Louisiana faces a number of crises, but perhaps none so existential as the one at the coast.
For nearly a century, Louisiana's coastal lands have been disappearing at a rapid rate, turning once verdant marsh into open water. The leveeing of the river, the cutting of innumerable canals through wetlands and the rising of seas have ushered saltwater further inland, killing vegetation and bringing the Gulf ever closer to heavily populated areas.
State and federal agencies have been in a race to rebuild the state's coastal areas, not just to regain land but to provide an essential buffer against storms that roll up through the Gulf of Mexico and push walls of water inland.
One project that has come out of that effort is the rebuilt Caminada Headland, a 14-mile stretch of dunes and beach near Port Fourchon and Grand Isle. Caminada, which is now an attraction for beachgoers, a haven for birds and a favorite area for fishermen, also protects marshes and other inland areas as well as a critical stretch of Louisiana Highway 1 and the industrial hub at Port Fourchon.
It took approximately nine million cubic yards of sand, much of it dredged from 27 miles offshore, and $265 million to rebuild Caminada. The project, which was completed in 2017, drew more than half of its funds from money the state received as part of the fines and settlements from the BP oil spill in 2010.
Money from the spill has been a key source of coastal restoration funding for years. The state has used approximately $8.5 billion to fund an ambitious series of projects. But the funds will start to run out in the coming years and will be completely exhausted by 2032.
Advocates, business leaders and state officials are scrambling to find ways to cover the shortfall. Recently, a group traveled to Washington and urged congressional staffers to support bills that would direct more revenue from offshore drilling to Louisiana. If, for instance, the cap on offshore oil and gas revenue distributed to Gulf Coast states were lifted, the state could see billions in revenue, according to Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority.
That's a good first step.
Louisiana's "working coast" doesn't just support Louisiana industry and residents. It's a vital conduit and resource for the entire nation.
But convincing members of Congress from other states to spend billions of dollars on projects in Louisiana will be a tall task.
That's why CPRA's efforts to bring these problems to a broader audience are so important. And we urge state leaders to continue to support a robust agency that can keep our coastal crisis in the national spotlight.
Protecting these vital areas — from Cameron to Plaquemines — is at the forefront of local leaders' efforts as well. But Louisiana can't do it alone.