Ecosystem restoration in Louisiana - a decade after the Deep Water Horizon oil spill - Coastal Protection and ...
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Ecosystem restoration in Louisiana —
a decade after the Deep Water Horizon oil spill
By
Syed M. Khalil, Gregory M. Grandy, and Richard C. Raynie
Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, 150 Terrace Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA, 70802
Corresponding author: Syed.Khalil@LA.GOV
ABSTRACT ration and protection program. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
Louisiana has a long history of coastal management and resto- (2005) compelled the state to take serious note of the vagaries
ration actions with multiple projects implementing common of nature, especially high-energy events like hurricanes, and to
approaches. Traditionally, most of the restoration efforts have develop a comprehensive/robust coastal protection and restora-
been ongoing in Louisiana by state and federal agencies through tion plan. Five years later, the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil
the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act spill exposed the fragility of the Louisiana coast but at the same
(CWPPRA). These activities are now being expanded signifi- time penalty monies provided much needed funding to imple-
cantly through additional funding and implementing entities ment the state’s coastal protection and restoration plans. This
such as the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist paper provides a high-level assessment of project implementa-
Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast tion and makes the case that Louisiana could move quickly in
States (RESTORE) Act of 2012 Council, National Resource and the implementation of various restoration plans because robust
Damage Assessment (NRDA) through the Louisiana Trustee and comprehensive restoration plans were previously developed
Implementation Group (LA TIG), and the National Fish and and are available. Here, it must be appreciated that for the first
Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). Considering a broader ecosystem time, dedicated funding is available not only for regional pro-
or landscape context for implemented restoration projects can grammatic monitoring to implement adaptive management, but
provide a framework for emphasizing commonality of restora- also for development of the art and science of restoration. It is
tion goals. Such a framework allows for multiple benefits of also suggested that for efficient and cost effective implementa-
restoration efforts to be quantified, including prioritized natural tion of Louisiana’s Coastal Master Plan federal agencies must
resources, ultimately assessing the effectiveness of large-scale work in tandem with the state/CPRA who not only bring the
restoration efforts in coastal Louisiana. Three disasters have most comprehensive plan but expertise along with institutional
completely changed the trajectory of Louisiana’s coastal resto- knowledge to the table.
INTRODUCTION the rest of the United States and exports
KEYWORDS: Coastal restoration,
Historical perspective of land loss $36.2 billion internationally (CPRA
Deepwater Horizon, adaptive man-
in Louisiana — ecocatastrophe 2017). Before human intervention,
agement, coastal management.
T
Louisiana’s expansive and ecologically/
o refer to the ecosystem degra- Manuscript submitted 3 October 2019; biologically rich coastal landscape was
dation in Louisiana caused by revised & accepted: 10 January 2020. sculpted over the preceding 6,000-7,000
unprecedented land loss as an years by avulsions of the Mississippi River
“ecocatastrophe” would not be an over- environmental perturbations and physi- as it shifted its course east and west, form-
statement. Since the coast of Louisiana cal changes resulting from the combined ing active and abandoned deltas through
is not a uniform single geomorphic effect of natural and anthropogenic fac- cyclic repetitions of active sedimentation
entity, the magnitude of degradation is tors. Louisiana’s coastal problems are not followed by subsidence and coastal retreat
not the same. It is a geologically diverse restricted to the MRDP, but also extend (Roberts 1997). Sea level rise and subsid-
system and could be broadly divided into across the Marginal Delta Plain to the ence were historically offset by the Mis-
three major physiographic provinces viz. Chenier Plain in the southwestern part of sissippi River’s land building processes in
Mississippi River Delta Plain (MRDP), the state. Despite efforts to reverse land the MRDP, and mud stream accretion in
Marginal Delta Plain, and Chenier Plain losses in the late 20th century, Louisiana the Chenier Plain (Stone et al. 2005; Pen-
(Figure 1). Like most of the deltaic plains continues to lose wetlands at a rate of ap- land et al. 2000). Geological studies have
of the world the MRDP, a partially sub- proximately 28 square kilometers per year shown that since the early 20th century the
merged landform that makes up Louisi- (Couvillion et al. 2017). This high rate of rate of land loss has accelerated due to the
ana’s southeastern coastal region, is an land loss threatens coastal communities, combined effects of natural causes and
example of a rapidly deteriorating major industries and associated infrastructure, multiple human interventions along the
delta plain made increasingly unstable and a range of key local and national Louisiana coastal plain and throughout
through sediment deficits, historical physical, economic, ecological and cul- the Mississippi River watershed (Boesch
engineering infrastructure, and climate tural assets (Khalil et al. 2011). Coastal et al. 1994; Gagliano et al. 1981). Coastal
change. With subsidence and erosion Louisiana is vital not only to the state but scientists and experts consider the Missis-
rates unparalleled anywhere else in North the nation’s economic health and annually sippi River Flood Control and Navigation
America, the MRDP is facing large-scale sends more than $120 billion in goods to System and the extensive matrix of oil and
Page 38 Shore & Beach Vol. 88, No. 1 Winter 2020
gas pipeline and navigation canals to be in addressing a highly complex scientific restore coastal Louisiana via a portfolio of
among the major anthropogenic inter- and social problem that requires a shared 109 projects (CPRA 2012). Three restora-
ventions causing land loss in Louisiana vision. Of late, in order to mitigate rapid tion strategies that dominated the 2012
(Boesch et al. 1994; Turner 1997; Penland degradation of coastal Louisiana in gener- and 2017 CMP (river diversions, barrier
et al. 2000). During a short span of 70- al, and the MRDP in particular, there have island restoration, and marsh platform
80 years, the state’s coast has lost almost been sustained efforts to plan and imple- creation) are directly related to land build-
one quarter (25%) of the land built over ment coastal restoration projects (CPRA ing and are indicative of the importance
6,000-7,000 years of geological history. 2007, 2012, 2017; Louisiana Coastal of sedimentological restoration creating
One of the main reasons is that currently Wetlands Conservation and Restoration geomorphic forms (Khalil et al. 2018).
