2021-0063
INTRODUCED BY: HOLLY FONSECA, COUNCILWOMAN-AT-LARGE, DIVISION B
BOBBY DONALDSON, COUNCILMAN-AT-LARGE, DIVISION A
LA SANDRA DARENSBOURG GORDON, COUNCILWOMAN, DISTRICT I
MARY K. CLULEE, COUNCILWOMAN, DISTRICT II
DICK GIBBS, COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT III
NICKY DUFRENE, COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT IV
MARILYN B. BELLOCK, COUNCILWOMAN, DISTRICT V
BOB FISHER, COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT VI
JULIA FISHER-PERRIER, COUNCILWOMAN, DISTRICT VII
MATTHEW JEWELL, PARISH PRESIDENT
RESOLUTION NO.
Title
A resolution to add St. Charles Parish to a letter of support for the New Orleans East Landbridge project to be considered for funding by the Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group.
Body
WHEREAS, the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill impacted nearshore coastal marsh habitat throughout Louisiana, including the New Orleans East Landbridge; and,
WHEREAS, in addition to impacts from the oil spill, canal dredging, levees, wave exposure, subsidence and sea level rise have caused erosion and recession of the shoreline, leading to significant degradation of vital marsh habitat; and,
WHEREAS, the landbridge separates the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Borgne from Lake Pontchartrain and, without action, is on track to largely disappear over the next 50 years; and,
WHEREAS, the landbridge provides vital wetland and estuarine functions, including control of tidal flow between the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Pontchartrain, benefitting the ecosystem and the people who rely on a healthy estuary for their livelihoods; and,
WHEREAS, the landbridge also serves as important habitat for hundreds of species of fish and wildlife, including sturgeon and migratory birds; and,
WHEREAS, the landbridge reduces storm surge and provides storm protection for over one million people who live around Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas, including communities in St. Charles Parish; and,
WHEREAS, the City of New Orleans and the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) have a large-scale restoration project on the landbridge in early planning stages, but major funding is needed to implement the project; and,
WHEREAS, the project would create 1,500 acres of brackish marsh habitat and over 4 miles of living shoreline protection in Lake Borgne along the eastern perimeter of the marsh creation area; and,
WHEREAS, project proposals are currently being accepted through the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) process; and,
WHEREAS, this is a potential opportunity to fund the large-scale project on the landbridge.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT WE, THE MEMBERS OF THE ST. CHARLES PARISH COUNCIL, do hereby add St. Charles Parish to a letter of support that will be submitted for consideration with the City of New Orleans’ New Orleans East Landbridge project proposal to the Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group before the March 2, 2021 deadline.
The foregoing resolution having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereon was as follows:
And the resolution was declared adopted this day of , 2021, to become effective five (5) days after publication in the Official Journal.
2021-0063 Resolution_New Orleans East Landbridge Project.docx
CHAIRMAN:
SECRETARY:
DLVD/PARISH PRESIDENT:
APPROVED: DISAPPROVED:
PARISH PRESIDENT:
RETD/SECRETARY:
AT: RECD BY: