Coast 2050: toward a sustainable coastal Louisiana

Louisiana coastal wetlands conservation and restoration task force and the wetlands conservation and restoration authority:

This document outlines a jointly developed Federal/State/Local plan, to address Louisiana’s massive coastal land loss problem and provide for a sustainable coastal ecosystem by the year 2050.

The information in this document has been organized to include the essential details supporting the need for action in coastal Louisiana and the specific strategies to accomplish success. Each chapter stands alone, with an organization as follows: (i) The 18-month process used to build the plan is described in Chapter 2, (ii) Chapters 3-6 detail the landscape of coastal Louisiana and the problems it faces (sea level rise, storms, storm surge, communities at risk, wildfire), the implications of these changes for fish and wildlife populations, and the severe economic and human consequences of continuing on the current path, (iii) Chapter 7 outlines the ecosystem management strategies essential to the survival of coastal Louisiana and expected costs and benefits associated with implementation of the plan, (iv) Chapters 8 and 9 address broader institutional issues and scientific and technological needs, and (v) The final chapter outlines how this plan should lead to actions that will save the coast.