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COMPREHENSIVE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
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COMPREHENSIVE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
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Factors that Indirectly Affect Economic Performance According to the 2000 Census, housing is available in Northwest Louisiana. The region’s overall vacancy rate is 12.5%, which is more than two percentage points higher than the state, and three and a half percentage points higher than the national vacancy rate. The highest overall vacancy rates are in Sabine Parish (32.6%) and Bienville Parish (22%) while the lowest vacancy rates are in the more urbanized Parishes of Caddo (9.5%) and Bossier (9.1%). However, an examination of the rental vacancy rate shows a completely different picture. The lowest rental vacancy rates in the region are in Sabine Parish (1.2%) and Bienville Parish (1.4%). Note that these two parishes have the highest overall vacancy rates in the region. The parish with the highest rental vacancy rate is Lincoln Parish (5.1%), which has two State universities. However, the second and third highest rental vacancy rates are in the Parishes of Caddo (3.9%) and Bossier (3.6%), which have the lowest overall vacancy rate. Although the rural areas have a high overall vacancy rate, a substantial portion of those vacant units are for seasonal or recreational purposes and are not available to the general public. Of the 4,450 vacant housing units in Sabine Parish, over 75% are for seasonal or recreational purposes. This is not surprising, considering the fact that Toledo Bend Reservoir runs along Sabine Parish’s entire western boundary. Although there are a few rural areas where public housing is unavailable, there is generally an adequate supply of public housing throughout Northwest Louisiana. Quality of public housing ranges from new to poor. There is still much need for housing rehabilitation, especially for low-income rental property. There is at least one hospital in each parish in Northwest Louisiana. Quality of care in the rural hospitals is generally good. A few of the older hospitals are in need of some renovation or replacement. Medical facilities in Shreveport and Bossier City are excellent. Hospitals with aging facilities continue to make major renovations, build entirely new buildings, and expand their facilities into other areas. Shreveport and Bossier City serve the major and specialized medical needs of the entire district and portions of Northeastern Texas and Southwestern Arkansas. Most of Northwest Louisiana’s parish school systems have made efforts to keep elementary, middle and secondary school facilities in good condition. In recent years, Red River Parish has completed a major construction and renovation program to upgrade its facilities. There are, however, a few areas in which upgrading of substandard school facilities has not taken place. A number of institutions of higher learning are located in Northwest Louisiana. Louisiana Tech University is located in Ruston, Grambling State University is located in Grambling, and Northwestern State University is located in Natchitoches. All three of these schools have a number of undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Centenary College, Louisiana State University in Shreveport, and Southern University in Shreveport are all located in Shreveport. It should be noted that LSU and Southern are satellite campuses of the main schools which are in Baton Rouge. Also, Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC) is located in Bossier City. BPCC is in the process of constructing facilities for a new campus. Vocational training programs are available throughout Northwest Louisiana. There are seven technical colleges (known in other parts of the country as vo-tech schools) located in Homer, Mansfield, Natchitoches, Minden, Ruston, Many, and Shreveport. In addition to the technical colleges, there are a number of business colleges and specialized schools which offer a variety of types of training. Educational, Cultural, and Recreational Facilities Northwest Louisiana has numerous recreational facilities, many of which can be enjoyed year-round. Excellent public and private facilities exist throughout the area for golf, tennis, swimming, and boating. There are lakes and parks all over the region. Toledo Bend Reservoir, one of the largest man-made lakes in the South, runs along the southwest boundary of the region. Spectator sports range from minor league baseball to the annual Independence Bowl, and from auto racing to thoroughbred horse racing at Louisiana Downs. Some of the better-known events include the Louisiana State Fair, the Red River Revel, Holiday in Dixie, the Peach Festival, and the Natchitoches Christmas Festival. There are also cultural attractions. An opera, a symphonic orchestra, a theater featuring name entertainers and visiting music shows ensure a variety of productions from which to choose throughout the year. A number of art museums housing a variety of paintings, sculptures and decorative art, are augmented by request art exhibits at area libraries and numerous arts and crafts. Shreveport’s Sci-Port Discovery Center provides science education opportunities for all age groups. Historic sates have been preserved in various places around the region. These include the City of Natchitoches, the oldest city in the Louisiana Purchase; a major civil war battlefield with State Park and museum