Revised Wetlands Protection Laws in Louisiana, Other States Open Door to Development

Revised wetlands protection laws in Louisiana, other states open door to development

KEY TAKEAWAYS: Louisiana redefined wetlands, excluding levee-enclosed “fastlands” Bayou Sauvage may lose state protection despite ecological value New law inspired by 2023 Sackett Supreme Court decision Experts warn changes could worsen flooding and habitat loss Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge, an area of marshland at the eastern edge of New Orleans, is — in biological terms — considered an area full of wetlands. One of the la…

Revised wetlands protection laws in Louisiana, other states open door to development • Louisiana Illuminator

A line of development stretches across Southwest Louisiana, where a new law looks to redefine what wetland areas need permitting for development. (Elise Plunk/Louisiana Illuminator. Aerial support provided by SouthWings.)Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge, an area of marshland at the eastern edge of New Orleans, is — in biological terms — considered an area full of wetlands. One of the last remaining marshes around lakes Ponchartrain a…