the sediment load of Mississippi River has Task Force 1998). Land building is one of The intent is to strategically restore criti-
been reduced by large-scale human ac- the two main objectives of 2017 Coastal cal landforms that have been lost and to
tivities to approximately 145 MMT from Master Plan (CMP) (CPRA 2017). Land re-establish land-sustaining processes
historically 400 MMT per year (Blum and building helps recreate and/or replace the to achieve a no net loss scenario in the
Roberts 2009; Meade and Moody 2010). degraded or lost geomorphic forms from future. As stated earlier, the 2017 CMP
the coastal Louisiana landscape. Sedi- carries forward on the same trajectory by
The fragility of this system was pal-
mentological restoration helps replicate/ laying equal emphasis on land building via
pable first during Hurricanes Katrina and
create the geomorphic forms that serve river diversions as well as marsh platform
Rita in 2005, and then during the DWH
as a foundation for ecological restoration creation and maintaining robust barrier
oil spill five years later in 2010. These
which in turn helps restore the ecological islands as the first line of defense. Its suc-
three extraordinary disasters — two natu-
functions (Killebrew and Khalil 2018). cess critically depends upon an aggressive
ral and the third anthropogenic — were
It is important to emphasize that a bal- schedule of implementation. Several new
wake-up calls. In 2007, in response to
anced approach to sedimentological and funding sources for coastal restoration
the hurricane events, Louisiana’s Coastal
ecological restoration completes the loop (mentioned above) in Louisiana have re-
Protection and Restoration Authority
for sustainable ecosystem restoration of duced the budgetary constraints faced by
(CPRA) produced the first Ecosystem
coastal Louisiana. large, ecosystem scale projects and have
Restoration and Hurricane Protection
provided an impetus to expedite project
Plan (Louisiana’s Comprehensive Master History of restoration
development and construction.
Plan for a Sustainable Coast) pursuant to strategies in Louisiana
Act 8, analyzing and synthesizing decades Louisiana coastal restoration plans DWH OIL SPILL EVENT/DISASTER1
of thinking about coastal projects and and programs, in their various manifesta- On 20 April 2010, approximately 3.19
technical designs from previous plans, tions, have been in existence for several million barrels (134 million gallons) of oil
and emphasizing coordinated storm risk decades. The state has worked with lo- were released into the ocean (U.S. v. BP et
reduction and coastal restoration plan- cal and federal entities to implement a al. 2015) from BP’s Macondo well due to
ning (Killebrew and Khalil 2018). Its large number of ecosystem restoration the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon
focus was to achieve a sustainable coastal projects to sustain and restore coastal drilling unit. This is by far the largest
landscape using structural and nonstruc- Louisiana. These projects were conceived offshore oil spill in U.S. history with the
tural approaches as a prerequisite for both and implemented to address a wide vari- total volume of oil released about 12 times
storm protection and ecological restora- ety of perceived issues such as saltwater more than the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill.
