Section 320 of the CWA authorizes the administrator of the environmental protection agency (EPA) to convene management conferences to develop comprehensive conservation and management plans for…

Section 320 of the CWA authorizes the administrator of the environmental protection agency (EPA) to convene management conferences to develop comprehensive conservation and management plans for estuaries of national significance that are threatened by pollution, development, or overuse. The agreement provides funding to louisiana universities marine consortium (lumcon) for the national estuary program (NEP) to support implementation of the NEP comprehensive conservation and management plan (ccmp) and EPA strategic plan goal 5: ensure clean and safe water for all communities and objective 5.2: - protect and restore waterbodies and watersheds to improve the water quality, protect the natural habitat and living resources, and support sustainable human uses in the estuary. This agreement is supported by funding provided under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) (PL 117-58).activities:all activities focus on maintaining, restoring, and/or improving water quality. The activities to be performed by barataria terrebonne national estuary program (btnep) include the following activities: 1) replacement and extension marguerite moffett sanctuary boardwalk, revise and replace btnep-sponsored interpretive signage and waysides, repair eagle-osprey nest platforms and make parking improvements 2) establish a diamondback terrapin head-start program that incorporates scientific literacy, community engagement, and estuarine curriculum development 3) using satellite imagery and a web-based application for early detection and management of giant salvinia in the btnep region 4) coastal forest recovery in the barataria basin 5) protection and restoration of grand isle's maritime forest 6) strengthening the barataria-terrebonne cultural, linguistic, economic, and environmental fabric through heritage education and cultural production and 7) assessing the efficacy of sponges as water quality monitoring toll in freshwater and brackish system of coastal louisiana.subrecipient:the following are the activities that will be implemented through subawards: 1) replacement and extension marguerite moffett sanctuary boardwalk, revise and replace btnep-sponsored interpretive signage and waysides, repair eagle-osprey nest platforms and make parking improvements 2) establish a diamondback terrapin head-start program that incorporates scientific literacy, community engagement, and estuarine curriculum development 3) using satellite imagery and a web-based application for early detection and management of giant salvinia in the btnep region 4) coastal forest recovery in the barataria basin 5) protection and restoration of grand isle's maritime forest 6) strengthening the barataria-terrebonne cultural, linguistic, economic, and environmental fabric through heritage education and cultural production and 7) assessing the efficacy of sponges as a water quality monitoring tool in freshwater and brackish systems of coastal louisiana.outcomes:the deliverables to be provided under this agreement are: semi and annual progress reports, final project reports and quality assurance project plans. The expected outcomes resulting from these efforts include restoring louisiana's impaired waters and protecting healthy waters. Direct beneficiaries of this program include the barataria-terrebonne area, human health, the environment and all state residents and occupants, both permanent and temporary.