This years’ Annual Meeting and Dinner at the Southern Yacht Club on Lake Pontchartrain was a huge success. We were joined by the Governor’s Office of Community Development and we learned about the Governor’s Louisiana Watershed Initiative that was created by Executive Order early in 2018 in response to the 2016 floods.

Pat Forbes, Executive Director for the Governor’s Office, was our guest speaker. Pat brought us up to speed on the Governor’s Louisiana Watershed Initiative.

Pat explained that in March and August 2016, Louisiana experienced two historic rain events that produced trillions of gallons of rainwater. The rising floodwaters reached more than 145,000 homes throughout the state, leaving behind an estimated $10 billion in damage and resulting in recovery efforts that will take years to complete. 

These devastating events exposed key weaknesses in Louisiana’s approach to floodplain management and risk-reduction planning at all levels of government. In response, Gov. John Bel Edwards charged several state agencies with coordinating their efforts to develop a new approach to reducing flood risk throughout Louisiana.

Also at this years Annual Meeting, Dr. Jay Addison and his family were presented with a Special Recognition Award for their outstanding service in assisting and supporting LTL in the protection of Louisiana’s natural resources.