The 2017 Louisiana Master Plan is the third attempt of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority at producing a workable strategy to salvage the largest river delta in North America. The plan purports to move towards the state’s protection and restoration goals of reducing coastal flood risk, promoting sustainable ecosystems, providing habitats for a variety of commercial and recreational activities coast wide, strengthening communities, and supporting regionally and nationally important business and industry. However, many view the plan as overly optimistic and simplistic, and fear that the Plan lacks the context and substance to impact change in time to save our coastline.

• Scott Eustis, Community Science Director, Gulf Restoration Network 
  With an M.S. in Environmental Science from the University of New Orleans, Scott supports GRN’s Science and Water Policy team by analyzing wetlands restoration projects, and by providing scientific arguments in comments against bad developments and wetlands destruction. Scott has a B.S. in Ecology from UGA’s Odum School of Ecology.

 

• Dr. Len Bahr, Founding Editor, LaCoastPost.com
  Dr. Bahr is the founding editor of LaCoastPost.com, created in 2008, though his career spans decades. He served as the coastal science advisor for the Governor’s Office of Coastal Activities from under Governor Bobby Jindal from January – September 2008. From 2004- 2007, Dr. Bahr served as the director of the Governor’s Applied Coastal Science Program, in the same office, under Governor Kathleen Blanco.  Dr. Bahr can be reached at leonardbahr@gmx.com.Born in Baltimore, MD, Dr. Bahr earned his Ph.D. in zoology/coastal ecology from University of Georgia in 1974, after earning his M.S. in biology/ecology from University of Richmond in 1968. He earned his B.S. in zoology from the University of Maryland in 1963.
• Simone Maloz, Executive Director, Restore or Retreat
  Terrebonne Parish native Simone Theriot Maloz was hired as Executive Director of the regional coastal advocacy non-profit Restore or Retreat in 2000. Simone works daily on the local, state and federal levels to advocate for the needs of the disappearing Louisiana coast, specifically the Barataria and Terrebonne Basins. She continuously works on large-scale and long-term projects for the basins such as a major sediment and freshwater diversions and planned and existing restoration projects like Increase Atchafalaya into Terrebonne and Bayou Lafourche. Since the devastating hurricanes of 2005 and the 2010 oil spill, she has also been tracking the process of the different planning efforts underway and funding streams available. Additionally, she was appointed to serve on the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Coastal Protection, Restoration and Conservation in 2014, and served on the Framework Development Team for the 2017 Master Plan. ROR also completed several outreach and engagement efforts related to the Master Plan, Master Plan Viewer, language access and state coastal literacy campaign with the support of local and national philanthropic organizations.
• Travis Lux, Reporter, New Orleans Public Radio (moderator)  
  Travis is WWNO’s coastal reporter. His reporting has covered a wide range of topics — from science and health to arts and culture. His stories have aired on local public radio stations and national shows. Before joining WWNO, Travis reported for Marfa Public Radio in Far West Texas, and for WRKF in Baton Rouge. He he studied Anthropology and Sociology at Rhodes College and radio production at the Transom Story Workshop.