[StBernard] Help urged for two coastal parishes

[Westley Annis]

Help urged for two coastal parishes

By AMY WOLD
Advocate staff writer 
Published: Mar 1, 2007 
    
NEW ORLEANS - Louisiana's plans for coastal restoration and hurricane
protection needs more of both for St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes,
speakers said Wednesday during the third of four public hearings  this week.

The state is asking for comments on the overall state master plan, an annual
plan that outlines the first year of restoration and protection work and a
plan on how to spend $523 million in oil and gas revenue on restoration in
the next four years.

Although almost 100 people attended the meeting, only 15  people commented.

Randy Moertle, representing a major landowner in St. Bernard, said he would
like to see more protection on the southeast part of the Biloxi Marsh areas.

In addition, the state's plan to increase freshwater from the Mississippi
River into the marsh near Lake Borgne will not be enough and needs to be
larger,  he  said.

St. Bernard Parish President Junior Rodriguez echoed other speakers who are
concerned the Chandeleur Islands east of the parish are not getting enough
attention in the master plan.

"I'd like to really emphasize the Chandeleur Islands,"  he said.

Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser asked the state should at least
include a recommendation that puts West Bank protection in the parish into
the federal levee system.

The annual plan is the newest of the three and includes a budget of $126
million worth of work during the first year.

The second year's budget is estimated to be $271 million and the third
year's budget is estimated to be $575 million.

The next public meeting will be held 6:30 p.m. today at the Abbeville Branch
Library in Abbeville.

More information on the plans is available on the Internet at
http://www.louisianacoastalplanning.org.