This month, the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) released the draft 2023 Coastal Master Plan—a public document that guides and summarizes the state’s coastwide investments in risk reduction and restoration projects—open for comments until March 25th.
Now the fourth edition of the plan, this draft presents a vision for preserving the state’s history, culture, ecosystems, and natural resources that are threatened by ongoing land loss and flood risk. To date, the coastal program has driven $21.4 billion of investment in coastal protection and restoration projects since 2007, benefitting 55,807 acres of habitat (equivalent to 87.2 square miles), 369 miles of levee improvements, and 71.6 miles of barrier islands and headlands.
“Addressing Louisiana’s land loss crisis and protecting coastal communities requires the comprehensive and integrated approach that projects identified in the master plan offer,” said CPRA Chairman Chip Kline. “No other state in the country has a plan like ours utilizing the best available science and engineering to preserve our coast and culture for generations to come.”
For the past several years, SCAPE has collaborated with CPRA to develop an overarching visual communications strategy and graphic identity underpinning the document, as well as collateral for outreach and engagement—including model output maps, aerial regional views, explanatory diagrams, data visualizations, and fact sheets for each project, parish, community, and region. The broader goals of this three-year collaboration included enhancing the plan’s visual accessibility, comprehension, and weaving regional and local identity into the overall narrative.
Learn more:
- Visit the CPRA website for more information, updates, and opportunities for engagement.
- Read more from Halle Parker for WWNO (January 2023).