During December 2005, a working group of 19 natural and social scientists and engineers exchanged perspectives on how coastal ecosystem restoration could be more effectively integrated with planning for improved hurricane protection and future navigational infrastructure. Based on these deliberations the group has prepared a report intended to inform the policies and actions for recovery of regions of Louisiana affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Nine member of the group had previously served on the National Technical Review Committee during the Louisiana Coastal Area Ecosystem Restoration Study. They invited additional national experts, to broaden their knowledge base and experience, and leading Louisiana scientists, to ensure relevance to realistic conditions, to join a self-organized, independent Working Group. Logistical support for a meeting of the group was provided by the Institute of Water Resources of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the National Research Council. However, the opinions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Corps, the Federal government or the NRC.

On January 25 the Working Group released a Final Draft of its report, A New Framework for Planning the Future of Coastal Louisiana after the Hurricanes of 2005, provided here in portable document format (pdf).

• Final Draft (subject to revision), pdf, 1.5 mb
• Press release (01/26)
• IAN newsletter Reducing Flood Damage in Coastal Louisiana: Communities, Culture & Commerce