Coastal Protection and
Restoration Authority

Atchafalaya Master Plan

Home to the largest floodplain river swamp in North America, the Atchafalaya River System is a unique landscape with unique challenges that require science-based solutions to manage the system’s sediment and water. The Atchafalaya Master Plan is a multi-year process driven by cutting-edge coastal science and extensive engagement from local interests. The Plan will work to understand the current state of the System and prioritize its future management to maximize ecosystem functions and support continued human use. The Plan will be the cornerstone to guide future investments to care for the Atchafalaya River System for decades to come.

Atchafalaya Master Plan Project Area

Recognizing the diverse needs across the Atchafalaya River System, the project area, starting south of Simmesport and continuing south to the Gulf of America, is split into eleven geographic regions called Watershed Planning Units (WPUs). Each of these WPUs has unique needs, and the specific objectives of candidate projects are tailored to their WPU.