Client:
Sandra Thompson
Executive Director
Atchafalaya Basin Program
Baton Rouge, LA
(225) 342-0560

The Atchafalaya Basin is an enormous asset to the southeastern US — an ecosystem so rich in resources and living organisms that it has come to represent and symbolize the life of Louisiana. In the state of Louisiana, the basin is regarded not only as a place to grow up and play, but for many, the basin is their livelihood and their home. It is also the basis for a significant part of Louisiana culture and history.

On the national level, the basin is a crucial drainage conduit providing flood relief for rivers that drain 2/3 of the continental US, as well as being the largest repository of freshwater forest in the nation. The State of Louisiana acknowledges the impact of the Atchafalaya Basin and has adopted the goal of heightening regional and national awareness of the basin to the level of the Everglades in Florida and the Okeefenokee in Georgia.

Moore Planning Group, LLC (MPG) was contracted to perform an assessment of the Atchafalaya Basin Program’s existing Master Plan and to develop the goals and scope of work for the Atchafalaya Basin Program Master Plan Update. To accomplish this task, various elements of the program were analyzed including the existing plan and current planning and financial guidelines. MPG conducted review workshops and attended parish meetings, tours, etc. to get a firm grasp on the function of Atchafalaya Basin Program.

As a result MPG developed a scope of work which outlined the tasks that are needed to effectively reach the goals and visions adopted by the Atchafalaya Basin Program. These tasks include, but are not limited to, the investigation and incorporation of current regional and parish planning efforts to identify cooperative opportunities and test sustainability, and the development of design guidelines and implementation strategies. These guidelines and strategies will assist the ABP in prioritizing and management of local projects, maintaining quality and continuity of effort, and preserving and enhancing the visions and goals as stated in the ABP Master Plan.