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Check out the Atchafalaya Master Plan Public Webinar from Oct. 1, 2024, on Vimeo:

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the goals and objectives of the Atchafalaya Master Plan?

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

All projects in the final Atchafalaya Master 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.

How will the public be able to participate in the planning process?

Public engagement is a major part of the planning process, and the plan development team has touchpoints with the public throughout the process.

  • Project Solicitation, which occurred from November 2024 through February 2025, allowed the public to directly suggest projects to be considered during the planning process.
  • Public Engagements such as public webinars, quarterly newsletters, email communications, and website updates will occur at regular intervals to keep the public apprised of plan development progress. Some of these public touchpoints will allow the public to provide feedback as part of the planning process.
  • Public Comment will allow the public to provide comment on the draft plan once it becomes available for public review.
  • CPRA Board Meetings allow CPRA to share information with the public through the publicized meetings.

What kind of projects is CPRA looking to include in the Atchafalaya Master Plan?

The Atchafalaya Master Plan will consider seven different types of projects:

  • Hydrologic Restoration
  • Dredging and Placement of Material
  • Sediment Trapping
  • Freshwater Diversion
  • Sediment Diversion
  • Integrated Projects (combinations of multiple project types)

In addition, the Atchafalaya Master Plan will include programmatic strategies that can be applied on an opportunistic basis to issues across the system such as promoting educational opportunities and managing invasive species.

Can I receive a copy of my submitted project?

Yes. Email AtchafalayaBasin@la.gov for a PDF that contains the details of your submission.

Will the Atchafalaya Master Plan include nature-based solutions or only traditional grey infrastructure?

CPRA will be looking at all practical solutions as part of the Atchafalaya Master Plan. These solutions include nature-based and “grey” solutions. All projects of the same type will be evaluated in the same way.

Will public opposition to proposed projects be considered?

The public will have the opportunity to comment on the draft plan that includes prioritized projects that have been evaluated and found to be effective in meeting plan objectives. Public comment will be considered before the plan is finalized, but CPRA maintains the authority to determine which projects will be part of the plan before being sent to the CPRA Board.

Will previously approved projects be included in the plan moving forward?

Projects previously approved and funded for construction may be included in the plan. Other previously approved projects will be considered in the planning process.

Is funding available to implement the projects that will be part of the final Atchafalaya Master Plan?

While funding for specific projects recommended in the final Atchafalaya Master Plan is not specifically identified at this phase of planning, the plan will serve as a vehicle to acquire funding from a variety of federal, state, and private sources.

How will overall forest health in the basin be treated in the plan?

The effects of projects on overall forest health will be a key part of the evaluation process. It will be evaluated using Wetland Value Assessment models.

What role does modeling play in the Atchafalaya Master Plan?

Modeling is essential to understanding how projects will perform under different environmental scenarios. The plan development team uses hydrologic and hydraulic models, along with vegetation and habitat models, to predict how changes in flow conditions and sea level could impact the system. These results help determine which projects will best improve ecosystem functions and support continued human use across the basin.

How many different models is the project development team using?

The project development team is using different types of models to evaluate how projects perform across the Atchafalaya River System:

  • Hydrologic & Hydraulic (H&H) Models: Examines how water and sediment move through the system.
  • Vegetation Model: Predicts how vegetation responds to changing water and sediment conditions.
  • Habitat/Wetland Models: Assesses habitat quality and wetland health for key species.

Together, these models help the team understand the potential benefits of projects under different flow and sea-level conditions.

What projects are being considered as candidate projects?

Through an initial screening process, the project development team has identified 50 candidate projects spanning the Atchafalaya River System. These projects are being evaluated for inclusion in the Atchafalaya Master Plan. They consist of:

  • 19 Integrated Projects (combination of multiple project types into a single project)
  • 11 Dredging & Placement of Material Projects
  • 11 Sediment Trapping Projects
  • 6 Hydrologic Restoration Projects
  • 2 Freshwater Diversions
  • 1 Sediment Diversion

How were the candidate projects for the Atchafalaya Master Plan selected?

The candidate projects were identified through a combination of public input, stakeholder engagement, and review of past planning efforts. During the public project solicitation period (November 2024-February 2025), 23 ideas were submitted by the public. These, along with other relevant projects, were screened and refined by the plan development team based on their alignment with plan objectives and feasibility across the Atchafalaya River System.