at Mansfield; the Germantown Colony museum in Webster Parish; and plantation buildings on the campus of LSU in Shreveport. Almost always, an area’s environment is the predominant factor which shapes the early development of its economy and, to a large extent, influences the present and future course of development. Northwest Louisiana is no exception. Evidence indicates that the Native Americans occupying this area took advantage of the climatic and edaphic benefits afforded them in terms of agriculture and wildlife. As white settlers came into the area, they too profited from the wildlife and from water travel along the Red River, the Sabine River, and their tributaries. The industrial revolution brought with it more efficient ways to convert environmental advantages to cash. Cotton farming dominated the economy for a time. Harvesting timber from the area’s forests contributed to growth also. Eventually, the deposits of oil and natural gas were tapped, and these natural resources have played an important part in Northwest Louisiana’s economy. Just as the environment has influenced development
of the economy, economic activities have had an effect upon the
environment. In some cases, past development has taken place with no
consideration for the environment, and the adverse impacts created thereby
have begun to cause trouble. As further development takes place, the
potential for environmental impacts must be studied and weighed against
the benefits of a given project. Wildlife. Every Northwest Louisiana parish has an abundance of various types of wildlife. The district’s wildlife management areas include the Jackson Bienville Area in eastern Bienville Parish and southern Lincoln Parish, the Bodcau Area in northeastern Bossier Parish and northwestern Webster Parish, the Soda Lake Area in central Caddo Parish, the Sabine Parish Area between Zwolle and Many in central Sabine Parish, the Peason Ridge Area in southeastern Sabine Parish and southwestern Natchitoches Parish, and the Loggy Bayou Area in southern Bossier Parish. Also, wildlife is managed in the Black Bayou Game and Fish Preserve in northeastern Caddo Parish and the Red Dirt National Refuge in southern Natchitoches Parish. It has been noted by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries that in recent years, an increasing number of people are constructing new homes in rural areas. As of yet, this has not had a measurable negative impact on the area’s wildlife. At this time, Northwest Louisiana provides a habitat to only one creature recognized as an endangered species. The Red Cockaded Woodpecker is known to have two active colonies in the district. The Jackson Bienville Wildlife Management Area south of Ruston and the Bayou Bodcau Wildlife Management Area are both home to colonies of Red Cockaded Woodpeckers. The colony at Bayou Bodcau spills over onto private property adjacent to the management area. In prior years, colonies of the woodpecker were known to exist at the Louisiana Tech Forestry Camp at Corney Lake in Claiborne Parish and within the grounds of the Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant in Webster Parish. In recent years, however, no activity has been evident in those areas, and the colonies are designated as inactive. Wetlands. There are wetlands areas scattered throughout Northwest Louisiana. The broad definition of wetlands utilized at this time includes land which is rarely covered with water. These areas are included, however, because their soil type meets the wetlands definition. Unlike the southern regions of the State, where large expanses of coastal marsh stretch for miles in every direction, Northwest Louisiana’s wetlands are often located along bayous, rivers, and lakes. Although the wetlands are scattered, they do represent an environmentally sensitive issue which constrains economic development projects. Most of Northwest Louisiana is part of the Vicksburg District of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is the agency with the capability of accurately determining whether or not a particular site is within a wetlands area. The Corps of Engineers requires any entity wishing to carry out a Federally-funded construction project in a wetlands area to apply for and receive a permit. However, if funds from the Economic Development Administration are involved, the presence of a wetlands area will at least mean that actions to mitigate wetlands impacts are required, and could even prevent funding of the project. Thus, economic development projects planned for sites that include wetlands must make allowances for the fact that wetlands are to be protected. Floodplain. In describing areas subject to flooding, several terms are generally used. “Floodplain” seems to be the most commonly utilized term. Its definition is somewhat broad. The term “floodplain” is used to describe both lands that have been built up by the deposition of sediment from some stream as well as land that may be submerged by flood waters. The Louisiana Geological Survey has compiled a set of small scale maps which depict floodplains for each of the State’s major river basins. These maps show that there are floodplains scattered throughout Northwest Louisiana. They are not always suitable for making determinations as to the percentage or acreage of a proposed project area that may be within or outside of a floodplain. The other terms, used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, are “flood hazard area” or “flood zone.” Various flood zone designations are shown on large