Coastal forums seek to unite 12m residents to plan for healthy Gulf of Mexico

America’s WETLAND Foundation

Jay Blazek Crossley, Nov 30, 11.

Residents, public officials, businesses, and nonprofits of the Texas Gulf Coast met in Galveston to plan for the health of the entire Gulf and its communities, according to Guidry News:

Projections say up to 70 percent of Galveston Island could be lost to the Gulf of Mexico by the year 2060 if no actions are taken, a group of citizens concerned about America’s Energy Coast were told today.

Increasingly stronger hurricanes, sea level rise and coastal erosion demonstrate the need for action, according to a Blue Ribbon Resilient Communities: Envisioning the Future of America’s Energy Coast meeting at the Hotel Galvez Thursday sponsored by the America’s WETLAND Foundation.

“This community faces enormous economic and environmental challenges,” said Valsin A. Marmillion, managing director of the Foundation, who conducted focus groups and interviewed key leaders prior to the meeting. “But there is great awareness of the vulnerabilities and an understanding that action needs to be taken.”

Residents of coastal communities are not aware of the ecological value of the coast, according to a study presented by America’s WETLAND Foundation:

In a list of research findings released at the meeting, the Foundation said Galveston is an attractive place for visitors, but also has strong local loyalty, since many families have lived on the island for generations.

Local residents understand the importance of the petrochemical industry, as well as recreational and commercial fishing and outdoor and ecotourism offerings.

However, the community is not aware of the interconnectedness of the local and regional economy to the health of its ecosystems and environment.

Other findings released at the meeting included:
· Lessons have been learned from post-Hurricane, such as planning for public infrastructure upgrades that are now better coordinated;
· Strong local leadership is needed to establish a vision and strategic plan that will address overall resiliency in the region to replace a retreat mentality that is present;
· The demographics of Galveston will be impacted by projected population growth in Texas and the city may become even more vulnerable if resilience issues are not addressed; and
· Fast eroding shorelines, as well as price and availability of insurance, raises questions about the future of development based on state law.

The event in Galveston was one in a series across five states hosted by the foundation based in Louisiana:

Thursday’s event was the sixth of 10 Blue Ribbon Resilient Community Forums across the five Gulf Coast States of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. The forums, sponsored by The America’s WETLAND Foundation, assess vulnerabilities and empower the region to envision, plan and act to ensure resiliency and sustain cultural, economic and ecological values in the face of growing coastal degradation.

The forums also seek to strengthen the local voice of the 12 million residents along the Gulf Coast and provide more authentic solutions to envisioning the future.