Coastal Zone Advisory Committee Meeting Summary – August 12, 2026
Coastal Zone Advisory Committee Meeting Summary – August 12, 2026
The Coastal Zone Advisory Committee met on August 12, 2026, to review joint permit applications, receive updates on shoreline protection projects and Davis Pond operations, and discuss updates to the local coastal program's EMU designations. No public comments were made.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of previous meeting minutes: Motion and second carried.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public provided comments during the public comment periods for the joint permit applications or the presentation.
Discussion Items
- Joint Permit Applications (JPAs): The manager briefed the committee on four JPAs from the previous month. P20260574 (Phillips 66 pipeline anomaly repair at three sites on an existing pipeline; 355 cubic yards of excavation; located on Chitamacha Aboriginal grounds; current recommendation is a coastal use permit, with wetland determination pending). P20260619 (Entergy removal of five existing wooden poles and installation of seven new poles on CC Road; 2 cubic yards excavation; predetermination is an exemption as maintenance of an existing structure). P20260634 (repair and installation of a pipeline test station; 10-foot by 10-foot site; backfilled with native soil; located on Chitamacha Aboriginal grounds; recommendation is a coastal use permit, with wetland review underway). An additional local application was received but not opened for public comment as it may qualify for an exemption or NDSI. Last month's P20260578 (same pipeline) received a No Direct or Significant Impact determination.
- Shoreline Protection Projects: The manager presented engineering and design progress for the Salvador, Bayu Cuba, and Cuba Island shoreline protection projects. A board member expressed skepticism about rock revetment due to subsidence, stating, "rocks never worked in a Louisiana VSI." Staff discussed alternative materials such as larger lighter material and reef habitat, and noted that the proposal includes fish slips and sediment exchange sections. The project will connect to the existing Salvador shoreline.
- Davis Pond Diversion Updates: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is beginning repairs on the northernmost seepage locations along the guide levees, starting in September and expected to complete by mid-October. Staff reported that seepage currently prevents operation at full capacity. When asked about lowering the diversion's suction below the four-foot river stage, staff explained that the structure's elevation prevents operation below that level to avoid backflow into the river. A board member emphasized the need for more consistent freshwater flow to maintain aquatic vegetation, which dies above 7 parts per thousand salinity.
- EMU 9 and 10 Discussion: The committee reviewed the final two EMUs for the 10-year update to the local coastal program. Goals for existing EMUs (excluding lake zones) will remain unchanged. Staff is coordinating with public works to add new drainage capacity and pump stations. The committee agreed to discuss any goal changes at the next meeting. A board member asked if public input would be sought; staff indicated it could be opened for public discussion. There was also a suggestion to include SHIELD restoration projects and address sensitive swamp retention areas.
Key Outcomes
- Previous meeting minutes approved.
- No formal votes on JPAs; public comment periods closed and recommendations noted.
- Committee will continue EMU goal review at the next meeting.
- Love Our Waterways cleanup event scheduled for Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Bonacari Spillway/Wetland Watcher Park, 8:30 AM to noon. Volunteers can register via email or through Keep Louisiana Beautiful.
- Household hazardous materials collection event: Saturday, September 12, 2026, 9 AM–1 PM at the community center (accepted items include oil-based paint, tires, batteries, electronics, etc.; latex paint not accepted).
Meeting Transcript
I'm gonna point you. Call to order, August 11th, 2026 Coastal Zone Advisory Committee. Everyone please stand for the pledge and a moment of silence. Pledge leads. Undergo liberty for business of order approval of previous meetings minutes. Can I have a motion to approve meetings minutes? I'll approve them. Thanks for your morning. Second. Cast your boats. Motion approves. Oh, I'm looking at the whole one. Sorry. All right. Manager briefing for JPAs. There we go. Thank you, Mr. Chair. We have four joint permit applications from the previous month. Three of them are of state concern, open for public comment, and one with our has already received a termination. The first one is P20260574 is a state concern. Phillips 66 is proposing an anomaly pipeline repair at sites along their six-inch existing pipeline ID'd as RV-4-7. The proposed anomaly repair is for three sites three on an existing pipeline, and I believe they should be numbered in the plates that were provided to you all. The workspaces will be accessed from an existing levee, an existing limestone road, and an existing pipeline right away. No trees are to be cleared to access the sites or perform the repairs. Approximately 355 cubic yards of excavation and 94 cubic yards of topsoil, dirt, and earth and fill are required for the permit. The site is located on Chitamacha Aboriginal grounds. The current recommendation for this permit is a coastal use permit. They have not determined yet if the species that are going to be impacted by the excavation and fill are of wetland species or not. So that's currently under determination by the core. All right. This is open for public comment. P20260574. Anyone wishing to speak, come to the mic. Second call for open public comment. P two zero two six zero five seven four. Seeing none, public comment closed. Any comment from the board? Any questions? Yes, sir. They have to do some uh wellness determination or before they they start the work. Yes. So that is that has been um there has been a field assessment that was submitted alongside with this. Um it was submitted to the Department of Conservation and Energy, which is also goes to Army Corps to do a review and determine whether or not mitigation will be required. So as of right now, it's that's basically what's keeping it out of an exemption determination for predetermination. So currently it's listed as a coastal use permit that could potentially go down to a no direct or significant impact, which would remove the requirement for any mitigation costs to be assessed with this. So they just need to review the site to determine what the impacts are gonna look like. So it's not like an emergency repair. No, sir. No, it was not an emergency uh, it was not an emergency permit submitted.
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