NGA CENTER FOR BEST PRACTICESNGA CENTER FOR BEST PRACTICES

Waves of Change: Waves of Change: Examining the Roles of Examining the Roles of

States in Emerging States in Emerging Ocean PolicyOcean Policy

Karen GautreauxKaren GautreauxLouisiana Governor’s OfficeLouisiana Governor’s Office

September 4, 2003September 4, 2003

Key Issues Key Issues Confronting State Officials:Confronting State Officials:

The America’s WETLAND The America’s WETLAND Restoration InitiativeRestoration Initiative

THE PROBLEMTHE PROBLEM

EXISTING & PREDICTED LAND LOSS 1956-2050

1956-90 Land Loss

1993-2050 Predicted Land Loss

• At least 25% of all oil At least 25% of all oil and gas consumed in and gas consumed in the U.S. and over 80% the U.S. and over 80% of offshore oil and gas of offshore oil and gas supply travels through supply travels through Louisiana’s wetlandsLouisiana’s wetlands

• More than 30% of U.S. More than 30% of U.S. fisheries catch from the fisheries catch from the lower 48 states comes lower 48 states comes from offshore Louisianafrom offshore Louisiana

ECONOMIC & ENERGY SECURITYECONOMIC & ENERGY SECURITY

THE IMPACTTHE IMPACT

• One of the largest habitats One of the largest habitats for migratory waterfowl in for migratory waterfowl in the worldthe world

• Many plant and animal Many plant and animal species in wetlands listed species in wetlands listed as threatened or as threatened or endangeredendangered

WORLD ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCEWORLD ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE

THE IMPACTTHE IMPACT

Louisiana Coastal Area StudyLouisiana Coastal Area Study

• Continuation of efforts beginning in 1989 Continuation of efforts beginning in 1989 with state legislation and 1990 passage of with state legislation and 1990 passage of the Coastal Wetlands Planning Protection the Coastal Wetlands Planning Protection and Restoration (Breaux) Act.and Restoration (Breaux) Act.

• Coast 2050 developed under auspices of Coast 2050 developed under auspices of Breaux ActBreaux Act

• LCA - Comprehensive plan for LCA - Comprehensive plan for rehabilitating LA’s Coastal wetland rehabilitating LA’s Coastal wetland ecosystemecosystem

VisionVision• Sustain coastal ecosystem that supports and Sustain coastal ecosystem that supports and protects the national economy, protects the national economy,

significant significant environmental values, and the unique culture of environmental values, and the unique culture of coastal Louisianacoastal Louisiana..

Study GoalStudy Goal• Explore strategies and develop long-range, large- Explore strategies and develop long-range, large- scale plans to restore and scale plans to restore and

protect protect central Gulf coastcentral Gulf coast..

Our DirectionOur DirectionOur DirectionOur Direction

ObjectivesObjectives• Hydro-geomorphicHydro-geomorphic

• Maintain salinity gradientsMaintain salinity gradients • Increase sediment delivery Increase sediment delivery • Maintain or establish natural landscape featuresMaintain or establish natural landscape features

• EcosystemEcosystem• Improve productivity and sustain diverse flora, fauna, and habitatImprove productivity and sustain diverse flora, fauna, and habitat • Reduce nutrient delivery to the gulfReduce nutrient delivery to the gulf

• Achieve consistency of all coastal activities in support of the Achieve consistency of all coastal activities in support of the visionvision

Our DirectionOur DirectionOur DirectionOur Direction

Report PurposeReport Purpose

• Present compelling rationale for national Present compelling rationale for national action and long-term commitmentaction and long-term commitment

• Present a Plan of action at a coast-wide scalePresent a Plan of action at a coast-wide scale

• Provide basis for Congressional approval of a Provide basis for Congressional approval of a Comprehensive Plan in WRDA 2004Comprehensive Plan in WRDA 2004

What will the report include?What will the report include?What will the report include?What will the report include?

• Benefit focused primarily on National Benefit focused primarily on National Ecosystem RestorationEcosystem Restoration

• Broad-scale description of potential Broad-scale description of potential economic effects economic effects

• Programmatic Environmental Impact Programmatic Environmental Impact StatementStatement

• General Project feature locationsGeneral Project feature locations

• Cost estimatesCost estimates

Mississippi River & Delta

Mississippi River Mississippi River BasinBasin

Meandering of the Meandering of the DeltaDelta

Gulf of MexicoGulf of Mexico

Change over timeChange over time

Building the deltaBuilding the delta

Natural Natural CharacteristicsCharacteristics

Introduction to Introduction to Coastal Louisiana Coastal Louisiana (map)(map)

