2011-0278
INTRODUCED BY: DENNIS NUSS, COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT VII
CAROLYN K. SCHEXNAYDRE, COUNCILWOMAN-AT-LARGE, DIVISION A
TERRY AUTHEMENT, COUNCILMAN-AT-LARGE, DIVISION B
BILLY RAYMOND, SR., COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT I
SHELLEY M. TASTET, COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT II
WENDY BENEDETTO, COUNCILWOMAN, DISTRICT III
PAUL J. HOGAN, PE, COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT IV
LARRY COCHRAN, COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT V
MARCUS M. LAMBERT, COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT VI
V.J. ST. PIERRE, JR., PARISH PRESIDENT
RESOLUTION NO. __________
Title
A resolution requesting that the Gulf Ecosystem Restoration Task Force ("Task Force"), currently led by EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and Executive Director John Hankinson, include in their strategic restoration strategy to be submitted to the President of the United States, the recognition that current land loss rates in Coastal Louisiana indicate that this is a "crisis" and make specific recommendations on changes to current federal processes to streamline and improve the permitting process required for coastal restoration efforts.
Body
WHEREAS, on June 1, 2011, the U.S. Geological Survey ("USGS") released its report "Land Area Change in Coastal Louisiana from 1932-2010" (USGS Report), which calculated and quantified net land loss and gain rates in coastal Louisiana for the past 80 years; and,
WHEREAS, the USGS Report determined that since 1932 coastal Louisiana has sustained a net land loss of over 1,883 square miles, which accounts for a loss of 25% of all land in the affected region, for which a copy of the land loss map is attached; and,
WHEREAS, the USGS Report determined that trend analysis indicates that current wetland loss occurs at a rate of 16.57 square miles a year-equating to Louisiana's losing an area the size of a football field every hour; and,
WHEREAS, although Louisiana contains approximately 40% of all coastal habitat in the lower 48 states, it accounts for 90% of coastal land loss; and,
WHEREAS, the devastat...
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