The Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama Coastal System (LMACS)

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1 The Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama Coastal System (LMACS) Embracing Functional Boundaries to Drive Comprehensive Estuarine Restoration State of the Coast New Orleans - June 1 st, 2018 Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) George Shuford Ramseur, Jr. Office of Coastal Restoration and Resiliency

2 Boundary Issues! Louisiana and Mississippi are each conducting or planning actions that may positively or negatively influence the estuarine resources of both states...as well as Alabama s. This is because our jurisdictional resources are effectively just subsets of a single system that spans the three states. La, Ms and Al are working together through the Gulf of Mexico Alliance (GOMA) to find the most effective ways to manage this shared system by focusing on its functional boundaries in the context jurisdictional political boundaries. The planning area that encompasses these functional boundaries is called the LMACS (L-max).

3 The LMACS Biloxi Marsh Louisiana, CPRA - James.Pahl@la.gov Mississippi, MDMR - george.ramseur@dmr.ms.gov Alabama, ADCNR - Carl.Ferraro@dcnr.alabama.gov GOMA gulfofmexicoalliance.org

4 Mississippi s Stake?

5 The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR)

6 Coastal Restoration Hancock County, MS (Western Mississippi Coast) Mississippi loses over 200 acres every year

7 Ecological & Production Goals 1 Million Sacks /Yr.!

8 Emergent Habitat Restoration Ongoing Restoration Program Round Island Beneficial Use(220 acres) MDEQ, NFWF, Mobile District, MDMR, Port of Pascagoula

9 Strategic / Functional Restoration (Estuarine Barrier, etc.)

10 Strategic Restoration Mississippi Coastal Improvements Plan (MSCIP) Mississippi Sound Gulf of Mexico Ship Island / Camille Cut Restoration Project

11 Past, ongoing or planned actions with impacts for Mississippi? Ranked is subjective order of current influence* The Bonnet Carre Spillway.. Oyster tipping point? The Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO).. Recovering salinity regimes Louisiana Master Plan Projects Lake Ponchartrain Barrier (2017 plan). Est. $20 million annual damages? Biloxi Marsh Living Shorelines (2012 plan).. Habitat and protection * Physically, economically, politically, planning, etc.

12 2017 Louisiana Master Plan, Lake Ponchartrain Barrier

13 2017 Louisiana Master Plan, Lake Ponchartrain Barrier

14 Biloxi Marsh Living Shoreline (2012)

15 3 Mile Pass Biloxi Marsh/ Port of Gulfport BU

16 Bonnet Carré Spillway (BCS)

17 Referencing the prolonged 2011 opening: The cumulative values of commercial oyster landings lost in reached up to $46.0 million. Negative economic impacts of BCS prolonged opening consisted of the reduction in economic output by $58 million, between 145 to 324 jobs lost per year and decline in labor income by more than $21 million in (Posadas, Benedict C. 2017)

18 Bonne Carre Spillway Opening Data

19 Normal LMACS Primary Inflows

20 What's my Watershed? The BCS is a planning & managment wildcard.

21 Port of Gulfport Port of Pascagoula Primary Salt Water Inflows

22 The LMACS Barrier Barrier Islands Biloxi Marsh

23 Cursory Gap Analysis miles Ship Island Camille Cut 1969 ) miles Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO) Camille Cut (2.3 miles) miles

24 What Else is at Stake? Basic Physical Protection The LMACS barrier buffers our coastline from the open Gulf There are always discussions about protection from major storms. However, consider the engineering and economic implications of persistent long term offshore conditions.

25 What s Next? Continue developing LMACS collaborations to : Support cross-border restoration in areas of interest to both states, such as Biloxi Marsh. Evaluate management options for Bonnet Carre and related operations. Remain engaged in La. Master Plan process to supply critical support or other feedback. Finalize LMACS Development Plan and continue coordination needed to support a comprehensive master planning process to include physical and economic parameters: Use as much existing framework and data as possible to maximize efficiency and minimize costs. Seek compatibility with the Louisiana Master plan, especially in forecast scenarios. Target data and tools that can help assess historic conditions in the LMACS to guide restoration priorities in the future (hindcast scenario). Ensure the task of designing and assessing effective large scale geomorphic restoration is always part of the conversation.

26 Existing Data & Frameworks, etc.

27 Louisiana, CPRA - James.Pahl@la.gov Mississippi, MDMR - george.ramseur@dmr.ms.gov Alabama, ADCNR - Carl.Ferraro@dcnr.alabama.gov GOMA gulfofmexicoalliance.org