Louisiana Coastal Impact Assistance Plan - Coastal Protection and ...

Louisiana relies heavily on Coastal Zone Management Act grants administered by
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to operate the
State’s coastal permitting program. Therefore, redirecting NOAA funds from
coastal permitting activities to implement coastal conservation and restoration
projects is not a viable funding alternative.
Other NOAA programs may offer a viable mechanism for leveraging CIAP funds.
NOAA’s Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP) was
established in 2002 to protect coastal and estuarine lands considered important for
their ecological, conservation, recreational, historical, or aesthetic values. The
program provides State and local governments with matching funds to purchase
significant coastal and estuarine lands, or conservation easements on such lands,
from willing sellers. Lands or conservation easements acquired with CELCP
funds are protected in perpetuity so that they may be enjoyed by future
generations. The Coastal Forest Conservation Initiative of Louisiana’s CIAP Plan
includes protection and restoration of declining coastal forested habitats (see
Section I). The State intends to seek opportunities under the CELCP to help
fulfill those objectives, in concert with other complementary Federal funding
mechanisms such as the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) landowner incentive programs, CWPPRA,
and the proposed LCA Plan.
LDNR staff also coordinated with USDA personnel regarding Federal landowner
incentive programs that could complement efforts funded by CIAP
LDNR personnel and CIAP Selection Committee members familiar with
CWPPRA Task Force restoration activities, LCA Plan formulation, and other
coastal restoration efforts were mindful of additional relevant Federal resources
and programs of potential use in maximizing CIAP funding benefits. When
appropriate, CIAP proposals were coordinated with Federal, State, and local
entities as well as relevant non-governmental organizations.
The LA Highway 1 Improvements-Fourchon to Leeville Bridge (Phase IA)
project is another example of using CIAP funds to help accelerate implementation
of projects supported by Federal programs. In this case, Federal highway funding
and other available sources were insufficient to complete this project. The
proposed expenditure of approximately $35.2 million of State and Lafourche
Parish CIAP funds was a key factor in moving that project forward in a timely
manner. The benefited highway segment plays a key role in supporting OCS
exploration activities in the Gulf of Mexico.
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