LCRP Glossary: Key Terms & Definitions for Developers and Consultants

LCRP Key Terms & Definitions

Coastal Use Permit (CUP): A permit issued by the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (LDNR) for activities in the coastal zone that have a direct and significant impact on coastal waters, as defined in the Louisiana Administrative Code, Title 43, Part I, Chapter 7, Section 723.

Coastal Waters: All bays, lakes, inlets, estuaries, rivers, bayous, and other bodies of water within the boundaries of the coastal zone which have measurable seawater content (under normal weather conditions over a period of years), as defined in the Louisiana Administrative Code, Title 43, Part I, Chapter 7, Section 700.

Coastal Zone: The area bounded by the inland boundary of the coastal parishes of Louisiana and the seaward boundary of Louisiana as defined in the Louisiana Administrative Code, Title 43, Part I, Chapter 7, Section 700.

Compensatory Mitigation: The restoration, creation, enhancement, or preservation of wetlands, other aquatic resources, or other ecosystems for the purpose of offsetting unavoidable adverse impacts to these resources which remain after all appropriate and practicable avoidance and minimization has been achieved, as defined in the Louisiana Administrative Code, Title 43, Part I, Chapter 7, Section 700.

Dredging: The removal of sediments and other materials from the bottom of water bodies, including wetlands, for the purpose of maintaining or increasing water depth, as defined in the Louisiana Administrative Code, Title 43, Part I, Chapter 7, Section 700.

Filling: The deposition of any material into water bodies, including wetlands, which has the effect of replacing any portion of the water or wetland with dry land or changing the bottom elevation of any portion of the water body, as defined in the Louisiana Administrative Code, Title 43, Part I, Chapter 7, Section 700.

Louisiana Coastal Resources Program (LCRP): The state regulatory program established under the State and Local Coastal Resources Management Act of 1978 to protect, develop, and restore Louisiana's coastal resources while balancing economic, environmental, and social interests.

Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (LDNR): The state agency responsible for administering the Louisiana Coastal Resources Program and issuing Coastal Use Permits for regulated activities in the coastal zone.

Mitigation: All actions taken by a permittee to avoid, minimize, restore, and compensate for ecological values lost due to a permitted activity, as defined in the Louisiana Administrative Code, Title 43, Part I, Chapter 7, Section 700.

Office of Coastal Management (OCM): The division within the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources responsible for administering the Louisiana Coastal Resources Program and issuing Coastal Use Permits.

State and Local Coastal Resources Management Act of 1978: The state law that established the Louisiana Coastal Resources Program and authorized the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources to administer the program.

Wetlands: Areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions, as defined in the Louisiana Administrative Code, Title 43, Part I, Chapter 7, Section 700.

Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA): The state agency responsible for planning, designing, evaluating, permitting, implementing, and monitoring coastal restoration and protection projects in Louisiana.

Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) of 1972: The federal law that established the national framework for coastal zone management and provided funding and technical assistance to states to develop and implement coastal management programs.

Coastal Restoration and Protection Projects: Projects undertaken by the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority or other entities to restore and protect Louisiana's coastal resources, such as wetland restoration, barrier island stabilization, and flood protection.

Coastal Infrastructure Development: The construction of structures and facilities in the coastal zone, such as ports, marinas, bridges, and levees, which are subject to regulation under the Louisiana Coastal Resources Program.

Coastal Zone Boundary: The inland and seaward boundaries of Louisiana's coastal zone, as defined in the Louisiana Administrative Code, Title 43, Part I, Chapter 7, Section 705.

Coastal Habitats: The various ecological communities found in Louisiana's coastal zone, including wetlands, estuaries, beaches, dunes, and barrier islands, which are protected under the Louisiana Coastal Resources Program.

Coastal Parishes: The 20 parishes along Louisiana's coast that are wholly or partially included in the state's designated Coastal Zone.

Coastal Erosion: The loss of coastal land due to natural processes, such as wave action, tides, and storms, as well as human activities, such as dredging and channelization.

Coastal Land Loss: The net loss of coastal land area over time, primarily due to the combined effects of coastal erosion, subsidence, sea-level rise, and other factors.

Coastal Restoration: The process of restoring degraded or lost coastal habitats, such as wetlands and barrier islands, through various techniques, such as sediment diversions, marsh creation, and beach nourishment.

Coastal Zone Management: The process of managing and regulating human activities in the coastal zone to balance economic development, environmental protection, and public access.

Consistency Determination: A finding by the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources that a proposed federal action or project is consistent with the state's approved Coastal Management Program, as required under the Coastal Zone Management Act.

Direct and Significant Impact: A determination that a proposed activity in the coastal zone will have a measurable and substantial effect on coastal waters, as defined in the Louisiana Administrative Code, Title 43, Part I, Chapter 7, Section 701.

Mitigation Plan: A document submitted by a permit applicant describing the proposed actions to avoid, minimize, restore, and compensate for ecological values lost due to a permitted activity, as required under the Louisiana Administrative Code, Title 43, Part I, Chapter 7, Section 724.

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A Note to Our Readers: We hope this guide is a valuable resource in helping you better understand the . However, it's not a substitute for professional advice and doesn't cover every scenario. Always consult with regulatory bodies and professionals for the most current advice and project-specific guidance.