The Task Force and Adaptive Management

The Task Force

The task force set up by CWPPRA is the organizational body that achieves all aspects of Louisiana’s federally funded restoration projects, from attaining funds, to delegating responsibility. Making up the task force are five federal agencies and one state agency. They are:

• Department of Defense
• Department of the Interior
• US Environmental Protection Agency
• Department of Agriculture
• Department of Commerce
• Louisiana Department of Natural Resources

http://www.lacoast.gov/cwppra/slide show/cwppra-TIcommittee-18feb05.pdf

Aside from the agencies that participate in the task force process there are also various other inputs, as can be seen in the diagram above. There are various workgroups which are responsible for an aspect of research and monitoring (LACoast, 1997). The economic workgroup oversees the cost and spending aspects of project planning, the engineering workgroup provides technological and logistic studies and the academic advisory workgroup conducts research studies which are relevant to priority projects. Of particular interest is the Citizen Participation Group. This group represents land owners, fishermen, oil developers and other Louisiana citizens and has a sit-in non-voting member on the task force board (Steyer et. al, 2000). All of these elements and workgroups combine to create a working model of what is being called "adaptive management."

Adaptive management - "Adaptive management is based upon the premise that managed natural systems are complex and unpredictable. While there are numerous definitions of adaptive management, most include adaptive management is the process of adjusting management actions and/or directions as new and better information emerges about the ecosystem." (USFWS, 2004).

The Breaux Act task force has been praised for its ability to change and meet problems as they arise. This is the essence of adaptive management. One source I read stated:

"Establishing flexibility in all management decisions has allowed CWPPRA to overcome conventional barriers… By coordinating restoration and resource protection efforts in Louisiana, CWPPRA has minimized redundant efforts and conflicting goal, thereby, maximizing the long-term productivity of Louisiana’s coastal wetlands." (Steyer et. al, 2000).