Louisiana Governor Seeks Surplus $300M for Coastal Protection

Louisiana is among a group of states, including Alaska, Texas, North Dakota, Wyoming and West Virginia, whose budgets have boomed because of the 2008 rise in energy prices.

An additional $78 million in federal recovery funds for coastal projects is expected, said the governor, for a total of $378 million toward coastal restoration and hurricane protection efforts.

"No one in Louisiana needs to be reminded of the havoc that hurricanes bring to our state each time they strike, and we know their magnitude and destruction is made worse each time there is less and less of our wetlands to slow down storms and decrease the terrible impact they have when they hit land," said Governor Jindal. "Coastal restoration helps guard against this damage."

Louisiana's three million acres of wetlands are lost at the rate about 18,532 acres annually, and reducing these losses is proving to be difficult and costly, according to Jeff Williams of the U.S. Geological Survey.

"We are in a battle to save our coasts," the governor said. "It is a battle against time that washes more of our land out to sea each year, and it is a battle we gain ground on by making critical investments in hurricane protection and coastal restoration projects that strengthen coastal communities."

Regarding the state's current fiscal situation, the governor said, "Today's announcement is another example that while state government must tighten its belt in times of decreased revenue, it is also vital for us to continue to invest in our priorities."

A FEMA Inspector checks the beach erosion caused by Hurricane Katrina at Grande Isle, Louisiana. October 2005. (Photo by Marvin Nauman courtesy FEMA)

The governor said today he anticipates these funds will be used for projects all along the coast, with a significant investment for projects in the New Orleans and bayou areas of southeast Louisiana.

He said that CPRA Chairman Garret Graves has already been working with CPRA members to commit up to $200 million toward purchasing the land needed to completely fulfill the state's share in ensuring New Orleans has 100 year Flood Protection by 2011.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers interpreted the state-federal 30-year finance agreement to require the state to provide $336 million in real estate costs before the end of the state's 2010 fiscal year.

To date, the state and levee districts have acquired about $36 million in real estate. The CPRA set aside $100 million last year in an effort to expedite the New Orleans area hurricane protection work.

That leaves CPRA with a need for $200 million in FY2010. The governor's request from surplus funds today would fully meet the state's share of this flood protection effort.

The Army Corps of Engineers and the state have $15 billion in projects underway to repair and improve the hurricane protection system in the Greater New Orleans area. This is money in the bank - not dependent upon future appropriations.

This ongoing work is designed to provide the updated post-Katrina 100-year level of protection for parts of five parishes comprising Greater New Orleans - Plaquemines, St. Bernard, Orleans, Jefferson, and St. Charles.

The non-federal cost share on this hurricane protection work will total $1.8 billion.

Last year, the governor and the White House negotiated an agreement to allow the state to pay its share over a 30-year period. Congress codified this agreement in September of 2008 in an emergency supplemental appropriations bill.

Governor Jindal said, "Hurricanes Gustav and Ike showed us again just this last year that it is absolutely critical for us to continue to fight to protect our people, our infrastructure, and our state's future by making these important investments in our coastal protection system. We made progress last year, we are building on that this year, and we will continue to build on these efforts in the years ahead."

"I committed to the people of Louisiana that we will continue to move our state forward while living within our means," the governor said, "and that is exactly what we are doing with this important investment of state resources in the protection and restoration of our coasts."

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