A new poll shows near-unanimous support for coastal restoration efforts, strong majority support for sediment diversion projects, and majority support for taxes dedicated to funding the projects.
The poll shows 98 percent of Louisianans want the government to tackle coastal erosion and maintain as much of Louisiana’s coast as possible. 97 percent want the issue to be a priority for officials while in office.
Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says no other state issue has that much support.
63 percent said they would support a state tax dedicated to coastal restoration projects.
77 percent of respondents believe coastal erosion will impact them within the next ten years.
The poll was conducted by BDPC + Pinsonat on behalf of Restore the Mississippi River Delta.
Ninety-two percent of voters agree with the state balancing restoration of coastal wetlands with protection efforts such as levees. Eighty-two percent support sediment diversions which would deliver sediment from the Mississippi River to build and sustain wetlands. Such projects include the Mid-Barataria and Mid-Breton Sediment Diversions that would maintain tens of thousands of acres in Plaquemines Parish.
A news release said Louisiana has lost nearly 2,000 square miles of coastal land since the 1930s and could lose 4,000 more in the next 50 years.
Ninety-seven percent of poll respondents said elected officials need to protect existing funds dedicated to coast restoration and protection, while 96 percent want to find new sources of funding.
The poll also found that 71 percent of voters believe in climate change, with half indicating that climate change is affecting them today and 72 percent saying it will impact future generations.
Pollsters used telephone interviews with 1,006 respondents from July 23 through July 29, the news release said.