WASHINGTON -- United States Senator Mary Landrieu, D-La., late last week met with Jo Ellen Darcy, President Obama's choice to be the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works. This Pentagon office is where many Corps' policy and funding decisions are generated. In April, Sen. Landrieu informed the White House and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., that she wanted to meet with Ms. Darcy to discuss Louisiana's flood protection and coastal restoration challenges prior to signing off on her nomination.

"I discussed with Ms. Darcy my serious concern with persistent delays and cost overruns that have plagued Corps projects in South Louisiana, leaving our flood control, coastal restoration and navigation needs unmet," Sen. Landrieu said. "I also asked for Ms. Darcy's support of the Louisiana Coastal Area program, which is the cornerstone of our current coastal restoration work, and stressed the importance of getting Morganza to the Gulf moving as quickly as possible. I urged her to stop studying the project and instead get shovels in the ground."

Since the 1930s, coastal Louisiana has lost more than 1.2 million acres of coastal wetlands, at a rate of 15,300 acres per year. This serious loss threatens local communities, pipelines, navigation, channels, fisheries and ecosystems. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita destroyed more than 200 square miles of coastal wetlands, turning large areas into open water.

Morganza to the Gulf is a series of levees, locks and other systems that will provide vital protection to Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes -- home to 120,000 people and 1,700 square miles of land. Congress has authorized this project, but the Corps' is currently reevaluating Morganza due to projected overruns, delaying work on the project.

"I feel confident that Ms. Darcy understands Louisiana's unique flood protection and coastal restoration needs, and she will work with state and local partners to move important projects expeditiously. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita taught us that making wise investments in hurricane protection saves lives and critical energy infrastructure. I will work with Ms. Darcy to ensure our communities from Cameron to Plaquemines are protected."

Sen. Landrieu asked Ms. Darcy to commit to the quick conclusion of the LACPR. This study will provide analysis and design for the development of a full range of hurricane protection measures across coastal Louisiana that will withstand Category 5 storm intensity. These measures will integrate hurricane protection, flood control and coastal restoration. This report was mandated in a Supplemental appropriations bill following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and was originally due in December 2007. Now a year and a half late, this report must be released with specific recommendations.

Sen. Landrieu also expressed to Ms. Darcy her strong support for the inland waterway system. She stressed the importance of funding for Louisiana's "river" arteries: the Red River, the Ouachita, Black and Tensas, the Atchafalaya, the Calcasieu and the Mississippi.

"Inland ports in Shreveport, Monroe, Alexandria and Lake Providence all rely on properly maintained structures and channels along our rivers," Sen. Landrieu said. "Our inland waterway system is critical to moving Louisiana products down the river and out to market."