SOUTHWEST COASTAL LOUISIANA FEASIBILITY STUDY

STATUS UPDATE FOR CPRA

September 21, 2011

Overview 1

We are 2.5 years into the Feasibility Study

Study is being cost shared 50-50 between the State and the Corps. State is performing half of the work

Study remains very visible to stakeholders and officials

The current schedule indicates a Draft Feasibility Report in November 2012 and a Signed Chief’s Report in July 2013

Overview 2

Changes in Corps policy and guidance have required additional hydraulic modeling and economics inventory work , which has lengthened the study schedule

FOR a CORPS REPORT-HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH? Corps Reviews Sea level rise requirements/Future

Without Project condition Hydraulics issues

STATUS

We have worked through many of the requirements and screened the measures under consideration

Through an iterative process we continue to consider measures and the measure types still under consideration include: Shoreline stabilization Unique natural features restoration Marsh creation/restoration Hurricane risk reduction Hydrologic and salinity control

STATUS cont’d

Our next step is to combine the best measures/alternatives into plans

Weekly Project Delivery Team meetings should resume in October

ISSUES

No Corps Funding for FY 2012; Southwest Coastal is not in the President’s Budget for 2012 and is unlikely to get a Congressional Add if an Appropriations Bill is ever passed (This means the Corps involvement would stop on September 30, 2011)

PROPOSED PATH FORWARD

The State continues with the study and provides the Corps funding for their review and processing in order to achieve a Federally authorized project.

(Would require a new Project Management Plan and/or Memorandum of Understanding signed by the State and the Corps)

QUESTIONS

Contact Information =norwyn.johnson@la.gov225-342-0924

Paul.A.Varnado@usace.army.mil504-862-1808