There remains overwhelming bipartisan support for action to address Louisiana’s urgent land loss crisis through sediment diversions and other science-based restoration efforts. A new poll of coastal Louisiana voters by Global Strategy Group (GSG) shows widespread support for coastal restoration projects consistent with prior polls in recent years.
Poll Resources
See full polling results | Read the press release| Polling Factsheet
About the Poll
Global Strategy Group, an independent polling firm, conducted a phone survey of more than 1,400 registered voters in Louisiana, including an oversampling in coastal parishes.
“We conducted polling similar to this two years ago, and I was surprised to see the extremely strong level of support for coastal restoration then, especially at a time when we hear often about how divided America is. Well, Louisiana is not divided on the issue of coastal restoration and the large-scale sediment diversion projects that are the centerpieces of the state’s plans. The level of support was very high in 2021, and it’s only gotten stronger since then. To call this a consensus would be an understatement.”
– Andrew Baumann, Partner at Global Strategy Group
Key Findings
Voters statewide and on the coast recognize that coastal land loss is having a direct impact and want to see action.
Voters statewide and on the coast recognize that coastal land loss is having a direct impact and want to see action. More than half of Louisiana voters believe that coastal land loss will have an effect on them within the next ten years. Voters hold overwhelmingly favorable opinions towards coastal restoration efforts – 80% Favorable and 6% Unfavorable– and lawmakers who support taking strong action to protect and restore their state’s coastal areas and wetlands – 84% Favorable and 6% Unfavorable. Furthermore, voters across party lines agree that coastal preservation efforts are important and that the state needs a plan that keeps up with the latest science.
Voters believe sediment diversions will have positive impacts on everything from Louisiana’s ability to withstand storm surges to commercial fisheries.
Support for diversions is robust. Voters across geographies and parties support sediment diversion projects. Louisiana voters initially support these projects by 59-point margin, which increases to 71 points after brief description. In this informed asked, support is at or above 74% in every region and among every demographic.
Keeping homeowners’ insurance rates affordable is top of mind for voters, as is protecting coastal Louisiana from storm surge and flooding.
Keeping homeowners’ insurance rates affordable is top of mind for voters, as is protecting coastal Louisiana from storm surge and flooding.
Coastal wetlands are our communities’ best defense against hurricane storm surge and sea level rise, but the combination of land loss and more frequent and severe storms are leaving us increasingly vulnerable – and making it harder to insure our homes, making life in Louisiana more unaffordable for families who have been here for generations. Sediment diversion projects are the best and most cost-effective way to protect our communities from these storm surges and coastal flooding and help make living here less expensive. Our wetlands and fish and wildlife habitats make coastal Louisiana a sportsman’s paradise, which brings in millions of dollars of economic activity every year and supports tens of thousands of local jobs. If we fail to act, the loss of our wetlands will threaten Sportsman’s Paradise as we know it and put all of those economic benefits at risk.
Highlights
Continuing trends from recent years, Louisianians almost unanimously agree that it’s important to maintain as much coastal land as possible.
Louisianians have consistently stated that Louisiana NEEDS the Coastal Master Plan. Not just any plan, one based in science. Polls from the last five years clearly show support for a science-backed Coastal Master Plan.
Polling Questions
- 2021-2023: Is it important for the state to have a plan to deal with coastal land lass that keeps up with the latest science?
- 2019: How Important is it that officials making decisions based on best available science
- 2018: Louisiana’s Coastal Master Plan is a 5O-year, $50 billion dollar vision for restoring and protecting people, wildlife and jobs through a balance of largescale, science-based coastal restoration and protection projects. Based on this knowledge, do you support or oppose efforts in the Coastal Master Plan?
Support for diversions is robust. Voters across geographies and parties support sediment diversion projects. Louisiana voters initially support these projects by at 59-point margin, which increases to 71 points after brief description. In this informed asked, support is at or above 74% in every region and among every demographic.
Over two-thirds of Louisianians say that climate change is already having a serious impact on the state.
