5: 2012 Coastal Master Plan
Introduction 6: Policies & Programs
Louisiana’s Comprehensive Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast
5: 2012 Coastal Master Plan
We do not want construction of new hurricane protection systems to encourage unwise development in high risk areas, as has occurred in the past. Such development increases overall levels of risk and diminishes the effectiveness of the protection structures themselves. This phenomenon is called “Induced Risk,” and it runs counter to the master plan’s objectives of sustaining wetland ecosystems and reducing the flooding risks borne by coastal communities. Similarly, wetland areas inside the hurricane protection system need to remain intact and undeveloped. Land use ordinances that contain nonstructural risk reduction measures along with the use of other nonstructural measures can ensure that our coastal investments bring maximum benefits while providing for economic growth.
4: Developing the Plan
Other nonstructural measures include informing the public about the risk of living in a flood hazard area, enacting local ordinances that require appropriate risk reduction standards, and adopting land use plans that integrate floodplain management concepts. These programmatic measures are particularly important given the need for wise development in Louisiana’s coastal zone, and our nonstructural program was developed with the assumption that these kinds of measures are important.
3: Evaluating Projects
Land Use, Wise Growth, and Other Programmatic Nonstructural Measures
2: Identifying Projects
In addition to floodproofing and elevation, voluntary relocation and acquisition measures may be made available to residents as options in areas that will continue to have high flood risk levels even after actions recommended in the master plan are implemented. These options will be voluntary; the master plan makes no recommendations for relocation of specific communities. The plan acknowledges the need to support citizens facing change and to handle disruptions with sensitivity and fairness.
1: Guidelines for the Master Plan
Nonstructural project measures include raising a building’s elevation or flood proofing residential and nonresidential structures. We view these measures as key components of protecting communities, knowing that we cannot reduce flood risks purely by building levees. These nonstructural measures can, in some instances, provide results more quickly than can levees. In other cases, using nonstructural and structural approaches together can provide risk reduction most efficiently.
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