Update On Mississippi River Delta Management Plan

Presented at August 20, 2009, Meeting of Governor’s Advisory Commission on Coastal Protection, Restoration and Conservation

David Frugé Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration Planning and Project Management Division

Presentation FocusPresentation Focus

Provide background informationProvide background information Review actions to dateReview actions to date Present proposed next stepsPresent proposed next steps

Investigations of Large-Scale Investigations of Large-Scale Concepts forConcepts for

Mississippi River Management Mississippi River Management Recommended in 2005 Chief of Recommended in 2005 Chief of

Engineer’s Report on LA Coastal Engineer’s Report on LA Coastal Area Ecosystem Restoration Area Ecosystem Restoration

ProgramProgram Mississippi River Delta Management Mississippi River Delta Management

StudyStudy Mississippi River Hydrodynamic StudyMississippi River Hydrodynamic Study Third Delta Conveyance StudyThird Delta Conveyance Study

Mississippi River Delta Mississippi River Delta Management PlanManagement Plan

State’s coastal Master Plan recognized thatState’s coastal Master Plan recognized that the the only way to sustain large areas of southeastern only way to sustain large areas of southeastern Louisiana is through very large land-building Louisiana is through very large land-building diversions that use the majority of River’s diversions that use the majority of River’s sediment and fresh water.sediment and fresh water.

The Master Plan noted that the status quo will The Master Plan noted that the status quo will result in continued wetland loss, increased result in continued wetland loss, increased storm-damage vulnerability for communities, and storm-damage vulnerability for communities, and greater difficulty in maintaining the Mississippi greater difficulty in maintaining the Mississippi River navigation channel. River navigation channel.

Mississippi River Delta Mississippi River Delta Management PlanManagement Plan

State’s Master Plan recognized the conceptual State’s Master Plan recognized the conceptual nature of the MRDMP.nature of the MRDMP.

Master Plan stated that land building, salinities, Master Plan stated that land building, salinities, commercial and recreational fisheries, flood commercial and recreational fisheries, flood control, and navigation will all have to be control, and navigation will all have to be factored in to the MRDMP. factored in to the MRDMP.

Conceptual proposals for large land-building Conceptual proposals for large land-building diversions on Miss. River include the one diversions on Miss. River include the one proposed at June 2006 “Envisioning the Future proposed at June 2006 “Envisioning the Future of the Gulf Coast” Symposium.of the Gulf Coast” Symposium.

CIAP-Funded Miss. River CIAP-Funded Miss. River Delta Management Delta Management

Strategic Plan DevelopmentStrategic Plan Development Intended to help focus LCA MRDMP Feasibility StudyIntended to help focus LCA MRDMP Feasibility Study Compile relevant information & findings on physical Compile relevant information & findings on physical

modeling of river conducted to datemodeling of river conducted to date Convene/assign expert panel to help develop Convene/assign expert panel to help develop

conceptual approaches for enhanced river conceptual approaches for enhanced river management to benefit coastal sustainability and management to benefit coastal sustainability and navigationnavigation

Identify critical issuesIdentify critical issues Identify required technical analyses and level of Identify required technical analyses and level of

efforteffort OCPR tasked Battelle with providing OCPR tasked Battelle with providing

recommendations for proceeding with required recommendations for proceeding with required feasibility studyfeasibility study

MRDMP Next StepsMRDMP Next Steps

OCPR will engage with Corps to develop a Project OCPR will engage with Corps to develop a Project Management Plan (PMP) and cost share agreement for Management Plan (PMP) and cost share agreement for LCA Miss. River Delta Management Feasibility Study.LCA Miss. River Delta Management Feasibility Study.

PMP initial phase: assign expert panel to recommend PMP initial phase: assign expert panel to recommend alternative approaches for improved river alternative approaches for improved river management to benefit coastal sustainability and management to benefit coastal sustainability and maintenance of Mississippi River deep draft maintenance of Mississippi River deep draft navigation. navigation.

Integrate as needed with LCA Miss. River Integrate as needed with LCA Miss. River Hydrodynamic Study to ensure a holistic approach. Hydrodynamic Study to ensure a holistic approach.

PMP will draw upon Battelle draft report, discussions PMP will draw upon Battelle draft report, discussions from Miss. River diversion “path forward” summit, and from Miss. River diversion “path forward” summit, and prior/ongoing river modeling efforts and data prior/ongoing river modeling efforts and data gathering.gathering.

Extensive stakeholder involvement essential to Extensive stakeholder involvement essential to success. success.

MRDMP Next StepsMRDMP Next Steps(cont’d)(cont’d)

OCPR plans to use Small Scale Physical Model OCPR plans to use Small Scale Physical Model (SSPM) of the Miss. River below Myrtle Grove to (SSPM) of the Miss. River below Myrtle Grove to help screen river management alternatives help screen river management alternatives identified by expert panel and other key entities. identified by expert panel and other key entities. The LCA S&T program would provide The LCA S&T program would provide recommendations on modeling tools & focus.recommendations on modeling tools & focus.

MRDMP Feasibility Study will take advantage of MRDMP Feasibility Study will take advantage of

recent and ongoing modeling on the Lower recent and ongoing modeling on the Lower Mississippi River.Mississippi River.

CIAP funds now allocated to Miss. River Delta CIAP funds now allocated to Miss. River Delta Management Strategic Plan to be used as State’s Management Strategic Plan to be used as State’s cost share for MRDMP Feasibility Study. cost share for MRDMP Feasibility Study.

Questions? Questions?