THE BIG RIVER WORKS: Building Cooperation to Sustain the Mississippi River System September 5, 2012
THE BIG RIVER WORKS: Building Cooperation to Sustain the Mississippi River System
America s WETLAND Foundation Established in 2002 by LA Gov. Mike Foster after comprehensive coastal study alerted nation on how loss of state s wetlands would impact the nation. AWF serves as a neutral arbiter, bringing together diverse interests to ensure the sustainability of the Gulf coast. Yields information on the Gulf Coast s critical environmental and economic benefits to the nation, particularly the 31 states of the Mississippi watershed.
America s WETLAND Foundation Balanced Dialogue Broadening participation on energy and environmental issues Executive Briefings & Public Events Informing the Obama Administration, policy and legislative leaders at federal, state and local levels; engaging stakeholders and the public through information dissemination, media activities and high-profile events such as DELTAS2010 and DELTAS2013VIETNAM:World Delta Dialogues, and the Blue Ribbon Resilient Communities initiative. Response to Crisis Creating a rational dialogue to support economic and energy sustainability while safeguarding the the ecological assets of a working coast.
AMERICA S ENERGY COAST Unique Positioning Five Gulf States: Four energy producing states: Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, as well as Florida - collectively known as America s Energy Coast. Diverse Task Force of over 100 major businesses and industries, national environmental and conservation organizations, scientists and researchers, landowners and other coastal interests. Network of local, state and federal elected and administrative leaders.
AMERICA S ENERGY COAST National & Local Voices AEC Industry Council consists of industry representatives from the Gulf Coast region. Honorary Leadership Council a growing coalition of over 150 federal, state and local officials from the four states. AEC Task Force comprised of over 100 leaders of government, industry, community, academia, NGOs, landowners from the region. Experts and Research Leaders Best minds assembled to collect most relevant data. Elected & Administrative Officials Non partisan elected representatives provide full participation.
America s Energy Coast Leadership Forums A National Project of the America s WETLAND Foundation
BLUE RIBBON RESILIENT COMMUNITIES Regional Voice Local Choice Benefits & Incentives Emergency Rule Red Tape, Conflicting Policy Mitigation Correction Beneficial Use of Dredge Harbor Trust Fund Open Beneficial Use of Carbon Environmental Mitigation No Net Loss of Wetlands No Net Loss of Culture Energy & Ecology United FEMA Maps and Insurability
BLUE RIBBON RESILIENCY Leadership Forums of Americas Energy Coast Convene non-partisan, balanced regional dialogue on local coastal issues Identify specific vulnerabilities of communities who comprise America s Energy coast from Texas Florida Bring in unique expertise to address the issues Honor core values and build local pride Serve as a catalyst for empowerment of individuals and communities
BLUE RIBBON RESILIENCY Leadership Forums of Americas Energy Coast Pre-Forum Environmental scan Meeting with local policy leaders Individual interviews with diverse stakeholders Focus group with diverse stakeholders Forum Research findings & expert presentations Working sessions Post Forum Solicitation of public input Report of Findings Follow-up on recommendations for action
AWF/ENTERGY GULF COAST Adaptation Study
AWF/ENTERGY GULF COAST Adaptation Study
AWF/ENTERGY GULF COAST Adaptation Study
BLUE RIBBON FORUMS FINDINGS: Resilience Index
RECOMMENDATIONS 1 Seek Urgent Federal Action Resolve Conflicting Federal Policies & Practices Contradictory rules, regulations and agency priorities impede coastal restoration by delaying projects and increasing costs. A more orderly, efficient process must be established to meet urgent needs.
RECOMMENDATIONS 2 Deploy Multiple Lines of Offense Decrease Regional Vulnerabilities Through Cooperative Action Short-term thinking has led to consequence planning defined by inadequate, piecemeal fixes mainly in the wake of disasters. The focus must shift to a long-term vision for the future that emphasizes adaptation by using innovative, systemic approaches that incorporate non- structural and structural elements.
RECOMMENDATIONS 3 Allow Innovation & Enterprise to Flourish Support Strategies To Facilitate regional Stewardship Bureaucratic barriers and a lack of smart incentives hinder the development of creative, efficient coastal restoration strategies. Unless policies and plans harness the power of new technologies, visionary research, market forces and local ingenuity, environmental degradation will continue to outpace restoration and protection efforts.
RECOMMENDATIONS 4 Revitalize Regional Strengths & Pride Empower Communities to Practice Self- Determination Coastal degradation and mounting vulnerabilities threaten entire communities, cultures and a valued way of life. Local citizens must adapt to changing circumstances to preserve their cultural heritage and build the foundation for a stronger future.
RECOMMENDATIONS 5 Sustain Action Based on Recommendations Communicate Regional Visions for Resiliency The degradation of the Gulf Coast will continue to accelerate without a robust, coordinated response that enlists all interested parties and every level of government.