tion (CPRA 2007). Lessons from the 2005 intrusion, shoreline erosion, tidal scour, For 87 days after the explosion, oil and
hurricanes provided the impetus to con- and sediment starvation. In addition, natural gas continuously and uncontrol-
solidate the various plans contemplated enactments of state and federal legisla- lably flowed into the northern Gulf of
for decades and the subsequent 2010 oil tions over the years have resulted in the Mexico. Oil moved with deep-sea cur-
spill provided the financial resources to development of numerous programs and rents, creating a plume of oil within the
fulfill these plans. plans as consequences of several studies deep sea. Oil and associated “marine oil
(Killebrew and Khalil 2018). Though snow” also settled on the sea floor. More
Concept of sustainable
never articulated, there appears to be buoyant oil traveled up through about 1.6
ecosystem restoration
unanimous consensus about some of kilometers of water column and formed
Building, maintenance, and dissolu-
the most effective mitigative strategies large surface slicks. At the slick’s maxi-
tion of the coastal landscape is primarily
viz. river diversions, barrier island res- mum extent on 19 June 2010, oil covered
a mass-balance between sediment input
toration, marsh platform creation, and more than 40,000 square kilometers of the
and accommodation space created due to
shoreline protection. ocean. Cumulatively, over the course of
various natural and anthropogenic causes
the spill, oil was detected on over 112,100
(Khalil et al. 2018). Plans and projects to Since 2007, state-legislated CMPs eval-
square kilometers of the ocean. Currents,
restore coastal Louisiana have existed in uate projects through a set of linked pre-
winds, and tides carried these surface
some form or fashion at least since 1927, dictive models and risk assessment (CPRA
oil slicks to the Northern Gulf states,
and both state and federal governments 2012, 2017). Among the constraints
polluting more than 2,100 kilometers of
have expended considerable time and considered are other funding sources,
shoreline, including beaches, bays, estu-
funds in plan development (Killebrew sediment, and river uses. The 2017 update
aries, and marshes from eastern Texas
and Khalil 2018). These efforts, while lay- to the CMP acknowledges that efficient
ing the foundation for future actions, also use of funding and sediment resources is 1) For details on DWH Funding, please see the
paper entitled “A short history of funding and ac-
suggested the need for a single, overarch- required. The state’s 2012 CMP envisaged complishments post-Deepwater Horizon” by Alyssa
ing strategic approach to guide the state nine different strategies to be adopted to Dausman and Jessica Henkel in this dedicated issue.
Shore & Beach Vol. 88, No. 1 Winter 2020 Page 39
Table 1. tion in all five Gulf states. Together these
Table showing dollar amount of various funding sources. funding streams total approximately $7.1
billion projected out for the next 15 years
Total restoration funds to the State of Louisiana = $7.1 billion
(Killebrew and Khalil 2018).
Louisiana NRD allocations Dollar amount
Louisiana total $5 billion To date, about $510 million paid by
Early Restoration Phases I-IV $368 million BP and its partners has already been used
Approximate balance remaining $4.6 billion to complete restoration work on seven
major projects. Another $6.8 billion will
Clean Water Act Allocation
be used on several other projects through
Louisiana Total (RESTORE 1, 3, and Centers of Excellence) = $787 million
2032, the deadline for BP to pay money
Centers of Excellence $22 million owed under various court settlement
Bucket 1 — Direct component $308 million agreements. Louisiana’s share of NRDA
30% coastal parishes $92 million payments required under the Oil Pol-
70% state $216 million lution Act of 1990, totaling at least $5
Bucket 3 — Spill impact component $457 million billion, was agreed to by BP as part of a
global settlement with federal, state and
to the Florida Panhandle. In addition, royalties, bonuses, and severance taxes parish governments. More than $787 mil-
some lighter oil compounds evaporated that are used primarily as a state match lion in Clean Water Act civil fines have
from the slicks, exposing air-breathing for CWPPRA funded projects. This is the also been directed to Louisiana under
organisms like marine mammals and sea only recurring state revenue in the coastal the federal RESTORE Act. Much of that
turtles to noxious fumes at the sea surface. program. The amount varies each year money is being paid to the state in incre-
and fiscal year 2020-2021 projections are ments over 15 years ending in 2032. The
As a result of the spill, consequences
at about $25 million. The CWPPRA Pro- state was also provided $360 million di-
were measured from the deepwater drill-
gram provides $75 million to $80 million rectly by BP in the weeks after the spill in
ing site through the nearshore oceanic
per year through the current authoriza- 2010 to build sand berms along existing
environment, along the Gulf shoreline
tion. USFWS’s Coastal Impact Assistance barrier islands along the coast to intercept
and into the sensitive estuaries of the Gulf
Program (CIAP) in Louisiana contained oil before it moved beyond the islands
states. Offshore impacts resulted from
99 projects funded with state and/or par- into the more fragile wetlands. When the
the release of oil and natural gas itself,
ish CIAP funding totaling approximately well was capped, BP agreed to allow the
dispersants, drilling mud, and in situ
$496 million. The Gulf of Mexico Energy state to use more than $120 million of the
burning. As the oil reached the shoreline,
Security Act (GOMESA) established a remaining berm money for barrier island
consequences resulted not only from
revenue sharing arrangement for OCS restoration (Table 1 and Table 2).
exposure to oil, but also from response
oil and gas revenues for the Gulf Coast
activities viz. skimming, freshwater Restoration plans and programs
producing states. Estimates for Louisiana
releases, shoreline protection activities, It has been mentioned that, although
(Fiscal Year 2021) are approximately $88
boom placement, construction of berms Louisiana has had a coastal wetland eco-
million with 80% (~$70 million) of the
and wildlife rehabilitation and relocation. system restoration program for several
Louisiana share allocated to CPRA.
decades, the first integrated hurricane
Through the Emergency Sand Berm
New funding streams have largely protection and ecosystem restoration
Project, 6.2 million cubic yards of sand
been associated with the DWH oil spill “Coastal Master Plan” (CPRA 2007),
were placed on 15.7 miles of Chandeleur,
of 2010 stemming from violations of was produced in 2007 following Hur-
Scofield, Pelican, and East Shell Islands
the Oil Pollution Act, Clean Water Act, ricanes Katrina and Rita (Khalil and
(CPE 2013) to prevent oil from reaching
and injuries to natural resources and Raynie 2015a). This was followed by the
sensitive marshes and the only significant
have included projects funded through 2012 Coastal Master Plan that included
community of submerged aquatic vegeta-
the Berm-to-Barrier, Natural Resource a detailed prediction of the future of the
tion in coastal Louisiana (LaRoe et al.
