December 2, 2013 — As the Master Plan for the Coast began picking up momentum this year, the agency overseeing it got a surprise: People had questions and doubts.
Not about fixing the coast, but about the large river diversions that are a key component of the plan, about what would happen to people and businesses in the path of those projects — even about the science underlying them.
Further, some of those asking the questions, including scientists and fishermen, believed that the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority was ignoring their concerns.
Now that agency is funding an effort it hopes will answer those questions – and maybe even soothe some of the hurt feelings.
Using a grant from the coastal authority, The Water Institute of the Gulf has gathered 12 top scientists and researchers from across the nation to create the “River Diversion Expert Panel” to review questions about those diversions.
“They will be looking at the issues raised both in the scientific literature as well as the popular press,” said Chip Groat, president of the institute. Among the topics:
– The impacts of fertilizer pollutants on marsh plants
– The ability of the diversions to build enough land, quickly enough
– The timing and size of fisheries displacements
– The expected economic impact on communities in the path of diversions.
The panel will also be able to raise questions of its own, Groat said.