Building the Nation

Managing the RiverManaging the River

LA PurchaseLA Purchase

1912,1927 floods1912,1927 floods

Navigation Projects-Navigation Projects-Benefits/EffectsBenefits/Effects

Development of Development of CommunitiesCommunities

Agriculture/ ForestryAgriculture/ Forestry

Soil ConservationSoil Conservation

Energy action/ Energy action/ effects/ benefitseffects/ benefits

FisheriesFisheries

Loss of America's Wetlands

Rates and causes of Rates and causes of losseslosses

Ecological impacts Ecological impacts of future withoutof future without

Economic impactsEconomic impacts Hurricane Hurricane

protection protection systemssystems

Navigation Navigation systemssystems

Oil and GasOil and Gas

FisheriesFisheries

CulturalCultural

Saving America’s WETLAND:

Initial Phase

Breaux ActBreaux Act

Other ActivitiesOther Activities

Not solving the Not solving the ProblemProblem

Saving America’s WETLAND:

Comprehensive Plan

LCA TeamsLCA Teams

Alternatives (brief Alternatives (brief descriptions)descriptions)

The planThe plan

Comparison plan Comparison plan costs to benefits to costs to benefits to the Nationthe Nation

Coastal Coastal ConsistencyConsistency

Implementation Implementation StrategyStrategy

LCA Comprehensive ReportLCA Comprehensive Report

StoryboardStoryboard

COASTWIDE RESTORATION PLAN

BATON ROUGEBATON ROUGE

NEWORLEANS

NEWORLEANS

VENICEVENICE

HOUMAHOUMAMORGAN CITYMORGAN CITY

LAFAYETTELAFAYETTE

LAKECHARLESLAKECHARLES

MississippiRiverMississippiRiver

GIWWGIWW

GIWWGIWW

AtchafalayaRiverAtchafalayaRiver

MR-GO

MR-GO

CalcasieuRiverCalcasieuRiver

MermentauRiver

MermentauRiver

MississippiRiver OutletMississippiRiver OutletHouma

NavigationCanal

HoumaNavigationCanal

BaratariaBayWaterway

BaratariaBayWaterway

FreshwaterBayou

FreshwaterBayou

The Nation’s The Nation’s ResourceResource

Louisiana Coastal Area Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA)(LCA)

Funding StrategiesFunding Strategies

• Provide for use of multiple Provide for use of multiple appropriations to fund project appropriations to fund project construction construction

• Define new funding sourcesDefine new funding sources• Develop Federal partner programs Develop Federal partner programs

in support of LCAin support of LCA• Reallocate existing funding sourcesReallocate existing funding sources

FY02 I FY03 I FY04 I FY05 I FY06 FY02 I FY03 I FY04 I FY05 I FY06

ComprehensiveComprehensive DesignDesign

LCA Project ScheduleLCA Project ScheduleLCA Project ScheduleLCA Project Schedule

OMB/CEQ BriefingOMB/CEQ Briefing 04 Sep 0304 Sep 03

Submit Preliminary Report to Submit Preliminary Report to 12 Sep 0312 Sep 03

OMB/CEQOMB/CEQ

File DEIS/Report with EPAFile DEIS/Report with EPA 18 Sep 0318 Sep 03

Public Review BeginsPublic Review Begins 26 Sep 0326 Sep 03

Complete Public ReviewComplete Public Review 24 Nov 0324 Nov 03

File FEIS/Report with EPAFile FEIS/Report with EPA 20 Feb 0420 Feb 04

MRC MeetingMRC Meeting 31 Mar 0431 Mar 04

Chief’s Report Sent to ASA(CW)Chief’s Report Sent to ASA(CW) 30 Jun 0430 Jun 04

LESSONS LESSONS LEARNEDLEARNED

LESSONS LEARNEDLESSONS LEARNED

GOALSGOALS

• Adopt specific goals for the planAdopt specific goals for the plan

• Periodically review and revise programmatic goalsPeriodically review and revise programmatic goals

• Establish a formal process for review and update Establish a formal process for review and update

the restoration plan at defined intervalsthe restoration plan at defined intervals

LESSONS LEARNEDLESSONS LEARNED

LEADERSHIPLEADERSHIP

• Secure and maintain support at the highest levels Secure and maintain support at the highest levels possiblepossible

• Program management leadership should create a Program management leadership should create a vision and organizational identityvision and organizational identity

• Plan for leadership succession to ensure Plan for leadership succession to ensure continuitycontinuity

• Assign a single project manager for each projectAssign a single project manager for each project

LESSONS LEARNEDLESSONS LEARNED

STAKEHOLDER & PUBLIC INVOLVEMENTSTAKEHOLDER & PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT• Provide opportunities for involvement at both the Provide opportunities for involvement at both the

program and project levels and implement outreach program and project levels and implement outreach and educationand education

