Cypress Restoration of the Bayou Bienvenue Central Wetland Unit Sarah K. Mack Environmental Scientist

Cypress Restoration of Cypress Restoration of the Bayou Bienvenue the Bayou Bienvenue Central Wetland Unit Central Wetland Unit

Sarah K. MackSarah K. MackEnvironmental ScientistEnvironmental Scientist

Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans

Wetlands, Wastewater Wetlands, Wastewater Infrastructure, and the Infrastructure, and the

Recovery Recovery Long Term Planning and Recovery Long Term Planning and Recovery

of Critical Infrastructureof Critical Infrastructure Wastewater Infrastructure Design Wastewater Infrastructure Design

Using Wetland AssimilationUsing Wetland Assimilation Multiple Benefit / Multiple Multiple Benefit / Multiple

Stakeholder ApproachStakeholder Approach Opportunities for Policy ChangeOpportunities for Policy Change


Hurricane Katrina August 28-29,2005Hurricane Katrina August 28-29,2005

In the presence of In the presence of extraordinary extraordinary

actuality, actuality, consciousness consciousness

takes the place of takes the place of imaginationimaginationWallace StevensWallace Stevens






East Bank Sewage East Bank Sewage Treatment PlantTreatment PlantUrgent Need for RestorationUrgent Need for Restoration

FEMA- Pre-Katrina FEMA- Pre-Katrina ConditionsConditions

2 Year Time Frame for 2 Year Time Frame for RestorationRestoration

Estimated $70 Million for Estimated $70 Million for RestorationRestoration


Facing the FutureFacing the Future

Population?Population? SolidsSolids NutrientsNutrients MitigationMitigation 50% Less Revenue50% Less Revenue


Driving Factors of Driving Factors of RecoveryRecovery

Public SafetyPublic Safety Economic RecoveryEconomic Recovery Multi-Objective ManagementMulti-Objective Management

Hazard Mitigation Objectives Hazard Mitigation Objectives Coincide with Stakeholder Coincide with Stakeholder ObjectivesObjectives

Multiple BenefitMultiple Benefit


SustainabilitySustainability

Disaster- The ability to survive future Disaster- The ability to survive future disasters with minimum loss of life and disasters with minimum loss of life and propertyproperty Hazard MitigationHazard Mitigation

Environment-Meet the needs of the Environment-Meet the needs of the present without compromising the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet ability of future generations to meet their own needstheir own needs Global Climate ChangeGlobal Climate Change EnergyEnergy


Global Climate ChangeGlobal Climate Change

Adaptation of vulnerable Adaptation of vulnerable human systems.human systems.

Need to adapt to an already-Need to adapt to an already-changing climatechanging climateRelative Sea Level Rise Relative Sea Level Rise (RSLR)(RSLR)

Increased Tropical StormsIncreased Tropical Storms


HUBBERT’S PEAKHUBBERT’S PEAK



BETSYCAMILLE

ANDREW

KATRINA

AUDREYCAT 5 LEVEES

M ARSH CREATION USINGPIPELINES


Adaptation MeasuresAdaptation Measures & & the Poorthe Poor

Enhanced natural resource Enhanced natural resource measures benefit the poor more measures benefit the poor more than large scale structural than large scale structural measures!measures!

Poor are the most dependent on Poor are the most dependent on natural resources.natural resources.

Poor tend to live in more Poor tend to live in more vulnerable locations. vulnerable locations.

Source: IDNDRSource: IDNDR





Environment Is Our Best Environment Is Our Best AssetAsset

Wetlands most productive ecosystems.Wetlands most productive ecosystems. Will contribute proportionally more to Will contribute proportionally more to

the human economy in the future.the human economy in the future. Offset impacts of global climate Offset impacts of global climate

changechange Relative Sea Level RiseRelative Sea Level Rise Increased Tropical StormsIncreased Tropical Storms

As fossil fuels become scarce natural As fossil fuels become scarce natural energies will become more important.energies will become more important.




WETLAND WETLAND ASSIMILATIONASSIMILATION

Secondary Treatment-Secondary Treatment-Disinfected Disinfected

Fertilizer Fertilizer

Freshwater Freshwater

Cheaper-Natural EnergiesCheaper-Natural Energies

Restored WetlandsRestored Wetlands

Storm ProtectionStorm Protection


Wetland AssimilationWetland Assimilation

Waste Assimilative Waste Assimilative CapacityCapacity

Natural systems have the Natural systems have the ability to “clean” waste up ability to “clean” waste up to a certain amount.to a certain amount.

Determined in feasibility Determined in feasibility


Tertiary TreatmentTertiary Treatment

TMDL Limits in 2010TMDL Limits in 2010New InfrastructureNew InfrastructureOperation and Operation and

MaintenanceMaintenanceAvoid New SpendingAvoid New Spending


Thibodaux Wetland Thibodaux Wetland EnhancementEnhancement

1992

20002003


Cypress Restoration of Cypress Restoration of Bayou Bienvenue Central Bayou Bienvenue Central

Wetland UnitWetland Unit


St. Bernard ParishSt. Bernard Parish

Sewerage & Water Board of New OrleansST BERNARD PARISH. CYPRESS SWAMP AT OUTFALL OF THE GORE PUMPING STATION


ProcessProcess

FundingFundingTask ForceTask ForceFeasibilityFeasibilityDesignDesign ImplementationImplementation


