A Survey of Stakeholders Opinions on the Davis Pond Diversion Sponsor: Louisiana Sea Grant

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A Survey of Stakeholders Opinions on the Davis
Pond Diversion(Sponsor Louisiana Sea Grant)

• Jae-Young Ko, PhD
• Coastal Ecology Institute
• Louisiana State University

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Premises Objectives (1)

• Decision-making based on well-informed
  understanding of the diversion is critical.
  Fact-based-decisions as much as possible will
  lead to the best decisions about operating the
  diversion.
• Significant gaps between the perceptions and the
  facts might result in unnecessary conflicts among
  stakeholders.

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Premises Objectives (2)

• However, we are not sure
• Whether all major conflicts/concerns among
  stakeholders are clearly understood
• Whether the current communication channels
  between decision-makers and local stakeholders
  are working properly.

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Premises Objectives (3)

• We want to accomplish the following objectives
• - find out and document explicit and implicit
  sources of conflicts and concerns
• - measure initial perceptions and understanding
  of the diverse participants
• - pass out scientific, historical, legal, and
  other socio-economic information through
  newsletters over three months
• - evaluate the impacts of the information
  distribution
• - use this information to provide input to the
  structure operation

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Background

• We carried out a similar stakeholder survey for
  the Caernarvon diversion

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View Down Mississippi From New Orleans To Delta
Breton Sound
Caernarvon
Photo by M. Allison
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Diversion Structure
1100 km2
30 km
Breton Sound

• Courtesy of Emily Hyfield

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Low Flow (lt40 m3s-1)
High Flow (211 m3s-1)
S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A
-- 2000 -- ---------------2001-------------
--------2002--------

• Courtesy of Emily Hyfield

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Stakeholder Analysis of the Caernarvon study
  Objective to reflect diverse opinions of
various stakeholder groups (e.g., land owners,
shrimpers, oyster fishermen, local people,
scientists, agency personnel), aiming for
improved communication among the multiple groups
about the river diversion, and developing the
basis for optimal operation of the diversion
facility.   Period October, 2001-2002   Method
a questionnaire distribution through meetings,
mailing and a door-to-door delivery, including
on-the-spot interviews. Among the 106 responses
from local people in parishes of Plaquemines (24
) and St. Bernard (26 ), New Orleans (9 ),
other areas in Louisiana (37), and out-of state
(3 ).
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Preliminary results (Questionnaire targets
NGO, locals, experts, govt n106)
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(No Transcript)
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Preliminary conclusions of the stakeholder
analysis for the Caernarvon study

• Significant perception differences exist among
  groups and local people about the diversion even
  though there is strong agreement about the land
  loss problem.
• It is not easy to define losers and winners from
  the impacts of restoration project.
• There is access to decision makers, but most
  local stakeholders dont use it.

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Diversion Structure
1100 km2
30 km
Breton Sound

• Courtesy of Emily Hyfield

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Preliminary conclusions of the stakeholder
analysis for the Caernarvon study

• Significant perception differences exist among
  groups and local people about the diversion even
  though there is strong agreement about the land
  loss problem.
• It is not easy to define losers and winners from
  the impacts of restoration project.
• There is access to decision makers, but most
  local stakeholders dont use it.

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Working Plan

• April 27, 2005. Initial meeting of the focus
  group
• - Explain project measure initial understanding
• April 27- July 6, 2005.
• Bi-weekly newsletter containing information of
  scientific, historical, legal, and other
  socio-economic issues over the Davis Pond
  Diversion (6 volumes).
• July 21, 2005. The second meeting of the focus
  group
• Evaluate impacts of the information distribution
• Discuss for optimal operation of the diversion
  over diverse stakeholder interests

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• Your active participation is CRITICAL!
• We need your input for a successful project!
• Contact info
• Jae-Young Ko,
• jyko_at_lsu.edu, 225-578-6505
• Emily Hyfield,
• ehyfie1_at_lsu.edu, 225-578-2732