WORLD DELTA HOT SPOTS MS MK
AWF TIMELINE
GOALS Increasing Public Awareness of the River's National Importance Providing a Balanced Forum for Diverse Stakeholders Reconnecting the Delta with Upriver Interests Outlining Major Threats to Watershed Sustainability Identifying Key Opportunities for Collaboration
STATISTICS 3 rd largest delta in the world 4 th largest watershed in the world, covering 31 states $7 billion in agricultural and forest products flow down river each year Moves 500 million tons of cargo each year, including 60 % of nation s grain exports, accounting for $8.5 billion in exports Generates billions of tourism dollars 60% of North American birds use the river as a migratory flyway 25% of all North American fish species live in the watershed
THE BIG RIVER WORKS New Orleans, LA - May 31, 2012 Focus: Connecting interests by identifying common purposes and shared goals. THE BIG RIVER THRIVES Ducks Unlimited HQ Memphis, TN October 17, 2012 Focus: Sustaining vital ecosystems and habitats, such as flyways, fisheries and estuaries through improved awareness and systems management. THE BIG RIVER LIVES St. Louis, MO December 6, 2012 Focus: Improving water quality and quantity by outlining partnerships to manage river access and carbon and nutrient loads. THE BIG RIVER PROVIDES Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN January 17, 2013 Focus: Connecting interests by identifying common purposes and shared goals. THE BIG RIVER MOVES Chicago, IL February 26-27, 2013 Focus: Keeping the river a viable passageway for commerce while sustaining critical environmental features by connecting navigation, flood control, the beneficial use of dredge materials and coastal restoration.
STEERING COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS THE HONORABLE PAT QUINN ILLINOIS GOVERNOR THE HONORABLE JAY DARDENNE LOUISIANA LT. GOVERNOR
Joe Accardo Executive Director, Ports Association of Louisiana The Honorable John Alario, Jr. Senate President, State of Louisiana Scott Angelle Former Secretary, Louisiana Department of Natural Resources Phil Bass Director, Gulf of Mexico Alliance Dr. Donald Boesch President, Center for Environmental Science, University of Maryland The Honorable John Breaux U.S. Senator (LA) 1987-2005 Valerie Cahill Chairperson of the Board, Port of New Orleans The Honorable Joel T. Chaisson, J.D. Former Senate President & 29th Judicial District Court Judge, (ret.) Louisiana Legislature / St. Charles Parish Zhongyuan Chen, Ph.D Professor, State Key Laboratory for Estuarine and Coastal Research East China Normal University, Shanghai Doug Daigle Hypoxia Program Director, Mississippi River Basin Alliance Mark Davis, J.D Director, Institute on Water Resource Law, Tulane University John Day, Ph.D Professor, Coastal Ecology Institute, Louisiana State University STEERING COMMITTEE Maj. Gen. Hunt Downer, ARNG, Ret. Former Speaker of the House, Louisiana Legislature Sean Duffy Executive Director, Big River Coalition George Dunklin, Jr. Chairman, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission C. Berwick Duval, II Vice Chairman, Foundation for Louisiana Efi Foufoula-Georgiou, Ph.D Director, National Center for Earth-surface Dynamics, University of Minnesota Karen Gautreaux Director of Government Relations, Louisiana Chapter, The Nature Conservancy Teri Goodman Assistant City Manager, City of Dubuque, IA Claude Griffin Social Investment Manager Environment, Shell Charles Chip Groat, Ph.D President & CEO, The Water Institute of the Gulf Dale Hall CEO, Ducks Unlimited Michael Hecht President & CEO, Greater New Orleans, INC The Honorable Kip Holden Mayor-President, City of Baton Rouge, LA LT. Gen. Russel Honoré US Army (Ret.) Susan Kaderka South Central Regional Executive Director, National Wildlife Federation The Honorable Mitch Landrieu Mayor, City of New Orleans, LA Steve Mathies, Ph.D America s Great Watershed Initiative Irvin Mayfield Artistic Director, New Orleans Jazz Orchestra Paul McIlhenny Chairman & CEO, McIlhenny Company (makers of Tobasco) Doug Meffert, Ph.D Vice President, National Audubon Society Dale Morris Senior Economist, Royal Netherlands Embassy Chris Paola, Ph.D Principal Investigator, National Center for Earth-Surface Dynamics, University of Minnesota Sarah Pauley Director, Missouri Department of Natural Resources Denise Reed Laboratory Director, Lake Ponchartrain Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of New Orleans Randy Roach Mayor, City of Lake Charles, LA Sybil Seitzinger Professor, Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University William Clifford Smith Member-Designee, Mississippi River Commission The Honorable Mike Strain, D.V.M Commissioner, Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry James Syvitski Executive Director, Community Surface Dynamics Modeling System, University of Colorado Torbjorn Tornqvist, Ph.D Director, NICCR Coastal Center, Tulane University Robert Twilley, Ph.D Executive Director, Coastal Sustainability Studios, Louisiana State University The Honorable Jessica Upshaw, J.D. Representative, Mississippi House of Representatives Wiliam Walker, Ph.D Executive Director, Mississippi Department of Marine Resources Marcia Willhite Bureau Chief, EPA Bureau of Water, Illinois Warner Williams President, Gulf of Mexico Business Unit, Chevron Corporation Jerome Zeringue Executive Director, Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration, Louisiana
THE BIG RIVER WORKS How you can be involved: Honorary Leadership Committee Serve on the Steering Committee Attend meetings: Jan. 17, 2013 especially designed for legislators and mayors Contribute testimony & research
THE BIG RIVER WORKS Resources on website: BIGRIVERWORKS.ORG Contact us at: brw@americaswetland.com
bigriverworks.org VALSIN A. MARMILLION Managing Director America s WETLAND Foundation americaswetland@mcopr.com