scale Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) which has been compiled for most Northwest Louisiana parishes and municipalities for the National Flood Insurance Program. These maps show that there are 100-year flood zones and 500-year flood zones along streams and lakes throughout Northwest Louisiana. Flood hazard areas also represent an environmentally sensitive issue. Although the location of underground water or sewer lines in a 100-year flood zone does not present a problem, the construction of buildings, sewage treatment facilities, etc., warrants further examination and modification. Although a building may be located in a flood hazard area, its floor must be above the base flood elevation. It is interesting to note the fact that in some areas, wetlands cover a broader area than flood zones. That is, it is possible for a location to be within a wetlands area, yet that same location is not considered to be even in a 500-year flood zone. Wild and Scenic Rivers. In Northwest Louisiana, there are three streams which have been designated as “Wild and Scenic Rivers.” They are: (1) Bayou D’Arbonne (28 miles), which flows through the Parishes of Claiborne and Lincoln; (2) Corney Bayou (Creek) (20 miles), which flows through Claiborne Parish; and (3) Kisatchie Bayou (43) miles) flowing through the Parishes of Natchitoches and Sabine. Wild and Scenic Rivers have been so designated because of the lack of development and control along their courses. Any entity which plans to carry out construction along one of these streams must first contact the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. It is the program’s intent to maintain these streams in their present undeveloped state. There are parks of various sizes located throughout the district. Many are situated on the banks of lakes to provide swimming and picnicking. Almost every segment of Kisatchie National Forest also has at least one designated park area. Air Quality. Fortunately, Northwest Louisiana does not have many of the situations which create problems with air quality in other areas. With the exception of the Cities of Shreveport and Bossier City, the district is not densely urbanized. Thus, there are no extensive areas where concentrations of gasoline-powered vehicles and smokestack factories are constantly pumping waste into the air. There are no high mountains to enclose areas where an inversion might form that would create conditions conducive to long periods of heavy smog. Also, there are relatively few chemical industries and petroleum refineries which have a reputation for having adverse effects on air quality. The manufacturers of wood and paper products are either new or have recently undergone improvements to meet more stringent emissions standards. All of Northwest Louisiana is considered to be an “attainment” area. That is, the amount of pollutants in the air over time is considered to be within acceptable levels. The only air quality monitoring station in Northwest Louisiana is located in Shreveport. Thus, it is impossible to get air quality data for any other area of the district. Because the station is in the district’s only urban area, its readings cannot be considered to be a good representative of the area. To date, air quality has not inhibited development. Because Northwest Louisiana is an attainment area, there has been no concern that some new industry’s emissions would push air pollution to a dangerous level. Of course, any new or expanding industry which will carry out some process that involves emissions into the air must apply for and obtain a permit from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Water Quality. The Louisiana DEQ has published a “Water Quality Inventory” which gives specific information concerning the quality of each of the State’s bodies of water. It indicates that, at this time, there are no substantial problems with surface water in Northwest Louisiana. Unlike several areas in the southern part of the
State, no water quality advisories have been posted, nor have there been
any warnings against eating locally caught fish. Several bodies of water
in South Louisiana are considered to be stressed due to large amounts of
pollution, to the point that any new discharges into them must be closely
evaluated and monitored. However, this is not the case in Northwest
Louisiana. Aquifers. In Louisiana, several aquifers are considered to be environmentally sensitive. One of those aquifers is the Chicot Aquifer, which is found under the southwestern portion of the state. The southernmost edges of Sabine Parish and Natchitoches Parish are considered to touch the Chicot Aquifer. Any project which will involve a facility in the Chicot Aquifer area that disposes of its waste water into dry wells, retention ponds, or methods other than a treatment plant must make contact with the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency early in the planning stage, in order to determine whether or not the aquifer will be affected. Because this aquifer involves such a small portion of Northwest Louisiana, it has not had adverse impacts upon development. The Sparta Aquifer lies beneath all of Claiborne Parish and Lincoln Parish, as well as portions of Bossier Parish, Webster Parish and Bienville Parish. The water level of this aquifer is currently dropping at a rate of two feet per year, and its yield has declined substantially in recent years. Also, problems with the aquifer’s quality have already developed and may intensify if lignite is ever mined in its recharge area. Planning for recharge of this aquifer and for finding alternative potable water sources is underway. Wastewater. Although most of the systems for collecting and treating sewage in Northwest Louisiana are operated by municipal governments, there are three sewer districts which serve customers in unincorporated areas. In terms of collection, many of the smaller municipalities and rural systems have problems with infiltration along the lines and with lift stations. The infiltration problem results in higher volumes of wastewater going into the treatment facility following any period of moderate to heavy rainfall. This creates an environmentally unsafe situation