Damage Assessment (NRDA), Resources Louisiana coast without action, and an
1995). This sand was mined from “outside
and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist objective evaluation of the performance
the system,” from either Mississippi River
Opportunities, and Revived Economies of hundreds of previously proposed proj-
maintenance dredging spoil deposits or
of the Gulf Coast States Act (RESTORE ects over the next 50 years (CPRA 2012).
from Hewes Point. On the positive side,
Act), and the Gulf Environmental Benefit Subsequently the 2017 Coastal Master
these berms added a significant amount
Fund administered by the National Fish Plan proposes to build and maintain over
of sand to the barrier island system.
and Wildlife Federation (NFWF). The 2,000 square kilometers of coastal land in
DETAILS OF VARIOUS NFWF grants (approximately $1.272 bil- the next 50 years (CPRA 2017). It is also
FUNDING SOURCES lion) resulting from criminal settlements mentioned that barrier island restoration,
History of funding in Louisiana are restricted to barrier island and river marsh platform creation, and sediment
Traditionally, restoration and protec- diversion projects in Louisiana. The RE- diversions, are most-emphasized resto-
tion efforts are funded from multiple rev- STORE Act directs 80% of the Clean Wa- ration strategies by both 2012 and 2017
enue streams that have significant com- ter Act penalties into five different fund- Coastal Master Plans and are directly
pliance requirements. Funding sources ing streams directed at restoring coastal related to land building (Killebrew and
include constitutionally dedicated state and Gulf ecosystems and is an additional Khalil 2018). The intent is to restore/create
mineral revenues derived from oil and gas source of revenue for ecosystem restora- critical landforms/geomorphic forms (viz.
Page 40 Shore & Beach Vol. 88, No. 1 Winter 2020
Table 2. Table showing status of various active Deep Water Horizon projects. Barrier island restoration projects Funding Status 2020 BA-0040 Riverine Sand Mining/Scofield Island Restoration BERM Completed BA-0076 Cheniere Ronquille Barrier Island Restoration NRDA Completed BA-0110 Shell Island East — Berm BERM Completed BA-0111 Shell Island West — NRDA NRDA Completed BA-0143 Caminada Headland Beach and Dune Restoration Incr2 NFWF Completed BA-0197 West Grand Terre Beach Nourishment and Stabilization RESTORE Construction BA-0202 Queen Bess Island Restoration NRDA Construction BS-0029 North Breton Island NRDA E&D CS-0080 Rabbit Island Restoration NRDA Completed TE-0100 NRDA Caillou Lake Headlands NFWF Construction TE-0143 Terrebonne Basin Barrier Island and Beach Nourishment Marsh platform creation, marsh nourishment and ridge restoration projects Funding Status 2020 BA-0042 Lake Hermitage Marsh Creation NRDA Completed BA-0141 NRDA Lake Hermitage Marsh Creation Increment NRDA Completed BA-0203 Barataria Basin Ridge and Marsh Creation — Spanish Pass Increment NRDA E&D BA-0207 Large-Scale Barataria Marsh Creation NRDA E&D BA-0240 Grand Cheniere Ridge Marsh Creation NRDA E&D BS-0034 Lake Lery Marsh Creation RESTORE Construction PO-0163 Golden Triangle Marsh Creation RESTORE E&D PO-0180 Lake Borgne Marsh Creation — Increment 1 NRDA E&D TE-0139 Terrebonne Basin Ridge/Marsh Creation — Bayou Terrebonne Increment NRDA E&D Sediment diversion projects Funding Status 2020 BA-0153 Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion NFWF E&D BS-0030 Mid-Breton Sediment Diversion NFWF E&D PO-0029 River Reintroduction Into Maurepas Swamp RESTORE E&D TE-0110 Increase Atchafalaya Flow to Terrebonne NFWF E&D Recreational use projects Funding Status 2020 AT-0019 Atchafalaya Delta WMA Boat Access NRDA E&D AT-0020 Atchafalaya Delta WMA Campground Improvements NRDA E&D BA-0208 Science Center and Educational Complex NRDA E&D BA-0213 Bayou Segnette State Park Improvements NRDA E&D BA-0214 Grand Isle State Park Improvements NRDA Construction BS-0036 St. Bernard State Park NRDA E&D CS-0083 Elmer’s Island Access Enhancement NRDA E&D CS-0084 Sam Houston Jones State Park NRDA E&D ME-0036 Rockefeller Piers and Signage NRDA Construction MR-0168 Lowermost Mississippi River Management Program RESTORE Program MR-0169 Pass a Loutre Crevasses NRDA NRDA Construction MR-0170 Pass a Loutre Campgrounds NRDA NRDA Construction NA-1 Belle Chasse Boat Launch NRDA E&D NA-2 Chitimacha Boat Launch NRDA E&D NA-3 Des Allemands Boat Launch NRDA E&D NA-4 Grand Avoille Boat Launch NRDA E&D NA-5 The Wetlands Center NRDA E&D NA-6 WHARF Phase 1 NRDA E&D NA-7 LDWF Artificial Reefs (Not on Map) NRDA Construction PR-0001 Middle Pearl River WMA Boat Launch NRDA E&D TE-0144 Island Road Fishing Piers NRDA Construction TE-0145 Grand Bayou Freshwater Reintroduction RESTORE E&D TE-0146 Pointe-Aux-Chene WMA Enhancement NRDA E&D TV-0081 Cypremort Point State Park Improvements NRDA E&D Other project types Funding Status 2020 CS-0065 Calcasieu Ship Channel Salinity Control Measures RESTORE E&D ME-0035 Rockefeller Shoreline Stabilization RESTORE E&D PO-0174 Biloxi Marsh Living Shoreline RESTORE E&D PO-0183 Manchac Landbridge Shoreline Protection RESTORE E&D TE-0113 Houma Navigation Canal Lock Complex RESTORE E&D TE-0145 Grand Bayou Freshwater Reintroduction RESTORE E&D TV-0079 Freshwater Bayou Bank Stabilization RESTORE E&D BA-0209 Paradis Canal Gate RESTORE Construction Shore & Beach Vol. 88, No. 1 Winter 2020 Page 41
