Population Living in the Coastal Parishes -
In 1998, over 2 million residents, 46% of the state's population according to U.S. Census estimates, lived in the Louisiana coastal zone (U.S. Bureau of the Census 1998).

Louisiana Energy Facts -
Among the 50 states, the following are some statistics for Louisiana's Primary Energy Production for 2001(LDNR, 2002):

Crude Oil Natural Gas
Including Outer Continental Shelf Production Ranks 1st Ranks 2nd
Excluding Outer Continental Shelf Production Ranks 4th Ranks 3rd

Waterborne Commerce -
Louisiana coastal wetlands provide storm protection for ports that carry nearly 500 million tons of waterborne commerce annually. That accounts for 21% of all waterborne commerce in the United States each year. Five of the top fifteen largest ports in the United States are located in Louisiana (USACE, 2001).

Commercial Fishing -
In 2001 Louisiana commercial landings exceeded 1billion pounds with a dockside value of $343 million, that accounts for approximately 27% of the total catch by weight in the lower 48 States (USDOC 2001).

Recreational Fishing -
The annual economic effect of recreational marine fishing is approximately $944 million (Southwick 1997).

Fur Harvest -
Trapping in Louisiana coastal wetlands generates approximately $1million annually (LDWF 2002).

Alligator Harvest -
The Louisiana alligator harvest is valued at approximately $25 million annually (LDWF 2002).

Waterfowl -
Louisiana's coastal wetlands provide habitat for over 5 million migratory waterfowl (LDWF 2000).

Eco-tourism -
Wetland related activities such as hiking, bird watching, photography, and camping contribute $220 million annually to the Louisiana economy (Coreil 1994).

Coastal Restoration Projects (1990-2002) - 403 projects have been constructed (Belhadjali et al., 2002)

State-funded projects - 50 projects constructed

Breaux Act projects - 64 projects constructed

Parish Coastal Wetlands Restoration Program (Christmas Tree Program) - 94 projects constructed

Other federally assisted projects - 22 projects constructed

Vegetation Planting Program - 173 project sites

Other Coastal Restoration Efforts

Breaux Act Projects -
63 additional projects have been approved and are currently in the design phase.

Louisiana Coastal Area Comprehensive Coastwide Ecosystem Restoration Study (LCA) -
The goal of the LCA Study is to gain a federal and state commitment to a large-scale ecosystem restoration program in coastal Louisiana.

Resources:

Barras, J.A., P.E. Bourgeois, and L.R. Handley. 1994. Land loss in coastal Louisiana 1956-90. National Biological Survey, National Wetlands Research Center Open File Report 94-01. 4 pp. 10 color plates.

Barras, J.A., S. Beville, D. Britsch, S. Hartley, S. Hawes, J. Johnston, P. Kemp, Q. Kinler, A. Martucci, J. Porthouse, D. Reed, K. Roy, S. Sapkota, and J. Suhayda. 2003. Historical and projected coastal Louisiana land changes: 1978-2050: USGS Open File Report 03-334.

Belhadjali, K., C. Robertson, and K. Balkum. 2002. Coastal Restoration Division Annual Project Reviews: December 2002. Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, Baton Rouge, LA. 96 pp.

Coreil, P.D. 1994. Wetlands functions and values in Louisiana. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University, Cooperative Extension Service, Pub. 2519. 11pp.

Dahl, T.E. 2000. Status and trends of wetlands in the conterminous United States 1986 to 1997. U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C. 82 pp.

Dunbar, J.B., L. Britsch, and E. Kemp. 1992. Land loss rates: Louisiana Coastal Plain. Technical Report GL-92-3, U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MS 28pp.

Field, D.W, A. Reyer, P. Genovese and B. Shearer, 1991. Coastal wetlands of the United States-An accounting of a valuable national resource. Strategic Assessment Branch, Ocean Assessments Division, Office of Oceanography and Marine Assessment, National Ocean Service, Nation Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Rockville, MD 59 pp.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. 2002. Report to the Fur and Alligator Advisory Council. Baton Rouge, LA.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. 2000. Unpublished Report. Waterfowl Population Estimates in Louisiana's Coastal Zone Below U.S. Highway 90 and on Catahoula Lake. Baton Rouge, LA. 1 p.

Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, Technology Assessment Division. 2002. Louisiana Energy Topic. Baton Rouge, LA.

Louisiana Sea Grant College Program. 1998. Analysis of Louisiana's coastal infrastructure. Louisiana State University. Baton Rouge, LA.

Southwick Associates. 1997. The Economic Benefits of Fisheries, Wildlife and Boating Resources in the State of Louisiana. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 2001. Water-borne Commerce of the United States, Calendar Year 2001. Part 5 - National Summaries. Fort Belvoir, VA: Water Resources Support Center, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Internet URL:
http://www.iwr.usace.army.mil/ndc/wcsc/pdf/wcusnatl01.pdf

U.S. Bureau of the Census. 1998. Bureau of the Census, Survey Processing and Products Branch, Washington, D.C.
Internet URL:
http://www.census.gov.

U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and National Marine Fisheries Service. 2001. Fisheries of the United States, 2001. Washington D.C.
Internet URL: http://www.st.nmfs.gov/st1/fus/fus01/index.html.

U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of the Interior, Jimmy Johnston, Personal Communication. 2003. 700 Cajundome Blvd. Lafayette, LA 70506 (337) 266-8556.

For further information on the Breaux Act or Restoration Projects in Louisiana,
contact the Breaux Act home page (http://www.lacoast.gov),
the OCRM home page (http://www.savelawetlands.org),
the Coast 2050 home page (http://www.coast2050.gov)