Coastal Protection and
Restoration Authority

Planning Process

The development of the Atchafalaya Master Plan focuses on soliciting feedback from and listening to the voices of those who know the Atchafalaya River System best and utilizing science to create a plan with projects that meet its desired goals and objectives.

The goal of the Atchafalaya Master Plan is to “manage the use of the Atchafalaya River System sediments and water to maximize ecosystem functions and support continued human uses.”

All projects in the final Plan will align with this goal and its objectives, listed below:

• Natural Processes: Promote a sustainable ecosystem by harnessing the natural processes of the Atchafalaya River System.
• Habitats: Provide habitats suitable to support conservation and an array of commercial and recreational activities in the Atchafalaya River System.
• Cultural Heritage: Sustain the unique cultural heritage of the Atchafalaya River System by protecting historic properties and traditional living cultures and their ties and relationships to the natural environment.
• Working River System: Promote a viable working Atchafalaya River System to support regionally and nationally important business and industry.

The five-step planning process below integrates extensive input from the public, community and local leaders, and subject matter experts with scientific modeling to identify and select projects. This process ensures the development of a scientifically sound, widely supported plan that meets the Plan’s objectives by responding to the needs of the System and its people.