DNR staff presents expanded coastal plan to parish officials

NSU LeBistro adds fine dining at wallet-pleasing price
June 26, 2012
Summer fun found right out your back door
June 26, 2012
NSU LeBistro adds fine dining at wallet-pleasing price
June 26, 2012
Summer fun found right out your back door
June 26, 2012

Expansions to the state’s coastal boundary zones, and related changes to permitting laws, are being explained to government officials, real estate professionals and the general public in Louisiana’s lower 20 parishes.


As a follow-up to Gov. Bobby Jindal signing Act 588 into law on June 8, members of the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources Coastal Management Division have been conducting public meetings to explain changes to coastal zone boundaries and corresponding provisions that were first enacted 34 years ago.


Tri-parish meetings began last Wednesday with a public forum at Nicholls State University, and continued Thursday with an open house at the Terrebonne Parish Public Library in Houma.

“There are a lot of benefits to the new boundary changes,” DNR-CMD executive officer David Fruge said. “Some include making sure there is consistency with the state’s coastal master plan. [The new boundary zones] reduce coastal hazards and impacts, and provide for state management of coastal resources.”


Louisiana’s original coastal zone was established by the state legislature in 1978, with revisions made in 1979 and 1980 to comply with federal programs. In 2009, a legislative resolution was passed to evaluate coastal zone boundaries based on scientific analysis that included documenting land loss due to erosion, land use and changes in environmental conditions. The DNR study was conducted between June 2009 and May 2011.


Act 588 identifies a general coastal zone boundary starting three miles offshore into the Gulf of Mexico and reaching inland to Interstate 10. The focus area includes, at least in part, 20 parishes. Boundary zones have increased for Terrebonne, Lafourche, St. Mary, Assumption, St. Martin, Iberia, Calcasieu and Cameron parishes.

“All of Terrebonne Parish [as well as Lafourche and St. Mary] are in the new coastal zone,” Terrebonne Parish Coastal Restoration and Preservation Director Nick Matherne said. “It used to be just the extreme coastal areas, excluding most of the residential areas. The change now has the entire parish as a coastal zone.”


A coastal zone is a federally recognized area vulnerable to erosion and a region where communities are left vulnerable to environmental conditions. Boundary areas include populated regions as well as wildlife habitats.


Coastal boundary zone changes are designed to minimize adverse impact to wetland areas. Additional permitting will depend on land use in specific locations. New regulations could result in a 20 percent increase in permitting activity.

“Coastal management is one of the cornerstones in our state’s coastal protection and restoration,” Fruge said.


According to Fruge, new coastal zone boundary regulations expand permit requirements for multiple uses including oil and gas activities, construction of many retail businesses, construction of roads and levees, operations of refineries, mining mills, factories and agricultural facilities, and residential property involving the construction of bulkheads, piers, wharves and boat slips.

Permit exemptions apply to fast track areas which are contained by levee systems, areas with a contour at least five-feet above sea level, existing forestry, agricultural or aquaculture activities, normal maintenance to existing facilities, private residences and camps, and activities that do not significantly impact coastal waters.

Those exempt from state coastal zone use permits may still be required to apply for federal permits depending on intended property use. Violations of new permit requirements could result in fines or even imprisonment.

“The coastal zone is under regulation of the Department of Natural Resources,” Fruge said.

Northern reaches of the Tri-parish region may not be subject to all coastal-use permits.

“Obviously, Terrebonne Parish is going to be right in the middle of it,” Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet said. “The new coastal zone management will be a little new for many of our residents. If you are over a five-foot contour or in fast lanes you will be exempt, but it is still necessary to file for [building] permits or get a determination prior to proceeding with your projects.”

Claudet said that although residents will be learning new rules regarding land use and construction permits, the overall plan is an improvement to previous systems.

A St. Mary Parish meeting with the DNR-CMD will be held tomorrow at the Patterson Area Civic Center beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Detailed information can be secured at (800) 267-4019.

Terrebonne Parish assistant planning and zoning director Geoffrey Large, left, and permits administrator Lisa Ledet discuss real estate permitting in relation to new coastal zoning designations with Louisiana Office of Coastal Management analyst Kevin Masden and Louisiana Department of Natural Resources scientist Ed Britton. Representatives with the DNR were on hand to explain coastal zoning changes to local government officials Thursday at the Terrebonne Parish Library.

MIKE NIXON | TRI-PARISH TIMES