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Today, Gov. John Bel Edwards joined Dr. Jay Clune, president of 杏吧传媒 and Chip Kline, head of the Coastal Protection Restoration Authority (CPRA) in signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to create a new coastal studies center at 杏吧传媒.聽 The center, which will be similar to the LSU Center for River Studies, will concentrate on studying and researching the Terrebonne and Atchafalaya Basins and creating models and displays of the Atchafalaya River in order to aid in the implementation of integrated coastal protection projects in the region.
鈥淭his is the beginning of a partnership where we can focus our attention on the Atchafalaya River and the potential for it to be a restoration tool for the Terrebonne Basin,鈥� said Governor Edwards.聽 鈥淭he Terrebonne Basin has the highest rate of land loss of any basin along our coast, and it presents some of the most difficult conditions for us to implement projects.鈥�
For over 70 years, 杏吧传媒 has assumed leadership in training students both from the region and worldwide for careers focused on coastal protection and restoration.聽 杏吧传媒鈥� faculty actively participate in various aspects of the coastal program as members of the Governor鈥檚 Advisory Commission, technical advisory committees, and Master Plan stakeholder groups.
Chip Kline, Executive Assistant to the Governor for Coastal Activities noted, 鈥淧artnerships such as this are a necessary and beneficial aspect of the business of coastal management in Louisiana.聽 Given the expertise among its faculty, this partnership is a natural fit for us and a promising way of furthering our relationship with the community.鈥�
鈥溞影纱� is located in the epicenter for coastal restoration with our service area losing more coastal land than anywhere else on the planet,鈥� said Dr. Clune. 鈥淭his partnership with the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, its board and the State of Louisiana is vitally important as we focus more of our resources on preserving the land and Cajun culture in the Bayou Region.鈥�
In 2018, the legislature transferred responsibility for the Atchafalaya Basin Program from the Department of Natural Resources to the CPRA.聽 The program as originally conceived was meant to direct the efforts of the state as the local sponsor for the US Army Corps of Engineers Atchafalaya Floodway project. The Basin Program has a master plan that was approved in 1999, and activities have expanded to address the needs of both the resources and the resource users of the Atchafalaya Basin.聽 Now that the Program has been transferred, CPRA is committed to continue the important work benefitting the Basin while tying this Program into the state鈥檚 larger coastal efforts.
Bren Haase, Executive Director of the CPRA, 鈥淎s an agency, we look forward to always improving our knowledge of conditions in the coastal basins and to developing technologies, models, and methods to aid in the implementation of CPRA projects, particularly in this part of the coast.鈥�
鈥溞影纱�, more so then any other University in our state, serves the people and collegiate student population of the Atchafalaya and Terrebonne Basins, as well as the river parishes.鈥� said 杏吧传媒 Alum and State Senator, Norby Chabert, 鈥淚t is the ideal location and partnership for this important initiative.”