In the early 1990s, Louisiana wasn't just fighting water; it was fighting time. The state's very foundation was—and still is—washing away at a rate of one football field every 83 minutes 6 .
Between 1990 and 1992, Louisiana stood at a hydrological crossroads. The state faced a dual crisis: catastrophic land loss along its coast and persistent flooding in its river basins. These years marked a significant turning point where scientific understanding, legislative action, and engineering innovation converged to address some of the most pressing water challenges in the United States.
of intertidal wetlands in lower 48 states
of nation's coastal wetland loss
per football field of land lost
During this brief period, federal and state agencies launched monumental efforts to understand, manage, and protect Louisiana's precious water resources. From the groundbreaking conservation initiatives that began in 1990 to the completion of critical control structures in that same year, these activities laid the foundation for modern water management in a state where balancing human needs with natural forces remains a constant battle 6 .
Louisiana's water challenges stem from both its unique geography and human alterations to natural systems. The state's coastal wetlands represent over 45% of the intertidal wetlands in the lower 48 states, yet have suffered over 90% of the nation's coastal wetland loss 6 .
A central scientific concept governing Louisiana's water resources is the natural avulsion process of the Mississippi River. Historically, the river has changed its course to the Gulf of Mexico approximately every 1,000 years, seeking a steeper, shorter path to the sea through what is now the Atchafalaya River Basin .
Completed in 1963 and upgraded with a new hydroelectric component in 1990, this complex system of floodgates regulates the flow of water from the Mississippi into the Atchafalaya River, maintaining an artificial 70%/30% split that preserves the Mississippi's current course through Baton Rouge and New Orleans .
The most significant water resources activity during the fiscal years 1990-92 was undoubtedly the implementation of the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA) of 1990. This landmark legislation established a comprehensive framework for addressing Louisiana's wetland loss crisis through scientific innovation and multi-agency collaboration 6 .
CWPPRA established a Coastal Wetlands Conservation and Restoration Task Force with representatives from multiple federal agencies and the Louisiana governor's office 6 .
The program provided between $40 million to $85 million annually in federal funding for small- and medium-scale coastal restoration projects 6 .
Projects employed multiple scientific approaches including freshwater and sediment diversions, marsh restoration, and sediment trapping technologies 6 .
The program incorporated habitat evaluation techniques, ecological modeling, and hydrologic monitoring to assess project effectiveness 6 .
The program established during these critical fiscal years became the foundation for Louisiana's ongoing coastal restoration efforts, implementing projects that emphasized sustainable restoration techniques and targeted areas of greatest need, particularly in the Terrebonne and Barataria basins 6 .
While coastal restoration captured national attention, inland flooding presented equally complex challenges. The Amite River Basin, particularly in East Baton Rouge Parish, became a focus of intensive study and planning during the early 1990s 3 .
In 1995, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers published a comprehensive feasibility study that had been developed during the preceding years, including the 1990-92 period. This document outlined a massive flood control experiment for the East Baton Rouge Parish watersheds 3 .
Amite River Basin Flood Control Area
560 square miles in southeastern Louisiana
| Watershed | Channel Modification Type | Extent (miles) |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Watersheds | Minimal channel clearing and snagging | 25 miles |
| Multiple Watersheds | Earthen channel enlargement | 24 miles |
| Multiple Watersheds | Channel concrete lining | 17 miles |
| Total | All modification types | 66 total miles |
Stream bank aesthetic tree planting
Reforestation of bottomland hardwoods
Bicycle path for recreation
The fiscal years 1990-92 saw significant advancements in the tools and approaches used to study Louisiana's water challenges. The Louisiana Water Resources Research Institute (LWRRI), authorized by the Water Resources Research Act of 1984, played a crucial role in coordinating scientific investigations throughout this period 2 .
Continuous monitoring of stage and discharge - essential for flood prediction and water supply planning.
Regular testing of surface and groundwater - tracks pollution and environmental health.
Simulates aquifer behavior under stress - critical for water supply management.
Measures movement of soil through river systems - informs coastal restoration strategies.
Predicts watershed response to rainfall - foundation for flood control design.
The water-resources activities in Louisiana during fiscal years 1990-92 established a scientific and policy foundation that continues to guide water management decisions today. The CWPPRA program, initiated in 1990, has become the longest-running federally funded coastal restoration program in the United States, protecting and restoring hundreds of thousands of acres of critical wetland habitat 6 .
The CWPPRA program established sustainable approaches to wetland restoration that continue today.
Integrated approaches combined structural modifications with environmental mitigation.
The Sidney A. Murray Jr. Hydroelectric Station advanced river management while generating renewable energy.
These efforts during the early 1990s proved that through scientific understanding, strategic investment, and collaborative governance, even the most daunting water challenges could be addressed systematically. The work begun during these critical years continues to evolve, informing current initiatives by the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana, which has built or improved approximately 369 miles of levees and benefited over 55,807 acres of coastal habitat since 2007 4 .
The legacy of the 1990-92 period reminds us that effective water resources management requires both immediate action and long-term vision—a lesson as relevant today as it was three decades ago in Louisiana's ongoing relationship with its most precious resource.