General DNR News

Father of Breaux Act celebrated today with Mississippi River Delta area as backdrop

Members of the Breaux Act Task honor the Senator for his 32 years of service to Louisiana.

With a life-long career of dedicated public service, there is perhaps no other more distinguished or honored name in Louisiana than—John Breaux.

For 35 working years, he has been a champion for Louisiana, having served with five governors and seven U.S. presidents. U. S. Senator John Breaux of Crowley is celebrated today for his complete commitment to protecting and funding coastal Louisiana at a historic landmark and backdrop on the west bank of the Mississippi River Delta.

Breaux Act Task Force members, state and local leaders, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) officials and the public gathered at Fort Jackson in Plaquemines Parish to dedicate and view six southwest area restoration projects built by state and federal partners at a combined cost of $34.1 million.

The dedication ceremony highlighted three U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects and three NOAA National Marine Fisheries Services projects that include:

• West Bay Sediment Diversion, Plaquemines Parish
Cost $22.3 million and Completed in November 2003
9,831 acres overall benefit/create marsh over 20-year cycle
DNR and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

• Delta Wise Crevasses, Plaquemines Parish
Cost $4.7 million, first cycle complete with three dredging cycles
2,386 acres overall benefit after 20 years
DNR and National Marine Fisheries Service

• Hopedale Hydrologic Restoration, St. Bernard Parish
Cost $2.4 million and Completed in May 2004
Project area in total is 3,805 acres with 134 acres net benefit over full-cycle
DNR and National Marine Fisheries Service

• Chandeleur Islands Marsh Restoration, St. Bernard/Plaquemines Parishes
Cost $1.4 million and Completed in July 2001
Barrier Island restoration aimed at buffering storm surge, net benefit of 220 acres
DNR and National Marine Fisheries Service

• Channel Armor Gap Crevasse, Plaquemines Parish
Cost $902,720 and Completed in December 1997
Project within the Delta National Wildlife Refuge, 936 acres benefited
DNR and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

• Dustpan Maintenance Dredging Operations for Marsh Creation in the Mississippi River Delta Demonstration, Plaquemines Parish
Cost $1.6 million and Completed in June 2002
Maintenance of the Mississippi River Navigation Channel with dustpan hydraulic dredge providing nourishment for marsh creation in the delta
DNR and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

These projects are among 127 coastal restoration projects approved under the federal Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA) enacted in 1990, authored by Senator Breaux and so named, providing Louisiana approximately $50 million in federal funding each year.

Senator Breaux decided in December of last year not to seek public office again but said that over half of his life has been spent working on issues important to Louisiana. He said he was extremely proud to join those participating in this event and to see several more projects constructed under his tenure in office.

Phoenix High School student, Lashanta Encalade, participated in the ceremony and was proud to have had the opportunity to meet the senator. Encalade’s essay on “Why is coastal restoration important to the nation, Louisiana and me” was selected from essays submitted by seniors from five Plaquemines Parish high schools.

Speaking on behalf of the Breaux Act members were Timothy Keeney, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, NOAA, who traveled from Washington, D.C. to attend the dedication. Keeney also recognized former DNR Secretary Jack Caldwell with NOAA’s Environmental Hero Award.

Task Force Chairman Colonel Peter Rowan, New Orleans District Commander, Corps of Engineers and DNR Secretary Scott Angelle also gave remarks following a community welcome and comments by Plaquemines Parish President Benny Rouselle and St. Bernard Parish President Henry Rodriguez, Jr.

Task Force members expressed their feelings of tribute to Senator Breaux for his many significant accomplishments, particularly as bearer of the “torch” for saving coastal Louisiana. They presented him with a special memorial pictorial proclaiming the senator “Champion for Coastal Louisiana” and recognizing his 32 years of service to Louisiana.

A number of special sponsors that provided assistance for the event were acknowledged including Plaquemines Parish Government, St. Bernard Parish Government, Louisiana Governor’s Office of Coastal Activities, Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board, Louisiana Oyster Task Force, ConocoPhillips Alliance Refinery, Ducks Unlimited, Arabi Lions Club, Los Islenos Heritage and Cultural Society, and Event Rental.

Fort Jackson is located 4 miles south of Buras, LA. some 65 miles south east of New Orleans. It once served as an important defense post for New Orleans in the 1800's. Fort Jackson was later used as both a prison and a military training base. In 1960, it was declared a national historical monument by the U.S. Department of Interior. The beautiful grounds are home to the Plaquemines Parish Fair and Orange Festival each year in December.

During the 20th century, coastal Louisiana lost 1.2 million acres (1,900 sq. mi.) of land, and if nothing is done, could potentially lose another 430,000 acres (670 sq. mi.) in the next 50 years. The acreage lost and projected to be lost over this 100 plus year period is greater than the size of Delaware and Washington, DC-Baltimore, MD metropolitan area combined.

The Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA), enacted in 1990 and also known as the Breaux Act, provides approximately $50 million a year for coastal protection and restoration in Louisiana. The Louisiana Coastal Wetlands Conservation and Restoration Task Force oversees the implementation of CWPPRA in Louisiana. The Task Force is composed of the State of Louisiana and five federal agencies, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, NOAA-National Marine Fisheries Service, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This unique partnership has led to the completion of 60 projects that will benefit 52,199 acres throughout Louisiana's coastal zone. The program also has 67 projects either in the engineering and design or construction phases.

For more information about America’s vanishing wetland and efforts to protect and restore it, visit www.LaCoast.gov.

	CWPPRA Task Force Chairman Colonel Peter J. Rowan of the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and DNR Secretary Scott Angelle address the crowd during Fort Jackson celebration.
	Members of the Breaux Act Task honor the Senator for his 32 years of service to Louisiana.
	U.S. Senator John Breaux and Plaquemines Parish President Benny Rousselle prepare for dedication ceremony.
	Pictured with Senator Breaux is Lashanta Enclade of Plaquemines Parish who was recognized for her essay “Why is coastal restoration important to the nation, Louisiana and me?”
	NOAA officials from the National Marine Fisheries Service team up for the event. L to R is Rachael Sweeney, Rick Hartman, Timothy Keeney, Jennifer Koss, Cheryl Broadnax, and Rollie Schmitten.
	A large chocolate cake fit for an outdoor festival crowd was presented by Plaquemines Parish officials to the Senator.