What restoration requires is a concerted effort over a period of years. The faltering efforts of the federal government over the past 50 years have proven ineffective (just consider the results). Louisiana is currently tying its hopes to oil revenue sharing Specifically Louisiana is concentrating on revenue from the Outer Continental Shelf where oil is still plentiful. Around $4 billion per year from the OCS adjacent to Louisiana is bypassing the state and flowing to the federal government. The feds have not been sharing enough to rebuild the wetlands. Louisiana proposes to do better if they can get the money directly.

As you might guess there are a number of problems with a)getting the feds to share and b)assuring that Louisiana will use the money wisely. The best efforts to date have come from a combination of brilliant political wrangling by Congressman, Bobby Jindal and a direct threat by Governor Blanco to block new drilling leases after August, 2006.

Jindal has been herding an OCS sharing bill through the House of Representatives. Realizing that Louisiana couldn't do it on its own, he has lined up other coastal states which could also profit from OCS sharing. Still not enough, he has taken advantage of high energy prices and lined up support of consuming states by promising that OCS sharing will result in more domestic production when states like California and Florida realize its in their own best interests to support offshore production. With 110 co-sponsors his bill seems to have a chance. Opposition from the Administration is a problem and a few conservationists have recently realized the threat and come out in opposition.

Even if Jindal's bill can get through Congress, Problem B mentioned above might be more problematic. Louisiana has a history of wasting its opportunities. Jindal's bill dedicates funds to coastal issues but with the amount of money involved you know there will be plenty of maneuvering. It's hard to imaginine the people can stay focused for long on an essentially boring project like making conserving the mud. Reformed Levee Board's and a more responsible Corps of Engineers are the answer, but just where do we go to get those?