Figure 1. Map showing three major geomorphic environments, Bird’s Foot Delta and barrier island restoration
projects under various stages of completion (Active Deep Water Horizon Projects).
delta, barrier islands, marsh platform) (Table 2; Figure 1). The following barrier 6) Rebuilding Scofield Island in
that have been lost, and to re-establish islands, which were all directly impacted Plaquemines was completed in 2013.
land-sustaining processes to achieve a by oil during the spill, were restored in
In addition to the projects above,
point of no net loss in the future. Vari- an expedited manner as they were under
the Terrebonne Basin Barrier Island
ous restoration projects funded by DWH various stages of readiness from a design
(TE-0143) project is currently under
related funding sources under various standpoint with funding from other res-
construction whereas West Grand Terre
stages of completion are listed in Table 2. toration initiatives:
Beach Nourishment and Stabilization
Barrier island restoration projects 1) Restoration of Shell Island West, (BA-0197) project is anticipated to be
The restoration of Louisiana’s barrier in southern Plaquemines was completed advertised for construction in 2020.
islands has been a priority for a number of in 2017. Breton Island Restoration by NRDA Early
programs over the past several decades. In Restoration Phase 3 funds is currently
2) Reconstruction of Shell Island East
the 1990s, barrier island restoration was a advertised for construction. Queen Bess
in Plaquemines was completed in 2016.
primary focus for the CWPPRA program, Island is under construction and antici-
which funded construction of several of 3) Reconstruction of the Caillou Lake pated to be complete in early 2020. The
barrier island restoration projects. Since Headlands on Whiskey Island in Ter- Rabbit Island Restoration is currently
then, the state of Louisiana and federal rebonne Parish, was completed in 2018. in the Engineering and Design (E&D)
partners have used funds from other pro- phase and anticipated to be advertised
4) The second increment of the Cami-
grams and sources to construct more than for construction in 2020. These last two
nada Headlands in Lafourche and Jef-
40 barrier island restoration projects over islands are not barrier island restoration
ferson parishes was completed in 2017.
the past two and a half decades (Khalil projects, but they are being restored to
and Raynie 2019). DWH funds helped 5) Rebuilding Cheniere Ronquille Bar- provide bird habitat for the purpose of
complete the loop by providing funding rier Island in Plaquemines was completed mitigating the impacts to bird popula-
for construction of six of these large- in 2017. tions from the oil spill.
scale barrier island restoration projects
Page 42 Shore & Beach Vol. 88, No. 1 Winter 2020Figure 2. Map showing marsh platform creation, marsh nourishment, and ridge restoration projects under various
stages of completion (Active Deep Water Horizon Projects).
These constructed restoration projects any single barrier island may compromise also provide a second line of defense
have been studied and their perfor- the system as a whole, especially after (behind barrier islands) against flood-
mance assessed to adaptively improve catastrophic events such as future hur- ing from frontal passages, sea-level rise
resilience of these barriers. Khalil and ricanes. This program will provide a tool and hurricane induced storms by acting
Raynie (2015b) suggested a system-wide for CPRA to prioritize and implement as “horizontal levees.” In addition to the
approach over restoration and mainte- future projects based on sound science, projects listed in Khalil et al. (2011), Loui-
nance of individual barrier islands. Such while maintaining the ability to respond siana has continued to create thousands
a holistic approach is essential as indi- to unexpected coastal changes. Process of acres of new marshes through marsh
vidual barrier islands are interrelated as formalization will include development nourishment/enhancement projects
a system. The 2017 Coastal Master Plan of the Structured Decision Making (Khalil and Raynie 2015a). The Missis-
recommended development of a barrier (SDM) model to evaluate morphologic sippi River Sediment Delivery System
island management program to meet changes in the barrier island systems is an example of utilizing renewable
the need for ongoing maintenance of the and identify opportunities to improve sediment resources of the Mississippi
state’s barrier island systems. The basic the geomorphic forms and ecological River for marsh restoration (Khalil et al.
