For Immediate Release: Jan. 3, 2007
Contact: Chris Macaluso
(225) 342-3968
chris.macaluso@la.gov

Sidney Coffee to Work with America's Wetland Foundation

BATON ROUGE -- Sidney Coffee, Senior Advisor to the Governor for Coastal Activities and Chair of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, will be leaving her post on January 14 to work collaboratively with the America's Wetland Foundation.

Coffee said she will be working closely with government officials and non-governmental organizations to build and strengthen regional, national and international alliances dedicated to restoring and protecting Louisiana's coastal landscape. Her focus will be on initiatives that bring together industry and the national environmental community on sustainability issues, and on effecting meaningful changes in how the U.S. addresses large ecosystem restoration efforts throughout the country.

"This is a wonderful opportunity that allows me to continue the mission I've worked on for more than a decade," Coffee said, "It has been a great honor and privilege to serve under Governor Kathleen Blanco and I look forward to working closely with the Jindal Administration to ensure that restoring and protecting our coast remains an urgent priority for our state and this nation and that Louisiana remains a leader on these efforts, so critical to our national economy and environment."

"The America's Wetland Foundation has been instrumental in educating the public about Louisiana's coastal land loss and in garnering support and understanding here and in Washington to save it," Coffee said. "The next phase of work will raise awareness and involvement to a new level and I find the prospects of being a part of that work both challenging and exciting."

For more information, please contact Chris Macaluso in the Governor's Office of Coastal Activities at (225) 342-3968 or by email at chris.macaluso@la.gov.

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The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority's mandate is to develop, implement and enforce a comprehensive coastal protection and restoration master plan. For the first time in Louisiana's history, this single state authority will integrate coastal restoration and hurricane protection by marshalling the expertise and resources of the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Transportation and Development, and other state agencies, to speak with one clear voice for the future of Louisiana's coast. Working with federal, state and local political subdivisions, including levee districts, the CPRA will work to establish a safe and sustainable coast that will protect our communities, the nation's critical energy infrastructure, and our bountiful natural resources for generations to come. The CPRA of Louisiana was established by Act 8 of the 1st Extraordinary Session of 2005.