Defining Louisiana’s Coastal Zone:A Science-Based Evaluation of the

Louisiana Coastal Zone Inland Boundary

revised October 2010

A summary of the results of the study authorized by SCR 60 to the

Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration AuthorityMay 17, 2011

Dr. Edward BrittonCoastal Resource ScientistLDNR-OCM

Ana C. YoungIT Geographic Support AnalystLDNR-OCM

Department of Natural ResourcesOffice of Coastal Management

Louis BuattAssistant Secretary

Terry HoweyCoastal Resources Administrator

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PUBLIC INPUT: August 19th 2010– April 11 2011

• Aug 19 – Governor’s Advisory Commission on Coastal Activities, Lake Charles• Aug 20 – CZ Boundary Stakeholders Advisory Group, Baton Rouge• Aug 23 – LDNR Oil and Gas Symposium, New Orleans• Sept 14 – Calcasieu River Waterway Harbor Safety Committee (Ports of Lake

Charles, West Cameron, West Calcasieu, & various other channel users), Lake Charles

• Oct 6 – Lake Industry Alliance Managers Meeting, Lake Charles• Oct 8 – Louisiana Landowners Association, Baton Rouge• Oct 20 – OCM Advisory Group to Assistant Secretary, Baton Rouge• Nov 5 – Environmental Non-Governmental Organizations (The Nature Conservancy,

National Audubon Society, & Louisiana Wildlife Federation), Baton Rouge• Nov 9 – South Central Louisiana Regional Planning District hosted meeting,

(Restore or Retreat, Planning District Staff, Industry Representatives), Houma• Nov 9 – DEQ Nonpoint Project Symposium, Baton Rouge• Nov 15 – New Iberia Chamber of Commerce, port and industry, New Iberia• Nov 17 – SW LA Air and Waste Mgmt Assoc, Lake Charles• Nov 24 – Restore or Retreat hosted meeting at Greater Lafourche Port Commission

Office (Port Commission, Lafourche Chamber of Commerce,  local engineering and environmental consulting firms, South Lafourche Beachfront Development District, Lafourche Parish CZM, Wisner Trust), Galliano

• Dec 16 - South Central Industrial Association SCIA Infrastructure and Governmental Affairs Committee (Houma Terrebonne Chamber’s Natural Resources Committee, and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Restore or Retreat, Morganza Action Coalition and the Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District), Houma

• January 18 - Bayou Lafourche Fresh Water District, Thibodaux• March 1 - Master Plan Annual Plan, Lake Charles• March 2 - Master Plan Annual Plan, , Mandeville• March 3 – Master Plan Annual Plan, Houma• April 11 – Louisiana Ammonia Producers Quarterly Meeting, Baton Rouge

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Updates since August 18th

• Revised CUP Area for Calcasieu Parish

• Revised IGC Line west of Atchafalaya Basin

• Nomenclature of IGC and term “Coastal Zone”

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Calcasieu ParishCUP Area

Preliminary Coastal Zone BoundarySeptember 2010

Updated Coastal Zone BoundaryOctober 2010

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Updated IGC Boundary West of Atchafalaya Basin

• Previous boundary followed major highways.

• Updated IGC boundary line follows parish lines.

• Deletes the entirety of Beauregard & Allen parishes and a portion of St Landry parish from the IGC area.

• Updated in response to comment that since the IGC involves coordination between governmental bodies, it is more appropriate to use political boundaries when those are logical.

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Updated Intergovernmental Coordination Area

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WHAT THE RESOLUTION WILL DO

• Upon CPRA’s acceptance of OCM’s study report & recommendations therein; followed by the official adoption of the resolution, both documents are to be forwarded by the CPRA to the Louisiana Legislature pursuant to provisions of Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 60 (2009).

• Ascension Parish will become incorporated into the coastal zone pursuant to provisions of Act 956 of the 2010 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature.

• LDNR Office of Coastal Management, following further outreach & stakeholder involvement, may implement recommendations of the report regarding Major Hydrological Modifications undertaken by governmental bodies, pursuant to existing authorities.

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Act 956 (2010) provides that portions of Ascension Parish recommended by this

report are added to the coastal zone upon CPRA acceptance

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Intergovernmental Coordination Area

• Relies on existing state and federal authorities at R.S. 49:214.32 and 15 CFR 930.

• Major Hydrological Modifications undertaken by governmental bodies in the IGC would be reviewed for consistency with the Coastal Resources Program and Master Plan.

• This action will require coordination with NOAA and designation of the IGC as a Geographic Location Description (GLD) area.

• Activities of individuals, businesses, or corporations would not be reviewed.

• IGC AREA IS NOT WITHIN THE COASTAL ZONE

• COASTAL USE PERMITS WILL NOT BE REQUIRED WITHIN THE IGC AREA.

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Updated Inland boundary of Coastal Zone

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Adjacent Coastal Zone Boundaries

Sources: Texas General Land Office – Texas Coastal Management Program Mississippi Department of Marine Resources – Coastal Management & Planning Office

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Additional Recommendations Requiring Statutory Change

• Periodic Review : It is recommended that the coastal zone boundary be periodically reviewed and updated when appropriate; a ten year re-evaluation frequency is advised.

• Boundary Updates: A simplified procedure to update the inland boundary solely by regulation is recommended.

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What happens after the resolution is adopted?

• A portion of Ascension Parish is operationally incorporated into the coastal zone and OCM will coordinate with the parish for a smooth transition with an effective date no earlier than January 1, 2012 for full implementation of permitting.

• This report will be transmitted to the Louisiana Legislature pursuant to SCR 60 (2009) and legislative hearings may occur.

• A statutory change must occur to implement the update to the inland coastal zone boundary recommended by the study report “Defining Louisiana’s Coastal Zone: A Science-based Evaluation of the Louisiana Coastal Zone Inland Boundary” revised October 2010. However, additional outreach and education will be necessary prior to seeking legislative change.

• Other recommended procedures for updating the inland coastal zone boundary must receive legislative approval.

• The earliest reasonable implementation date for report recommendations is January 1, 2013.

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Cameron

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Iberia

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St. Martin

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Terrebonne

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Lafourche

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Assumption

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