[StBernard] Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Receives First-Place Gulf Guardian Award

[Westley Annis]

www.louisianaspeaks.org <http://www.louisianaspeaks.org>  

Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Receives First-Place Gulf
Guardian Award 

The U.S Environmental Protection Agency's Gulf of Mexico Program has awarded
the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority's (CPRA)
Comprehensive Coastal Master Plan first place in the Government Category of
the 2007 Gulf Guardian Awards. The Louisiana Speaks Regional Plan uses the
CPRA plan as the basis for coastal restoration and protection policy
recommendations. 

Entitled: "Integrated Ecosystem Restoration and Hurricane Protection:
Louisiana's Comprehensive Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast," the Master
Plan represents an overarching vision for the future of coastal Louisiana
that, for the first time, combines levee protection with the restoration of
Louisiana's rapidly deteriorating coastal wetlands. 

The Gulf of Mexico Program recognized the tireless efforts of the members of
the CPRA's Integrated Planning Team who worked more than a year gathering
public and scientific input in order to design and write the Master Plan. 

"It is truly an honor for the CPRA to be recognized with a first place Gulf
Guardian Award," Sidney Coffee, chair of the CPRA, said. "Tremendous effort
and cooperation went into the creation of the state's master plan. The
State's Integrated Planning Team is a remarkable example of what government
can produce when it utilizes its most talented and allows them the freedom
to work in a creative and collaborative way. 

"Not only is the plan remarkable in its own right, it represents
unprecedented participation by the public and will stand for many years to
come as the overarching vision from which Louisiana will protect, restore
and sustain its coastal landscape, truly America's Wetland." 

First, second and third place Gulf Guardian Awards are given in seven
categories including: Business, Civic/Non-Profit Organization, Partnerships,
Youth/Education, Individual, Government, and Bi-National. 

The Gulf of Mexico Program developed the Gulf Guardian Awards as a way to
recognize the people and organizations that are leading the way in keeping
the Gulf of Mexico and surrounding areas healthy and productive. The awards
were first given in 2000. 

Formed in 1988 by the EPA, the Gulf of Mexico Program is a collaborative
effort among the five states bordering the Gulf, nine federal agencies and a
collection of business and industrial, agricultural and environmental
groups. The mission of the Program, according to the EPA, is "to facilitate
collaborative actions to protect, maintain, and restore the health and
productivity of the Gulf of Mexico in ways consistent with the economic
well-being of the Region." 

More information about the Gulf of Mexico Program and the Gulf Guardian
Awards is available on the EPA Web site: http://www.epa.gov/gmpo/about.html
<http://www.lacpra.org/action.cfm?md=emaillist&task=addMessageClickThru&msgi
d=32&uid=kOiSlR&encoded=1&redirect=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eepa%2Egov%2Fgmpo%2Fabo
ut%2Ehtml> . 

To view the Master Plan and read more about the efforts of the CPRA, please
log on to the Authority's website at www.lacpra.org <http://www.lacpra.org>
. 

For more information, please contact Chris Macaluso in the Louisiana
Governor's Office of Coastal Activities at (225) 342-3968 or by email at
chris.macaluso at la.gov <mailto:chris.macaluso at la.gov> . 

The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority's mandate is to develop,
implement and enforce a comprehensive coastal protection and restoration
master plan. For the first time in Louisiana's history, this single state
authority will integrate coastal restoration and hurricane protection by
marshalling the expertise and resources of the Department of Natural
Resources, the Department of Transportation and Development, and other state
agencies, to speak with one clear voice for the future of Louisiana's coast.
Working with federal, state and local political subdivisions, including
levee districts, the CPRA will work to establish a safe and sustainable
coast that will protect our communities, the nation's critical energy
infrastructure, and our bountiful natural resources for generations to come.
The CPRA of Louisiana was established by Act 8 of the 1st Extraordinary
Session of 2005. 


Louisiana Speaks is a long-term planning initiative of the Louisiana
Recovery Authority (LRA) that is supported with private funds provided
through the LRA Support Foundation. In the wake of the destruction caused by
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Louisiana Speaks initiative works toward
the development of a sustainable, long-term vision for South Louisiana. This
work combines the efforts of local, state and federal partners along with
many experts, stakeholders and citizens into a comprehensive approach that
will guide recovery and growth over the next 50 years.