Governor Foster Urges Rededication of Restoration Efforts
Making wetlands protection and restoration a top priority was the word from Governor Mike Foster at a National Wetlands Month kickoff press conference on May 1 in Baton Rouge. The governor stated that Louisiana needs to "spend whatever time necessary" to protect the state's precious wetland resources. An avid outdoorsman, Foster related his own sense of loss at the alarming disappearance of coastal wetlands and urged rededicated efforts from all those involved in solving Louisiana's coastal problem.
"It's an important moment," says Scott Clark, senior project manager for Breaux Act projects for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in New Orleans. "Finding solutions has never been and could never be a project for just one action group or government agency - the task is simply enormous." According to Clark, finding solutions requires continued cooperation among agencies.
Governor Foster meets with high school students from the Marsh Maneuvers program at his May 1 National Wetlands Month press conference. Marsh Maneuvers is a program offered by the Cooperative Extension Service of Louisiana State University. It is available to senior 4-H students from around the state who want to learn more about Louisiana's coastal wetlands.
Cooperation at Cameron-Creole
One good example of agency cooperation is the Cameron-Creole Watershed Project in Cameron Parish. Designed to benefit more than 600 acres of wetlands east of Calcasieu Lake, the project will re-establish historic water conditions and eliminate excessive saltwater ponding in the watershed's southern end.
The project, which was completed early this spring, was a joint effort of the state of Louisiana and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Before construction was even begun, the state and USFWS first reached a cost-sharing agreement to split the project's $776,000 construction cost. As construction neared completion, the state, in conjunction with USFWS, developed a monitoring plan to assess the project's performance. When construction was completed and the plan approved, the state began a 20-year monitoring schedule. Should the project not perform as expected, the state and USFWS will meet to devise a solution.
Cooperation, however, isn't limited simply to Cameron-Creole. "All projects slated for construction have a cost agreement in place before the first dirt is turned and a monitoring plan ready before the contractor heads home," says Clark. To date, more than 50 cost-sharing agreements have been signed between the state and sponsoring federal agencies, and the state is monitoring all of the projects completed so far.