only if the treatment facility does not have the capacity to handle the
additional burden, which does occasionally occur. Problems with lift
stations have been known to occasionally create environmental hazards when
major malfunctions have resulted in raw sewage flowing in open ditches or
creating “ponds” of untreated wastewater in low areas. Although these
types of problems are not common, they are found mostly in older
residential areas where the collection systems were installed more than
forty years ago. Thus, they seldom present an impediment to business and
industrial development projects. In order to operate legally, sewage treatment facilities must have a current permit from the State DEQ. If a facility fails to comply with the DEQ’s treatment regulations, an administrative order is issued requiring the municipality or sewer district to upgrade its treatment facility. The order includes a date past which progress toward completing the improvements must be demonstrated, or else fines will be imposed. There are places in Northwest Louisiana where the lack of adequate sewage treatment serves as a hindrance to development. In order to be approved for funding by the EDA, an applicant must document compliance with DEQ standards, or include as part of the project, facilities for properly treating the wastewater from potential users of EDA funded infrastructure. Also, new industries will not want to locate in areas which are inadequately served by sewage collection and treatment. Solid Waste. In 1981, the Louisiana Solid Waste Management Division’s state plan was adopted and approved by the EPA. As a result of the enforcement of rules and regulations established by this plan, open dumps were closed throughout the state, and sanitary landfills became the primary means for permanent disposal of solid waste in northern Louisiana. These landfills have served as a much more environmentally safe means of disposal than did the open dumps, some of which were adjacent to streams and rivers, or sometimes reduced waste volume by open burning. However, since the early 80’s, EPA’s regulations regarding landfills have become more strict in order to contain leachate and to monitor buried waste over time. Thus, during the last few years, the number of operating landfills has declined steadily. At this time, there are landfills operating in the Parishes of Caddo, DeSoto, Sabine and Webster. Solid Waste from Bossier Parish is sent to Caddo Parish, and solid waste from Red River Parish is buried in the landfill in DeSoto Parish. Claiborne Parish sends its waste to neighboring Webster Parish for disposal, while the Parishes of Bienville and Natchitoches send their waste to landfills in Quachita Parish. The landfill in Sabine Parish receives waste from its neighbor to the south, Vernon Parish. As sanitary landfills were being established in the late 70’s and early 80’s, collection was handled mainly by local units of government. Towns and Cities had, for the most part, door-to-door curbside collection of solid waste, while parishes set up large waste receptacles at various locations where rural residents could bring their waste. Once or twice a week, the parish would haul the collected waste to the parish landfill. Although collection of municipal residential waste is still largely handled by the local government, commercial and industrial wastes and waste from rural areas is increasingly handled by commercial waste hauling companies which contract with local governments or individual businesses to perform this service. Thus, virtually all of Northwest Louisiana is served by some sort of waste collection. The next step to be taken is the reduction in the amount of waste going into landfills. This reduction will be brought about primarily through reuse and recycling although composting and incineration could also be a part of the process. A recycling region has already formed which includes four Northwest Louisiana parishes. The region has been studying the means by which recycling can be most economically brought about in this area. At this time, neither collection nor disposal of solid waste can be said to be barriers to economic development. Existing landfills have capacity to take on additional waste, and there are no areas where providers of collection services will not go. Hazardous Waste. As mentioned previously, Northwest Louisiana has deposits of oil which have been tapped. Before the advent of modern environmental regulations, crude oil was poured out on the ground or allowed to stand in open pits that were later covered with several feet of soil. Although this is not the only way in which hazardous waste contamination has occurred, it is probably the most common. The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality maintains a list of abandoned hazardous waste sites that need to be cleaned up. Several sites on the list