Low-lying La. prepares for sea level rise

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A new state report predicts that Louisiana's coast will see 3 feet of sea-level rise by 2100 and recommends that future designs for such things as levees and roads to take sea-level rise into account.

The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority issued the technical report on Monday and opened up a month-long public comment period. The report is based on predictions that include global sea-level rise models, Louisiana's subsidence rates and other regional factors.

The report says that the rising sea is causing more saltwater intrusion, flooding and shoreline erosion and added that there was a "pressing need to integrate up-to-date sea-level rise estimates" into plans for protecting communities and building coastal restoration projects.