At last, Louisiana’s efforts to put together a massive $50 billion, 50-year coastal restoration plan it adopted in 2007 is showing some progress in its financing.
And much of that will come under a settlement of BP oil spill claims announced last week.
Louisiana could get $8.7 billion in the next decade. That would be the most received so far in the state’s efforts to achieve its goals. Also, the state is in line to get a sizeable portion of the Clean Water Act penalties BP will have to pay.
That, plus funds already received from BP, would amount to some $500 million a year over the next 10 years which is what the state hoped to put out during the next decade to get our 50-year plan underway.
It will be a long and hard process to make our coast a more solid part of our state in the future but the prospects are beginning to look better.
One of the bright lights that have appeared so far is the fact that some of our coast has already shown more solid ground surprisingly. The Atchafalaya River and Whiskey Pass deltas in the middle of the coast have grown at the rate of one square mile a year recently. This is because up to 30 percent of the Mississippi River waters have been allowed to divert their way.
Also, it is encouraging to note that attention is being given to the rebuilding of offshore islands. A portion of $1 billion BP had committed to help out before a settlement was reached is being used to rebuild Shell Island in Plaquemine Parish and Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority is about to award a contract for reconstruction of Whiskey Island off Terrebonne Parish.
Those are two valuable pieces of property especially to our fishing industry which rely upon the islands to keep our offshore areas attractive to fish.
And it stands to reason that other diversion projects along the Mississippi which are to be constructed in the 50-year plan will likewise build up other areas of our coast. That will include fresh-water diversions and diverting sediment through pipelines to areas that are eroding away.
The future, indeed, looks brighter for the eroding Louisiana coastline. And, of course, part of the solution will be provided by financing from the repayment for destruction of the coastline during the BP oil spill.
But the destruction of the Louisiana coast has been an ongoing thing since the oil and other industries took liberties in opening up the coast to salt water intrusion with the building of canals to service their wells during the many years in which we allowed it.
Now, we are better informed and know that the end is near if we don’t restrict such destruction to our wetlands.
And it appears that reaction is beginning to appear.
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