are in Northwest Louisiana parishes. Agriculture. Agriculture has been and continues to be an important part of the area’s economy. Various farm products are produced and processed in large volumes because of the climate and the abundance of prime farmland. This abundance of prime farmland keeps it from being a deterrent to development. It cannot be denied that most rural land is considered to be prime farmland. Because there is so much prime farmland, conversion of hundreds of acres represents a small percentage of the total. Therefore, to date, no proposed project in Northwest Louisiana has been determined to have substantial impact in terms of reduction of prime farmlands. This issue is not a deterrent to economic development. Historical/Archeological. Throughout Northwest Louisiana, there are sites of known and potential historical and archeological significance. The known sites are documented with the Louisiana Office of Cultural Development. Before federal funds are expended to develop any industrial site, contact must be made with the Office of Cultural Development in order to describe the proposed project and the area to be affected. The Office of Cultural Development checks the site against maps of historical or archeological significance which it maintains. If the project will disturb a known site, changes will be required. In some cases, contact with the Office of Cultural Development will reveal that there is a possibility of disturbing some archaeologically significant remains from ancient Native Americans or some nineteenth century house or farm. If there is some evidence to suggest this possibility, the State will require an archeological survey to be performed before the project is begun. The entity undertaking the project is always required to halt the project and contact the Office of Cultural Development if some archaeologically significant remains (such as spear points, pottery shards, or skeletal remains) are discovered during construction. Most of the existing historical and archeological sites are known to local officials, who want them preserved for possible tourist attractions. Therefore, no major developments are planned which would have an adverse impact on these sites. The discovery of a previously unknown archeological site as the result of some new development is rare. Fossil Fuels. Extraction and production of fossil fuels are activities that have been going on in Northwest Louisiana for many, many years. Each of the ten parishes has producing oil and/or gas wells. From time to time, environmental hazards have been created as a result of oil spills. Also, the presence of tanks in and adjacent to oil and gas fields is considered to be a potential hazard. In some cases, new industries locating within one mile of these tanks must be warned in writing of the fact that there are flammable fluids stored in the vicinity. Just as the regulatory agencies have placed more stringent requirements upon other generators of pollution, it has done the same with oil and gas production, storage, and transportation. Although there is always the potential for an accident or for some unscrupulous operation to improperly handle its materials, enforcement of the regulations has greatly reduced the amount of pollution resulting from extraction activities. The most recent fossil fuel to be found to exist in Northwest Louisiana is a form of coal known as lignite. Strip mines were constructed in DeSoto and Red River Parishes in the late 1980’s. An electric power plant in DeSoto Parish is supplied by these mines. There are also lignite deposits in Sabine Parish, Natchitoches Parish, and Bienville Parish. Lignite is removed from the earth by strip mining. This means that enormous drag lines must remove the “overburden” of soil to get to the layers of lignite. However, the entire process has been environmentally analyzed and is carefully monitored by the State’s regulatory agency. After mining has taken place, the overburden is replaced and the mined area is replanted with the same type of growth found there prior to the mining activity. It is believed that the presence of lignite will enhance rather than limit economic activity. Forestry. Forests play a major role in the area’s economy. Sawmills, paper mills, and various manufacturing operations using locally grown timber may be found throughout the region. There area also areas of protected forests in Northwest Louisiana. Portions of Natchitoches Parish, Webster Parish, and Claiborne Parish are a part of the Kisatchie National Forest. Although very little major development activity goes on in these areas, they are considered to be very attractive and are an important part of the tourism economy. Conclusion. Unfortunately, because of the abuses by many of the chemical industries in the southern portions of the State, Louisiana now has a reputation in other areas, as having a dirty environment. This assessment is unfair to the ten parishes of Northwest Louisiana, where the environment is generally in good condition. Because of the lack of strict environmental regulations, there have been abuses of the environment in the past. However, improvements have been and are being made. For the most part, Northwest Louisiana has an environment into which new businesses and industries should want to locate. Efforts to maintain good environmental conditions must be continued so that future generations can enjoy the advantages which exist today. The Coordinating
and Development Corp. |
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