Update On Mississippi River Delta Management Plan

1. 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

2. Presentation Focus Provide background information Review actions to date Present proposed next steps

3. Investigations of Large-Scale Concepts forMississippi River Management Recommended in 2005 Chief of Engineer’s Report on LA Coastal Area Ecosystem Restoration Program Mississippi River Delta Management Study Mississippi River Hydrodynamic Study Third Delta Conveyance Study

4. Mississippi River Delta Management Plan State’s coastal Master Plan recognized thatthe only way to sustain large areas of southeastern Louisiana is through very large land-building diversions that use the majority of River’s sediment and fresh water. The Master Plan noted that the status quo will result in continued wetland loss, increased storm-damage vulnerability for communities, and greater difficulty in maintaining the Mississippi River navigation channel.

5. Mississippi River Delta Management Plan State’s Master Plan recognized the conceptual nature of the MRDMP. Master Plan stated that land building, salinities, commercial and recreational fisheries, flood control, and navigation will all have to be factored in to the MRDMP. Conceptual proposals for large land-building diversions on Miss. River include the one proposed at June 2006 “Envisioning the Future of the Gulf Coast” Symposium.

6. CIAP-Funded Miss. River Delta Management Strategic Plan Development Intended to help focus LCA MRDMP Feasibility Study Compile relevant information & findings on physical modeling of river conducted to date Convene/assign expert panel to help develop conceptual approaches for enhanced river management to benefit coastal sustainability and navigation Identify critical issues Identify required technical analyses and level of effort OCPR tasked Battelle with providing recommendations for proceeding with required feasibility study

7. MRDMP Next Steps OCPR will engage with Corps to develop a Project Management Plan (PMP) and cost share agreement for LCA Miss. River Delta Management Feasibility Study. PMP initial phase: assign expert panel to recommend alternative approaches for improved river management to benefit coastal sustainability and maintenance of Mississippi River deep draft navigation. Integrate as needed with LCA Miss. River Hydrodynamic Study to ensure a holistic approach. PMP will draw upon Battelle draft report, discussions from Miss. River diversion “path forward” summit, and prior/ongoing river modeling efforts and data gathering. Extensive stakeholder involvement essential to success.

8. MRDMP Next Steps(cont’d) OCPR plans to use Small Scale Physical Model (SSPM) of the Miss. River below Myrtle Grove to help screen river management alternatives identified by expert panel and other key entities. The LCA S&T program would provide recommendations on modeling tools & focus. MRDMP Feasibility Study will take advantage of recent and ongoing modeling on the Lower Mississippi River. CIAP funds now allocated to Miss. River Delta Management Strategic Plan to be used as State’s cost share for MRDMP Feasibility Study.

9. Questions?