2.4.1.3 Tidal Freshwater Marsh.................................. 45 2.1.2.4.1.4 Floating or Flotant Marsh ............................... 45 i 2.1.2.4.2 Wetland Forest (Evergreen, Deciduous, and Mixed)........... 45 2.1.2.4.3 Wetland Shrub/Scrub (Evergreen, Deciduous, and Mixed).................................................................................. 45 2.1.2.4.4 Upland Forest (Evergreen, Deciduous, and Mixed) ............ 46 2.1.2.4.5 Upland Shrub/Scrub (Evergreen, Deciduous, and Mixed).................................................................................. 46 2.1.2.4.6 Dense Pine Thicket ............................................................. 47 2.1.2.4.7 Agriculture-Cropland-Grassland .......................................... 47 2.1.2.4.8 Wetland Barren.................................................................... 47 2.1.2.4.9 Upland Barren ..................................................................... 47 2.1.2.4.10 Open Water ......................................................................... 47 2.1.2.4.11 Marine/Estuarine Shore....................................................... 47 2.1.2.4.12 Freshwater Shore ................................................................ 48 2.1.2.4.13 Marine/Estuarine and Freshwater Benthic (Soft- Sedimentary) ....................................................................... 48 2.1.2.4.14 Marine/Estuarine Encrusting Community (Natural/Artificial Substrates)............................................... 48 2.1.2.4.15 Living Reefs......................................................................... 49 2.1.2.4.16 Marine/Estuarine Submerged Aquatic Vegetation............... 49 2.1.2.4.17 Freshwater Submerged Aquatic Vegetation........................ 49 2.1.2.4.18 Mangrove Swamp................................................................ 49 2.1.2.4.19 Batture ................................................................................. 50 2.1.2.5 Threatened and Endangered Species ................................................. 50 2.1.2.6 Essential Fish Habitat .......................................................................... 50 2.1.3 Cultural Resources............................................................................................... 51 2.1.4 Population ............................................................................................................ 53 2.1.5 Infrastructure and Public Services ....................................................................... 53 2.1.6 Industry................................................................................................................. 55 2.1.6.1 Commercial Fisheries and Aquaculture............................................... 55 2.1.6.2 Forestry................................................................................................ 56 2.1.6.3 Agriculture...........................................................................................