FundingFunding

Delta Regional AuthorityDelta Regional Authority $400,000$400,000 Feasibility and Preliminary DesignFeasibility and Preliminary Design

Coastal Impact Assistance Coastal Impact Assistance Program-CIAPProgram-CIAP $10 Million$10 Million Phase I ImplementationPhase I Implementation

Implementation Funding GapImplementation Funding Gap $30 Million$30 Million

The Nation The Nation benefits from the benefits from the

Louisiana Louisiana seafood, oil & seafood, oil &

gas, and the port, gas, and the port, at the expense of at the expense of our environment!our environment! Junior RodriguezJunior Rodriguez

St. Bernard Parish PresidentSt. Bernard Parish President


PolicyPolicyIncentives for Incentives for MunicipalitiesMunicipalities

Funding MechanismsFunding Mechanisms


Regulatory IncentivesRegulatory Incentives

NPDES- Discharge PermitNPDES- Discharge Permit 30 mg/L vs. 90 mg/L Total Suspended 30 mg/L vs. 90 mg/L Total Suspended

Solids (TSS)Solids (TSS) 100 MGD100 MGD

$2,737,500 solids handling for 30 mg/L permit$2,737,500 solids handling for 30 mg/L permit $912,500 solids handling for 90 mg/L permit$912,500 solids handling for 90 mg/L permit

$1,825,000 Annual Savings$1,825,000 Annual Savings


Carbon SequestrationCarbon Sequestration

Green plants remove Green plants remove (sequester) carbon from (sequester) carbon from the atmosphere through the atmosphere through photosynthesis to make photosynthesis to make biomass in the form of biomass in the form of roots, stems, and foliage.roots, stems, and foliage.


Carbon SequestrationCarbon Sequestration Biosequestration- above ground biomass in Biosequestration- above ground biomass in

wood 1kg/mwood 1kg/m22 per year per year Carbon Burial and Sequestration Through Carbon Burial and Sequestration Through

Wetland Assimilation 4.6 kg/mWetland Assimilation 4.6 kg/m22 per year per year Central Wetland Unit Assimilation/ Year Central Wetland Unit Assimilation/ Year

(15,000 acres)(15,000 acres) 300,000 Tons Carbon 300,000 Tons Carbon

Sequestration /YrSequestration /Yr Equivalent to 200,000 Equivalent to 200,000

Automobiles /YrAutomobiles /YrSource: Day et. al & EPASource: Day et. al & EPA


Cypress Restoration of Cypress Restoration of Bayou Bienvenue Central Bayou Bienvenue Central

Wetland UnitWetland Unit


Louisiana Wetland LossLouisiana Wetland Loss 80% of the Nations Wetland Loss is in Louisiana80% of the Nations Wetland Loss is in Louisiana 34 Square Miles of Marsh Loss / Year34 Square Miles of Marsh Loss / Year 88,000 Tons of Carbon Sequestration88,000 Tons of Carbon Sequestration

Equivalent to Adding 60,000 Equivalent to Adding 60,000 Automobiles This YearAutomobiles This Year

700 Square Miles of Marsh Loss in 50 Years700 Square Miles of Marsh Loss in 50 Years 1.8 Million Tons of Carbon Sequestration1.8 Million Tons of Carbon Sequestration

1.2 Million Automobiles-1.2 Million Automobiles-YearYearSource: Source: www.Lacoast.gov/LandLoss/Newhistoricalland.pdfwww.Lacoast.gov/LandLoss/Newhistoricalland.pdf & EPA & EPA


Greenhouse Gas Greenhouse Gas RegulationRegulation

Under development by the State of Under development by the State of CaliforniaCalifornia

Congress is debating the design of Congress is debating the design of a Federal programa Federal program

Develop policy that benefits Develop policy that benefits Louisiana in the greenhouse gas Louisiana in the greenhouse gas offset market!offset market!

Regional Greenhouse Gas InitiativeRegional Greenhouse Gas Initiative


Multiple BenefitsMultiple Benefits Restore Critical InfrastructureRestore Critical Infrastructure Restore 10,000-28,000 Acres of Restore 10,000-28,000 Acres of

WetlandsWetlands Improve Water QualityImprove Water Quality Protect Orleans and St. Bernard Protect Orleans and St. Bernard

ParishParish Protect Public HealthProtect Public Health Sequester Carbon Sequester Carbon Contribute to the Economy Contribute to the Economy Financial and Energy SavingsFinancial and Energy Savings Protect the Culture Protect the Culture


World ModelWorld Model

SizeSize RecoveryRecovery PolicyPolicy Port CitiesPort Cities

River-TransportationRiver-Transportation Sea Level RiseSea Level Rise Increased Tropical StormsIncreased Tropical Storms


Recovery RecognitionRecovery Recognition S&WB S&WB

InnovativeInnovative

EnvironmentalEnvironmental

EconomicEconomic

Waste is a Waste is a Resource Out of Resource Out of

PlacePlace


ReferencesReferences www.Lacoast.gov/LandLoss/Newhistoricalland.pwww.Lacoast.gov/LandLoss/Newhistoricalland.p

dfdf www.epa.gov/otaq/420f05004.htmwww.epa.gov/otaq/420f05004.htm

Documents

Cypress Restoration of the Bayou Bienvenue Central Wetland Unit Sarah K. Mack Environmental Scientist