• Target “opinion leaders” and the leaders of key Target “opinion leaders” and the leaders of key stakeholder groupsstakeholder groups

• Fully utilize the Governor’s Advisory Commission as a Fully utilize the Governor’s Advisory Commission as a vehicle for outreach and as a forum for consensus-vehicle for outreach and as a forum for consensus-building on key issuesbuilding on key issues

• Provide adequate funding and staff support for Provide adequate funding and staff support for outreach and educational activitiesoutreach and educational activities

LESSONS LEARNEDLESSONS LEARNED

PROGRAM AND PROJECT CONTROLSPROGRAM AND PROJECT CONTROLS

• Focus early on programmatic policy and Focus early on programmatic policy and proceduresprocedures

• Invest early in the development of program Invest early in the development of program and project control systemsand project control systems

• Put program-specific policy, procedures, and Put program-specific policy, procedures, and controls in place before ramp-up of project controls in place before ramp-up of project developmentdevelopment

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

PROJECT DEVELOPMENT & PROJECT DEVELOPMENT & IMPLEMENTATIONIMPLEMENTATION• Establish process for definition and Establish process for definition and

prioritization of projectsprioritization of projects• Define project development process before Define project development process before

initiating project developmentinitiating project development• Provide flexibility in the project development Provide flexibility in the project development

processprocess• Consider regional approaches to project Consider regional approaches to project

development and implementationdevelopment and implementation

LESSONS LEARNEDLESSONS LEARNED

SOUND SCIENCE AND ENGINEERINGSOUND SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

• A “science program” should be established A “science program” should be established to support the implementation of the to support the implementation of the restoration plan and should include:restoration plan and should include:• Decision support systems (DSS)Decision support systems (DSS)• Adaptive managementAdaptive management• Research & Development (R&D)Research & Development (R&D)• Independent scientific peer reviewIndependent scientific peer review

LESSONS LEARNEDLESSONS LEARNED

SOUND SCIENCE AND ENGINEERINGSOUND SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

• Overall objective is to reduce uncertainty Overall objective is to reduce uncertainty and improve decision-making:and improve decision-making:• R&D should focus on critical gaps in data, R&D should focus on critical gaps in data,

information and knowledgeinformation and knowledge• Define an organizational structure that provides Define an organizational structure that provides

formal linkages between science and formal linkages between science and programmatic and project-level decision-programmatic and project-level decision-makingmaking

LESSONS LEARNEDLESSONS LEARNED

SOUND SCIENCE AND ENGINEERINGSOUND SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

• Provide stable funding and staff support for Provide stable funding and staff support for “science program”“science program”

• Establish formal process for identification Establish formal process for identification of needs and priorities; review and update of needs and priorities; review and update at regular intervalsat regular intervals

• Establish programmatic monitoring and Establish programmatic monitoring and assessment program earlyassessment program early

LESSONS LEARNEDLESSONS LEARNED

RESOURCE REQUIREMENTSRESOURCE REQUIREMENTS

• Commit resources early to the development of Commit resources early to the development of program management infrastructureprogram management infrastructure

• Evaluate human resources requirements in Evaluate human resources requirements in terms of both capability and capacityterms of both capability and capacity

• Determine which functions will be performed Determine which functions will be performed with in-house resources and which will be with in-house resources and which will be outsourcedoutsourced

• Allow adequate time to build capability and Allow adequate time to build capability and capacitycapacity

LESSONS LEARNEDLESSONS LEARNED

PROGRAM ORGANIZATION & DECISION-PROGRAM ORGANIZATION & DECISION-MAKING STRUCTUREMAKING STRUCTURE

• Don’t defer discussion and resolution of organization Don’t defer discussion and resolution of organization issuesissues

• Embrace collaborative and consensus-oriented Embrace collaborative and consensus-oriented decision-makingdecision-making

• Ensure high-level representation and clearly define the Ensure high-level representation and clearly define the roles and responsibilities of participating agenciesroles and responsibilities of participating agencies

• Define a process for dispute resolutionDefine a process for dispute resolution

LESSONS LEARNEDLESSONS LEARNED

PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTPERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT

• Continuously monitor and assess program Continuously monitor and assess program performanceperformance

• Metrics should be quantitative and time-Metrics should be quantitative and time-specificspecific

• Report results regularlyReport results regularly• Demonstrate success and learn from Demonstrate success and learn from

failurefailure

SPECIAL THANKS TO:SPECIAL THANKS TO:

• U.S. Army Corps of EngineersU.S. Army Corps of Engineers

• Parsons EngineeringParsons Engineering

• PBS&JPBS&J

• USGSUSGS

• America’s WETLAND: Campaign to America’s WETLAND: Campaign to Save Coastal LouisianaSave Coastal Louisiana