News Release

Atchafalaya Basin Research and Promotion Board approves Annual Plan

The Atchafalaya Basin Program’s Research and Promotion Board , at its meeting held on February 19, 2009, approved the first annual plan for the Basin Program under the new planning process established by the state Legislature in 2008.

 The Annual Plan now moves on to the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority for consideration at its March meeting, before going on to the state Legislature for approval.

The plan calls for three new projects dealing with water quality or water management in the upcoming funding year and the continuation of five ongoing water management or water quality projects. 

The total amount of state funding requested for projects listed in the plan for the water quality/water management projects in the upcoming year is $2.48 million.

Of that amount, about $1.5 million of the proposed request would be for creation of the Atchafalaya Basin Natural Resources Inventory and Assessment Tool – a process using a mix of technologies for data gathering and management, allowing the scientists in the Basin Program’s Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to evaluate the impacts of proposed water quality or management plans in the Basin and direct data collection necessary for evaluation of proposed projects. The purpose of the tool is to ensure that projects developed and approved through the planning process in the future best meet the environmental needs of the Basin.

The balance of the requested water quality/water management funding would go to a proposed maintenance dredging of a sediment trap in the Dog Leg Canal and development of a plan to address water quality and sedimentation in East Grand Lake, Flat Lake and Upper Belle River water management units of the Basin.  This project will focus on realignment of water flow and the strategic redirection of sediment  Analysis of water and sediment inputs to the water management units will be performed to develop specific projects that will enhance water quality in these areas.

The five continuing water quality/water management programs included in the plan are:

• Hydrologic restoration at Beau Bayou Swamp, funded by St. Martin Parish through federal Coastal Impact Assistance Program money
• Water management at Buffalo Cove, funded with federal program money
• Planning for possible work in the Henderson Water Management Unit, funded with federal program money
• Dredging of Henderson Lake access channels, funded by previously allocated state money
• Sherburne Freshwater diversion at Big Alabama Bayou, approved for federal funding, but not yet funded.

The plan also includes a request for about $700,000 to fund new a new boat launch at Krotz Springs, improvements to the Big Alabama boat launch at the Sherburne Wildlife Management area, and funding for habitat restoration. 

The Basin Program held a series of public meetings to solicit nominations for potential water management and quality projects and to give stakeholders the opportunity to participate in the process. Those meetings were held last October, with Basin staffers and TAG members hosting meetings in Morgan City, Plaquemine, and Henderson.

That was followed by two public hearings held by the Research and Promotion Board, on the draft plan earlier this month in Plaquemine, and Henderson.

Louisiana Department of Natural Resources Secretary Scott Angelle said the legislation approved by the state Legislature last year creating the annual plan process and establishing procedures for the approval and funding of projects in the basin, was crafted to put water management first; and make good science the basis for decisions.

“This was the first year of the new process, incorporating the best principles of transparency in government and applying science to environmental planning,” Angelle said. “It represents an important step in the future of the environmental health of one of Louisiana’s signature areas, one that highlights the best of our bountiful natural resources.”