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1US Army Corps of EngineersBUILDING STRONG®

Presented by:

COL Alvin “Al” Lee,Commander

Gregory Miller,Senior Planner

Chris Accardo,Operations Chief

Coastal Restoration EffortsIn Louisiana

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The Four Major Flood Risks in Coastal LA

Separate, but overlapping or related interagency systems or programs to address each!

WorkingDraft

RiverFlooding

Hurricane StormSurge

Coastal Erosion& Environmental

Degradation

Rainfall

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Coastal LouisianaCoastal Louisiana’’s Importance to s Importance to the Nationthe Nation

• Coastal Louisiana is a vital economic resource for the nation• Produces $67 billion in oil & gas annually• Ranks 1st in the country in crude oil • Ranks 2nd in the country in natural gas production• Commercial fishing comprises 1/4 of the nation’s total

fishing industry• Louisiana's coastal wetlands serve as home to ports that

carried 457 million tons of waterborne commerce; 18% of US waterborne commerce. (**Figure from 2005)

• Coastal plain supports the multiple lines of defense strategy • Resources are threatened by disappearance of Louisiana’s

coastal ecosystems

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Integrated Water Resources Management

Complex National Problem Crosses agency missions Shared responsibility between Corps, Federal Partners

and the State of LA and MS Innovation and Collaboration to stretch Federal

resources and capabilities Collaboration, partnerships, and teamwork for deriving

and implementing nationally beneficial solutions Requires a new perspective on land and water

management requiring difficult decisions and tradeoffs Emphasis on efficiencies to achieve more within existing

resources

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New Orleans District is actively engaged in ecosystem restoration and planning• CWPPRA

• Beneficial Use of Dredge Material

• Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA)

• Louisiana Coastal Protection & Restoration (LACPR)

• MRGO Ecosystem Restoration

• Southwest Coastal, Louisiana

• Atchafalaya Basin Floodway System

• Diversions and River Management

USACE Ongoing Efforts

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Evolution of Coastal Initiatives

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Restoration Chronology•1960’s - 70’s

•Initial authorization of environmental projects (Caernarvon, Davis Pond, Bonnet Carre)•Passage of national policies on the environment (NEPA, CZMA, CWA, etc…)•Federal & State agencies enact policies/procedures

•1980’s•Evaluation, documentation, & publication of long-term wetland loss rates•Increased beneficial use of navigation maintenance dredge material•Section 1135 authority (project modifications for environmental improvement, WRDA 86)•Caernarvon diversion constructed

•1990’s•CWPPRA program authorized (allows small scale actions to be approved on an annual basis)•Section 204 authority (beneficial use, WRDA 92)•Section 206 authority (aquatic ecosystem restoration, WRDA 96)•CWPPRA Mississippi River Sediment, Nutrient, & Freshwater Redistribution study•CWPPRA Coast 2050 (long-term restoration planning study)•CWPPRA La Branche marsh creation project constructed

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•2000’s•Coast 2050 basis for LCA Ecosystem Restoration feasibility study•Davis Pond diversion constructed (2002)•LCA comprehensive restoration plans evaluated (2003)•LCA Near-term plan (2005)•2005 hurricane season•State Master plan for comprehensive protection and restoration (2006)•WRDA 2007 authorizes LCA Near-term plan•MRGO deauthorized and closed•Louisiana Coastal Protection & Restoration Technical Report (2009)

Restoration Chronology

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• Plans, designs, and builds projects to create or restore Louisiana coastal wetlands

• Original authorization in Nov 1990 - extended 3 times - resulting in authorization through 2019 (estimated $2.0B Fed/non-Fed)

• Five federal agencies sponsor projects, LA Department of Natural Resources (LDNR) serves as local sponsor

• Corps is the administrative lead agency for the program

• Governed by a “Task Force”, chaired by the District Engineer of the New Orleans District (delegated by ASA(CW))

What is CWPPRA ---In a Nutshell

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Coastal Wetland Protection and Restoration Act (CWPRA)

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unaddressed(72%)

unaddressed(72%)

ContinuingAuthorities

Program(2.5%)

ContinuingAuthorities

Program(2.5%)

FreshwaterDiversions

(9%)

FreshwaterDiversions

(9%)

Breaux ActRestoration

Projects(14%)

Breaux ActRestoration

Projects(14%)

Breaux ActConservation Plan (1%)Breaux ActConservation Plan (1%)

Navigation MaintenanceBeneficial Use (1.5%)Navigation MaintenanceBeneficial Use (1.5%)

Other Programs (

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Chief of Engineers Report & Federal / State partnering agreement signed on January 31st 2005

