The Plan
Researched by Sara Barnowski, Leigh Casadaban, Ying Chan, Anna Simon, and Samantha Fox

Short Term: What to do within the next 20-30 years 

Increased Research
Written by Anna Simon

If large-scale projects were undertaken now in order to restore Louisiana’s wetlands, some would be successful, and some would not, because of the lack of understanding and gaps in knowledge of the system and restoration techniques.  Instead, our short term goals focus more on increasing the research, funding for studying the wetlands, and developing restoration techniques.  We propose to set up a large number of relatively small experimental restoration sites in diverse areas and monitor these locations intensely for a period of approximately three to five years.  An increase in the general study of different types of wetlands in southeastern Louisiana is vital to better understand these areas.  This research will require an increase in funding to institutions that are developing restoration technology, such as centers for breeding plants most suitable for planting. 

Zoning Laws
Written by Ying Chan 

Since human interaction with the wetlands is a major cause of degradation, we propose several new zoning laws and also suggest that current laws be more avidly enforced.

There are the zoning laws that are generally in effect for wetlands in parishes outlined in the State and Local Coastal Resources Management Act:

• Non-water dependent forms of development are restricted to uplands and areas at least 5 ft. above sea level.
• Waste treatment and facilities in parishes must be removed from wetlands and be constructed in a way to prevent leaching.
• Non-water dependent uses of wetlands are prohibited.  Such activities should occur in regions that are suitable for development, as far as way as possible from flood-prone areas and environmentally sensitive wetlands.
• If a permitted development in a parish will have adverse effects on wetlands, the parish will plan and determine what the private owner must do in order to compensate for wetland loss.

Here are zoning features that we propose be enforced:

• Draining or filling is prohibited in pristine wetland areas.
• For wetlands preserved for conservation, at least a 100 ft. vegetative buffer strip should be placed along the boundaries of wetlands to absorb runoff from urban areas.  A buffer zone must be kept between wetlands and developed areas.
• Prior to rebuilding, each parish must evaluate where commercial, industrial, and residential districts should be situated to have as little impact on wetlands as possible.
• Bayou communities (which are low-lying marshland area) should practice low-density sprawl to downsize the population density.  In addition, each private owner of wetland areas is responsible for protecting the wetland by planting marsh vegetation and doing other things to help restore wetland areas. 
• All activities in industrial or agricultural areas that may affect adjacent wetlands must be managed to have as little impact on wetlands as possible by following strict guidelines for minimizing the release of pollutants.  Best management techniques must be enforced for farming (such as crop rotation, contour farming, recharge aquifers), foresting, oil drilling (using directional drilling and avoidance of canals through barrier islands and wetlands).  Ground water quality must be continually monitored to detect any pollutants to ensure that the guidelines are followed.
• If forested wetlands are to be developed, at least 50% of the area must be put aside for recreational parks.

Wetlands Regulation and Protection 

Permits from the parish or Army Corps of Engineers are required for development occurring within a flood plain or coastal zone.  Through the Clean Water Act: Sec 404, major jurisdiction is handed to the Army Corps of Engineers and EPA over wetlands near “navigable waterways” for issuing permits for activities that discharge materials into the wetlands.  Given that the Army Corps of Engineers make some controversial decisions that affect wetlands, parishes must share the role of authorizing permits for these wetland areas.  Permits must be required not only for discharging dredged or fill material into dredged material into wetlands, but also for draining wetlands. 

All activities that are allowed to occur with general permits should be posted publicly, and permitting for restoration projects should be carried faster and more efficiently by allowing input from the parish council.

The Clean Water Act tries to enhance the water quality of wetlands by making sure that the activities allowed to occur in wetland territory comply with the water quality standard standards of Louisiana.  Louisiana must take advantage of this policy by making very strict water standards for wetlands to limit the pollutants that they receive from point and non-point source. 

Farm programs like the Swampbusters Act provide farmers with federal funding or federal benefits if they do not convert more wetland to farmland and dedicate a portion of their land for wetland restoration.

Each parish has coastal zone management laws for how wetland territory shall be used and what restoration techniques it will apply.  The Coastal Zone Management section of the parish’s Commission on Planning and Zoning works with government agencies and private owners on the construction of restoration projects.  (Coastal Zone Management)

Although many coastal restoration programs like the Breaux Act and the Louisiana Wetlands Conservation & Restoration Trust Fund provide funding for restoration projects derived from taxes, the federal government must enact legislation that will provide billions of dollars for speeding up restoration projects.  The money will fund the acquisition of wetlands, the restoration of wetlands, and management of wetlands. 

