What is the Conservation Plan Boundary and why does it differ from the Coastal Zone Boundary?
The Conservation Plan Boundary delineates the area in which the State has agreed to ensure that there is no net-loss of vegetated wetlands caused by development projects. This assurance makes the state eligible for a 10% reduction in its cost-share for major coastal restoration projects. It does NOT increase the regulatory jurisdiction of the Coastal Zone Management Program. It differs from the Coastal Zone Boundary in that it is based on an ecological determination of the interior-most limits of tidal (salt water) influence. The Coastal Zone Boundary is a politically defined line that delimits Coastal Management’s regulatory jurisdiction. It typically follows political (parish) boundaries and man-made features (the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, I-12, etc.) to make it easier for people to determine whether or not they are in the Coastal Zone.