LCA report recommended ~ $2 Billion in critical near-term projects and programs

WRDA 2007 WRDA 2007 -- Authorized ProjectsAuthorized Projects

Sec. 7006(c)(1) - Five (5) near-term projects contingently authorized for construction (subject to Construction Reports)

Sec. 7006(e)(1) - Four (4) additional projects conditionally authorized, (subject to feasibility studies scheduled for completion Nov 2011)

Sec. 7006(e)(3)(A) - Six (6) additional projects conditionally authorized (subject to completion of a Chief of Engineers Report NLT 31 December 2010)

Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA) Ecosystem Restoration:

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TitleTitleTitle

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Section 7006(c)(1) - LCA “5”FavorableFavorable Construction Reports required for construction appropriationConstruction Reports required for construction appropriation Report approval by Sec Army (ASAReport approval by Sec Army (ASA--CW)CW) No specified Report submittal dateNo specified Report submittal date 150% 150% ““Hard CapHard Cap”” on project con project costost

Projects: 1.1. MRGO Environmental RestorationMRGO Environmental Restoration (initiated under Sec 7013 WRDA-07)2.2. Barataria Basin Barrier Shoreline Restoration (Study underway)Barataria Basin Barrier Shoreline Restoration (Study underway)3. Medium Diversion with Dedicated Dredging at Myrtle Grove (FY10 study

start scheduled)4. Small Bayou Lafourche Reintroduction (FY10 study start scheduled)5. Small Diversion at Hope Canal (FY11 study start scheduled)

Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA) Ecosystem Restoration

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Section 7006(e)(1) – LCA “4”Follow Corps Process for Initiating New ConstructionFollow Corps Process for Initiating New Construction WRDA directed feasibility reports by Dec 2009 WRDA directed feasibility reports by Dec 2009 FCSA signed June 2009FCSA signed June 2009 November 2011 scheduled completion dateNovember 2011 scheduled completion date

Projects: 1. Gulf Shoreline at Point Au Fer Island**2. Land bridge between Caillou Lake and Gulf of Mexico**3. Modification of Caernarvon Diversion4. Modification of Davis Pond Diversion

** State has the technical lead

Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA) Ecosystem Restoration

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Section 7006(e)(3)(A) – LCA “6” FCSA – signed November 2008 WRDA required completion of Chief’s Report NLT 31 Dec 2010 Lose Construction Authorization if we miss 31 Dec 2010

Projects: 1. Multi-purpose Operation of Houma Navigation Lock2. Convey Atchafalaya River to Northern Terrebonne Marshes 3. Terrebonne Basin Barrier Shoreline Restoration**4. Small Diversion at Convent / Blind River**5. Amite River Diversion Canal Modification **6. Medium Diversion at White Ditch

** State has the technical lead

Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA) Ecosystem Restoration

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Other WRDA authorized Program ElementsSec. 7002 - Comprehensive Plan

Sec. 7005 - Project Modifications *

Sec. 7006(a) - Science and Technology Program

Sec. 7006(b) - Demonstrations Projects *

Sec. 7006(d) - Beneficial Use of Dredged Material Program (1st Projects proposed for construction 2011)

* Not scheduled in FY10

Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA) Ecosystem Restoration

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Area Specific Projects

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Mississippi River Gulf Outlet

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Central Wetlands Habitat Change1956

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2006

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Lake Borgne Ecosystem Subunits

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Potential Opportunistic

Use of Bonnet Carré

Spillway

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BUDMAT ProgramBUDMAT ProgramDescription: A program for the beneficial use of dredged material from Federally-maintained waterways in coastal Louisiana. Program costs are for disposal activities above/beyond Federal standard disposal activities and are shared at 65% Federal / 35% non-Federal.

Accomplishment to Date: •Scoping Meetings •Plan Formulation•Impact Assessment•F&WL Coordination Act Report

FY10 Fed/State Agency Support: •Agency Review

Director’s Report Date: Feb 2010

Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA) Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA) Ecosystem RestorationEcosystem Restoration

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Beneficial Use of Dredged Material

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Southwest Pass

Calcasieu

Mermentau

Freshwater

Atchafalaya

Houma Lafourche

Barataria

Tiger Pass

South Pass

Baptiste Collette

Mississippi River Shallow Draft

Crossings

Deep Draft Crossings

Beneficial Use Sites

Major Federal Navigation Channels

New Orleans District

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MVN Beneficial Use of Dredged Material

Maintenance Dredging = 67,663,000 CYFluff = 16,000,000 CY

Unavailable = 18,000,000 CY

Suitable & Available for BU = 33,663,000 CY

Beneficial Use = 16,442,000 CY (48%)

Average Annual Totals

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Mississippi River

Pass a Loutre

1998, 2007

2004

2008

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/

Atchaf

alaya

Rive

r

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Questions?