The state’s new governor wants to shrink the power of the agency, which has spearheaded essential flood protection and mitigation efforts since the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Louisiana’s robust coastal protection plans are under threat from Governor Jeff Landry’s plan to radically transform the state’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, say environmental advocates.
Christopher Dalbom, a senior research fellow at Tulane University, calls the agency “one of the best, deepest coastal restoration authorities in the country.” Since its inception in 2005, the authority has built or repaired over 300 miles of levees and restored coastal barrier islands.
As Shannon Osaka explains in The Washington Post, “Landry, who took office in January, has removed six members of the coastal restoration agency’s board and suggested subsuming it into another, larger department.” Environmental groups worry the shakeup could slow down important projects and inject politics into the agency.
A plan to divert part of the Mississippi River in a region where the shoreline is rapidly sinking could also be in jeopardy after the state stopped fighting a lawsuit claiming it could impact local fishing. “In a state Senate hearing earlier this month, the agency said that if the project is halted, almost $1 billion could go to waste.”
FULL STORY: Louisiana’s coast is sinking. Advocates say the governor is undermining efforts to save it.
New York Flood Control Plan Takes Lessons From the Dutch
The Netherlands has a long history of flood mitigation. U.S. cities, threatened by coastal flooding and erosion, are taking note.
Louisiana Approves Coastal Restoration Master Plan
The latest update to a state-mandated coastal protection and restoration plan calls for wetlands restoration and new levees to protect communities from flooding.
Report: $14 Billion New Orleans Flood System, Completed Less Than a Year Ago, Already Obsolete
The Army Corps of Engineers is already assessing the needs of repair work on a project it completed in May 2018 at the cost of $14 billion.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.
MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.
Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
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