Immediate Action

While current understanding of the wetlands is not as complete as it could be, there are certain techniques that will work for areas experiencing a higher rate of deterioration.  

Barataria Bay Basin
Written by Anna Simon

(http://www.lacoast.gov/geography/basins/ba/index.asp)  From LaCost.gov

The southern, coastal, portion of the Barataria Basin is facing the most serious land loss.  Unless action is taken, the basin could lose approximately 25% of its current wetland area (Barataria Basin Summary).  The most critical problem is the lack of fresh water, nutrients, and sediment.  Levees along the Mississippi and freshwater diversion essentially eliminated significant input of fresh water and sediment into Barataria Bay.  The result of these problems is an increase in tidal flux through Barataria Bay, which results in a positive feedback cycle even higher levels of salinity, plant death, and erosion.

Fresh water must be diverted back into the Barataria Basin.  This is accomplished by siphoning fresh water into bays and waterways, and constructing weirs and other management structures in order to maximize nutrient uptake and sediment retention (Naomi Outfall Management General Factsheet).   Although previous projects, such as the Naomi Outfall Management and the Mississippi River diversions have been somewhat successful at reducing salinity and increasing sediment and nutrient levels, additional fresh water, sediments, and nutrients are also vital to reducing erosion.  Our plan is to divert the Mississippi River at a point below New Orleans and direct it into the basin. 

Additionally, the bay side of the barrier islands should be restored with dredged sediment and replanted (Barataria Basin Summary).  Dredged sediments can either be taken from river beds or neighboring off shore locations.  Planting of native species will yield a much faster recovery as well as preserve the ecological dynamics by not introducing invasive species. 

Pontchartrain Basin
Written by Sara Barnowski

(http://www.lacoast.gov/geography/basins/po/)  From LaCoast.gov

In 2002 the majority of Pontchartrain's shoreline was eroding at a rate of at least a meter per year, and a southwestern segment was eroding four meters per year (USGS, Center For Coastal and Watershed Studies, 2006).  This is especially significant to the land bridges between Lake Pontchartrain and the surrounding Lakes Borgne and Maurepas.  These land bridges are comprised of marshes and cypress swamps,

which act as buffers to prevent salty water, pollution, and storm surges from entering neighboring lakes and reaching into other basins.  Increased erosion, development, and natural subsidence all contribute to decreasing the area of land that separates the lakes and freshwater ecosystems from the ocean (Geography: Coastal Louisiana Basins, LaCoast).  This increases the rates of salt-water intrusion and significantly alters the ecology of the region.   Zoning laws prohibiting commercial and residential development, along with intensive planting and sedimentation efforts should be implemented to prevent the further degradation of these land bridges.

Chandeleur Islands
Written by Samantha Fox

The Chandeleur Islands are composed of a chain of barrier islands located on the eastern edge of St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes.  Due to numerous hurricanes in the past ten years, the islands have experienced a much greater rate of erosion.  The best way to prevent such loss is to plant smooth cord grass, Spartina alterniflora, to hold the soil in place and promote growth and stability (Chandeleur Islands Marsh Restoration, 2001).

Canal Regulations
Written by Leigh Casadaban

The simplest solution would be to have fewer canals.  Industry trafficking in southern Louisiana is not well organized, and several canals are barely used.  By channeling traffic to a select few canals, we can save a majority of freshwater ecosystems, allowing the wetlands to thrive.  Additionally, we can introduce new structures within the canals to prevent water contamination.  A locked dam, for instance, would be a major project that would require high funds and new trafficking laws. Also, enforcing canal walls with vegetation will prevent saltwater spillage.  To help prevent wave induced erosion, rock dikes used as sediment traps, weirs and rock plugs can be placed along the mouth of the canals (Stokstad, 2005). 

Educate the Masses
Written by Sara Barnowski

After hurricane Katrina the people of Louisiana began to realize how important the wetlands were to their safety.  Therefore, people are presently willing to give more time and effort to the restoration process.  But these wetlands will be equally important in ten, fifty, even one hundred years, and it is likely that people will have lost some of their zeal for protecting them.  Because this is the case, it is important to begin educating the public about the natural ecosystems that surround them.  That way they will still be willing to consider them the next time they vote, or when they are considering expanding their community by filling in a wetland ecosystem.  This education process could begin by implementing an environmental science unit into the school curriculums.  But it is also important to get the adult community involved, and allow them to participate in decisions affecting the wetlands.  To accomplish this, a time could be arranged in which people from the community go into dilapidated wetlands and assisted in replanting and restoring them, instead of leaving that work solely to scientists.  Also by incorporating smaller wetland parks and green spaces into the construction of the city, citizens will have a greater opportunity to experience and appreciate wetland ecosystems.