premise is that maintaining and manag- functions of the barrier systems (Khalil 2011). This concept of using renewable
ing barrier islands as a system is not only et al. 2019). BISM is funded by NFWF. river sediment to build marsh platforms
scientifically appropriate but technically has subsequently led to the construction
Marsh platform creation, marsh
efficient and fiscally cost-effective. The of thousands of additional acres via the
nourishment, and ridge restoration
state proposes a comprehensive program- same process (Khalil and Raynie 2015a).
The coastal marshes of Louisiana
matic system approach (Barrier Island The 2012 Coastal Master Plan stressed
are vital not only to recreational and
System Management or BISM) to moni- the creation of marsh platforms via
agricultural interests but also provide
tor and assess barrier islands as a system dedicated dredging. Similarly, the 2017
nursery habitat to support the state’s
of islands to drive project investment and Coastal Master Plan also emphasizes the
multimillion-dollar seafood industry
provide a framework to promptly react need for marsh platform creation using
(Khalil and Raynie 2015a). These marshes
when maintenance and management of dedicated dredging and long distance
Shore & Beach Vol. 88, No. 1 Winter 2020 Page 43Figure 3. Map showing sediment diversion projects under various stages of completion (Active Deep Water Horizon
Projects).
pipeline transport, in combination with Creation, which are anticipated to begin river diversions designed to reconnect
sediment diversions, and ridge features. the construction phase in 2020 (Figure 2). the river to its coastal plain (Killebrew
and Khalil 2018) (Figure 3). The state/
In 2016, Increment 2 of the Lake Sediment diversion projects
CPRA is moving forward with two diver-
Hermitage wetlands restoration project Sediment/river diversions are struc-
sion projects; Mid-Barataria Sediment
in Plaquemines Parish was completed tures designed to mimic the natural pat-
Diversion and Mid-Breton Sediment
(Figure 2). The initial increment of the tern of deltaic land formation by recon-
Diversion (Table 2). This is a step in the
Lake Hermitage project was funded necting the river to the coastal system.
right direction, as it is understood and
through the CWPPRA Program. Through The primary purpose of river diversions
appreciated that to maximize efficiency
the second increment, approximately is to supply freshwater, nutrients, and
diversions should be sited high up in
104 acres of new wetlands were built sediments to aid in the restoration and
the estuary, which will not only mimic
with $14.4 million in BP NRDA Early maintenance of coastal wetlands (Khalil
natural delta building processes but will
Restoration money, using about 1 MCY et al. 2010) and intercept sediment before
also provide a receiving basin with higher
of sand from the Lower Mississippi River it is transported to the Gulf and lost from
sediment retention capacity, which is cru-
leveraging the work from the initial phase the system. All previous restoration plans
cial for the land building process (Khalil
of construction. generated over the past 30 years have
and Freeman 2014). River diversions are
identified the need to reconnect the Mis-
Currently, the State of Louisiana/ not exclusive to the Mississippi River
sissippi River to its deltaic plain through
CPRA is advancing the engineering and in Louisiana. The “Increase Atchafalaya
freshwater and/or sediment diversions
design of several large scale marsh cre- Flow to Terrebonne” project (Figure 3)
(Khalil and Raynie 2015a). Extensive
ation projects viz. Barataria Basin Ridge is targeted to utilize freshwater and sedi-
modeling supports CPRA’s selection of
& Marsh Creation, Terrebonne Ridge ment from the Atchafalaya River in order
the “Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion”
& Marsh Restoration, Barataria Basin to build, sustain, and maintain wetlands
(Barataria Basin) and “Mid-Breton Sedi-
Restoration Plan, Orleans East Land within the Terrebonne Basin. Terrebonne
ment Diversion” (Breton Sound) projects,
Bridge Marsh Creation, Golden Triangle Basin has experienced very high rates
originally included in the 2012 Coastal
Marsh Creation, and Lake Borgne Marsh of wetland loss in recent decades due to
Master Plan among several large-scale
Page 44 Shore & Beach Vol. 88, No. 1 Winter 2020Figure 4. Map showing recreational use projects under various stages of completion (Active Deep Water Horizon
Projects).
