extent, the State government. The Violet experience suggests that works very well 

 provided there is a framework for discussion of problems. The coastal zone 

 management framework is good for that because it includes local xidvisory 

 committees, parish and State government and interfaces with the Federal 

 Government. Larger projects are public works projects which have to be 

 inplemented much as an interstate highway, including taking of properties and 

 easements. The mechanisms for this are very well established and should not be an 

 obstacle for implementing an environmental management project. There is a 

 framework for compensating individuals whose ownership or use is displaced. 



Kai Midboe: Having worked so heavily on the Governor's Atchafalaya Basin plan, I can 

 tell you though, that the land-use issue is probably the most politically difficult. 

 Even though the mechanisms such as eminent domain are there, they are politically 

 difficult to exercise. 



Samuel Nunez: The large land owners in the wetlands seem to be willing to cooperate 

 because they will benefit. For example, the Delacroix Corporation will donate or 

 give easements for the Caernarvon structure. Many of these corporations lease 

 these lands for trapping and hunting and, furthermore, when their land erodes it 

 reverts to State ownership. 



Tommy Michot: Would anyone care to speculate on what the shape of the coastline will 

 be in 50 or 100 years given the absence of man-made structures or control? 



Sherwood Gagliano: It would take quite a while for a diversion to the Atchafalaya to 

 occur. The river might maintain its present course, at least partially, for a long 

 time. Commonly more than one river distributary has been functioning at the same 

 time during the history of the delta. The Atchafalaya Delta will continue to grow 

 and should produce a large delta lobe because the continental shelf is shallow and 

 the underlying land is relatively stable. The chenier plain would expand 

 significantly. The intervening areas between the active delta areas would continue 

 to deteriorate. 



Joan Phillips: i would hope Senator Nunez's committee would remain active and begin 

 planning how we would like the coastal zone of Louisiana to be in the future and how 

 this can be achieved. 



Samuel Nunez: Presently we have addressed mainly short-range goals. We cannot afford 

 to quit longer-term efforts when we have been told that Plaquemines Parish will 

 disappear in 49 years. If the wheat fields of Kansas were disappearing at the 

 alarming rate experienced by the marshes of Louisiana, it would be declared a 

 national disaster. 



John Day: I would like to reiterate that two things, which are not in Senator Nv.. az's list, 

 that have to be addressed are the management of canals and the Atchafalaya delta. 



Samuel Nunez: Would you care to elaborate on how to deal with canals? Do we stop new 

 canals all together? How do we deal with existing canals? 



John Day: I would like to know what would happen if there were a near-blanket 

 prohibition of new canals? I have a feeling that we would get all of the oil out of 

 the ground that we could anyway. 



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