MELANIE SAUCIER
Coastal Resources Scientist Manager and Certified Floodplain Manager, Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority
2017 Coastal Master Plan
Thursday, September 8 @ 12:50 pm – 1:40 pm
1 HSW
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OUTLINE
The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) is charged with coordinating restoration and protection investments through the development and implementation of Louisiana’s Comprehensive Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast, which is updated every five years. As coastal areas across the nation face increasing threats from flooding, land loss and sea level rise, there is a great need to advance long-term coastal planning and adaptation strategies. Using a science-based and stakeholder-informed decision-making process, the master plan seeks to create a more sustainable coastal Louisiana and enable communities to adapt to a changing landscape. The Plan is a 50-year protection and restoration strategy with two ambitious goals: to restore Louisiana’s wetlands and to provide flood protection for coastal citizens. This session will step through the master plan’s process by providing an overview of key elements of the 2017 Master Plan, including the Flood Risk and Resilience Program and CPRA’s Flood Risk and Resilience Data Viewer.
BIOGRAPHY
Melanie Saucier is a Coastal Resources Scientist Manager and Certified Floodplain Manager with the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. Melanie currently coordinates the Flood Risk and Resilience Program and stakeholder engagement for CPRA’s Coastal Master Plan. She was a crucial member of the 2012 Coastal Master Plan Team serving as state lead for the Cultural Heritage Team and member of the Adaptive Management, Socio-Economic, Nonstructural, and Outreach and Engagement Teams. Prior to her current position, she served as a Planning Research Assistant working on the Ocean Resources Management Plan for the State of Hawaii Coastal Zone Management Program. Melanie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Travel Industry Management and a Master’s Degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Management from the University of Hawaii.