the combined effects of isolation from to the Lake Charles Science Center in including nearly $1 million toward a
riverine influence, canal construction, Calcasieu Parish and The Wetlands Cen- boardwalk for fishing and wildlife view-
fluid withdrawal, global sea level rise, and ter in Jefferson Parish to promote conser- ing, fishing piers, restrooms and lighting
subsidence (Khalil and Raynie 2015b). vation; and enhancements to 11 existing as part of the first phase of the Wetlands
In addition, the Maurepas Diversion, a artificial reef sites across the coastline are Harbor Activities Recreational Facility
freshwater river diversion, is currently in some items on the list, which has been project in Westwego. Grand Isle State
the Engineering and Design Phase. in development for more than two years. Park will receive $6.1 million in upgrades,
Work on some projects began mid-2018 and $6 million will go toward enhanced
Recreation use projects
as the settlement money became available access to and recreational features on
In addition to the injuries to natural
for design and construction. Elmer’s Island. The Lake Charles Science
resources caused by the DWH oil spill,
Center will get $7 million, the largest
recreational use of Louisiana’s coast suf- The final project list was drafted by the
individual project award, to construct a
fered a substantial setback. Louisiana is Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group
visitor’s center, youth fishing pond and
nicknamed “Sportsman’s Paradise” largely (LA TIG) after a thorough process that
other educational exhibits.
in part due to the abundance of and easy included months of public hearings and
access to natural resources for recreation. input. The projects selected include a mix Other project types
An amount of $60 million was allocated of state and local, as well as one that falls Other project types include bank-line
to Louisiana through NRDA to enhance under the U.S. Department of the Interior stabilization (one project), hurricane
outdoor recreation opportunities through and another under the Chitimacha Tribe. protection (one project), hydrologic
23 recreational improvement projects in Projects are meant to encourage tourists restoration (three projects), oyster reef
coastal parishes (Figure 4). Fishing piers and Louisiana residents to fish, camp, restoration (one project), and shoreline
in Cameron, Jefferson, St. Mary and boat, and take part in other outdoor protection (two projects; Figure 5).
Terrebonne parishes; boating access im- activities and recreation along the coast.
ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT
provements in Jefferson, Plaquemines, St.
Jefferson Parish will receive $18.5 Adaptive management is notably
Charles, St. Mary, St. Tammany and Ter-
million for six recreational use projects, critical in coastal Louisiana as most of the
rebonne Parishes; educational upgrades
Shore & Beach Vol. 88, No. 1 Winter 2020 Page 45Figure 5. Map showing other projects (including bank-line stabilization, hurricane protection, hydrologic restoration,
oyster reef restoration, and shoreline protection) under various stages of completion (Active Deep Water Horizon
Projects).
strategies adopted for restoration of this Approximately $285 million have been Monitoring (BICM) program and par-
highly degraded ecosystem are a first-of- set aside from NRDA and RESTORE tially support the Coastwide Reference
their-kind, either in scale or scope, and specifically for adaptive management and Monitoring System (CRMS).
do not have well-established textbook its implementation (via various monitor-
DISCUSSION
templates to follow (Killebrew and Khalil ing programs) as the importance of the
Land loss is an ongoing process and
2018). At the same time, Louisiana has a role of adaptive management is appreci-
coastal Louisiana is losing land at an
long history of coastal management and ated in the ongoing restoration effort in
astounding pace as we write this. Un-
restoration actions with multiple projects Louisiana. Louisiana has developed an
derstanding the gravity of the situation,
implementing common approaches. Adaptive Management Implementation
numerous studies have been conducted
CPRA has practiced informal adaptive Plan (AMIP) along with a handbook.2
over decades and several comprehensive
management as key personnel pass on In order to implement adaptive manage-
plans were developed to mitigate the
accumulated wisdom and lessons learned. ment in Louisiana monitoring of various
situation. Most of the time, the focus of
There is currently an increased need for parameters are important. This is being
these studies and plans was on land loss
large-scale restoration due to ongoing done under the overarching umbrella of
and hence coastal restoration took the
land loss as well as major new restoration the System Wide Assessment and Moni-
front seat. However, the events of 2005
funding entities resulting from the DWH toring Program (SWAMP).3 The state was
prompted the state of Louisiana to re-
spill. Thus, there is increased incentive to also able to continue implementation of
evaluate and change its approach to deal-
develop processes that formalize com- its other regional monitoring programs
ing with coastal restoration. For the first
mon learning to improve decision mak- like the Barrier Island Comprehensive
time in the state’s history, coastal pro-
ing. We know that environmental systems
2) For details on adaptive management, please tection and restoration were combined
are inherently complex and non-linear, see the paper entitled “Current status of adap-
and consequently, predicting the success tive management related to coastal restoration in 3) For details on SWAMP, please see the paper
of restoration projects is challenging (Na- Louisiana with recommendations for improved entitled “ Statewide monitoring for restoration of
tional Research Council 1992). implementation” in this dedicated issue by Tim coastal Louisiana and data management” in this
Carruthers and others. dedicated issue by Richard Raynie and others.
Page 46 Shore & Beach Vol. 88, No. 1 Winter 2020under Act 8 of the First Extraordinary attributed to multiple stressors resulting While DWH funding on the one
Session of 2005.4 In order to implement from natural variabilities and human hand has opened up unprecedented
Act 8, the CPRA was established and interventions. Therefore, a broad knowl- opportunities, it has at the same time
flood risk was added to the portfolio of edge of coastal environments, including introduced several significant gover-
land loss and land building projects. The the human component, is necessary to nance and bureaucratic challenges due to
DWH oil spill in 2010 further highlighted enable their management in a manner various settlements and several decision-
the vulnerability and fragility of coastal consistent with ecological, social and making entities and governing bodies.
Louisiana. Coastal Louisiana’s natural economic benefits. The individual trustees that make up the
resources were impacted more than various governing bodies have different
Further it is realized and appreci-
any other northern Gulf of Mexico state perspectives and different approaches
ated that the natural resources of coastal
due to its fragility and proximity to the depending upon the mission of their
Louisiana support communities and
spewing oil well. Both geomorphologi- respective agencies. This has, at times,
the economy of Louisiana as well as the
cal damages and ecological injuries were complicated our ability to move forward
entire United States. However, future
significant, not only directly due to the oil despite the fact that our overarching goal
conditions of coastal Louisiana are
spill but also due to recovery and mitiga- is the same. Such diversity in approach
highly uncertain due to the dynamic
tive actions. and perception is healthy as long as it
processes of the MRDP, unpredictable
does not impede productivity due to
The funds that resulted from the storm events, subsidence, sea level rise,
bureaucratic delays. The challenge is how
civil and criminal penalties of the DWH and increasing temperatures. Extensive
to make this diverse group efficiently and
disaster helped Louisiana to make great human interventions intended to protect
cost effectively coordinate, cooperate, and
strides towards fulfilling its plans for the communities and infrastructure have
collaborate to achieve the common goal
completion of many restoration projects. additionally altered or ceased natural
as envisaged in Coastal Master Plan. This
The magnitude of funding suddenly processes. Adaptive management is a
will come with the realization that CPRA
changed from millions to billions of dol- great help, and has been rightly funded,
is ultimately responsible for implementa-
lars. The confluence of additional funding to allow us the opportunity to modify and
tion of protection and restoration strate-
and existence of comprehensive coastal adjust these plans, but we can’t afford to
gies to mitigate the rapidly degrading
restoration plans has aptly positioned have “do-overs”. Adaptive management
coastal area of Louisiana. CPRA plays this
CPRA to address coastal land loss in in deltaic environments encourages an
important role as it is well positioned with
particular and ecosystem sustainability integrated and flexible approach to land
the institutional knowledge and experi-
in general. For example, for decades it and water management that considers
ence to fulfil its commitment to imple-
was common knowledge that the long- risk and uncertainty. It promotes solu-
ment its legislated duty. The importance
term solution to Louisiana’s perpetual tions that are sustainable under dynamic
of this responsibility cannot be overstated
land loss problem was reconnecting the or unknown conditions by providing a
and we must never let our guard down
river with surrounding marshes, restora- science-based and -structured process for
as “…posterity will judge (us) critically
tion of barrier islands, and creation of making decisions and programmatic or
how wisely and effectively these funds
marsh platforms via dedicated dredging. project adjustments. Connecting short-
were expended in implementation of the
These concepts were put into plans and term investments with long-term changes
plans as they will have or not have the
the availability of DWH funds helped to and the selection of actions that allow for
coastal landscape we propose to build…”
make these plans a reality. Without this maximum flexibility of future decisions
(Killebrew and Khalil 2018).
funding, the state could not implement its are two of the key concepts of “Adaptive
plans to build large sediment diversions, Delta Management” (Delta Alliance CONCLUSIONS
which is the only long-term solution to 2014). As mentioned earlier, the develop- The State of Louisiana has been able
the land loss problem. ment of an AMIP is not only very much to efficiently and effectively implement
needed but would be very effective in restoration projects funded through re-
Coastal Louisiana, especially its south-
developing the most appropriate strategy cent programs because of the hard work
eastern deltaic environment, is uniquely
for coastal protection and restoration. done through previous programs and
challenged due to the interdependence
planning efforts. Decades of progress
and delicate balance of land, water, and In the past, due to limited funding,
by a critical mass of experts made up of
ecosystems, along with the future un- monitoring of various parameters on a
local, state and federal natural resource
certainties regarding the magnitude and regional scale could not be undertaken at
agency staff, academia, political leaders,
rate of climate change impacts (Killebrew the magnitude desired. However, recent
volunteers, nongovernmental agencies,
and Khalil 2018). Killebrew and Khalil funding has helped alleviate the situation.
and concerned citizens funded through
(2018) state that “…management of such While the state/CPRA has proceeded
the State Coastal Protection and Resto-
a complex ecosystem in which the natural aggressively with project implementa-
ration Trust Fund, CWPPRA Program
and socioeconomic systems are highly tion and monitoring, funding provided
and planning initiatives like the COAST
integrated is inherently difficult....” This through the DWH settlement provides an
2050 Plan paved the way for the expe-
complexity is further compounded by opportunity to assess the effects of eco-
dited implementation of recent work.
widespread degradation, which can be system protection and restoration on the
It is expected that the results of science
4) Louisiana state legislature passed Act 8 of the First entire coastal system—a vital component
and engineering research on the state’s
Extraordinary Session of 2005, which required an of adaptive management at programmatic
integrated coastal protection and restoration policy coastal landscape will provide a showcase
and project levels.
and program for the first time in the state’s history. for coastal protection, restoration, and
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