LAPLACE — Parish President Natalie Robottom has taken the reins of a state organization dedicated to preserving coastal wetlands and securing affordable flood insurance for St. John the Baptist residents and those across Southern Louisiana.

Parishes Against Coastal Erosion was formed in 2003 with the goal of uniting and organizing coastal and neighboring parishes to raise and advocate concerns of coastal wetland loss to federal and state agencies, along with legislators.

The organization was incorporated in 2013 as a nonprofit and took on the name Louisiana Parishes Against Coastal Erosion or La. PACE. The organization’s representatives include one elected official from each parish.

“Ultimately, the goal of the organization is to work with each other, the state and federal delegation to protect our coastlines,” Robottom said.

Even before she was elected St. John Parish President, Robottom attended the group’s meetings when she was St. John CAO.

“It is truly an honor to serve as president of an organization of my peers, continuing work on combating issues of our coast and raising awareness of coastal issues throughout the state and country,” Robottom said. “La. PACE has the lofty task of continuing the fight for affordable flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program and working with our state and federal partners to ensure funding through the RESTORE act and Gulf of Mexico Energy Act are used for coastal restoration as intended.”

Robottom said being elected president is a huge responsibility, and she describes the office as a “working” office.

Robottom said La. PACE coordinates efforts within the community to push forward the goals that have been in existence since the organization began.

Marine Winter, secretary and meeting coordinator, has been with the organization since it formed, adding members have all seen, firsthand, the state’s wetlands loss.

“They know how important it is to oil and gas industry, ecotourism and fisheries,” she said. “They want to unite to save the wetlands and the unique culture that has developed around them. Something that separates La. PACE from other organizations is the fact that it’s at the local parish level.”

Winter wants residents to know La. PACE has been very effective working with legislators to secure the Coastal Impact Assistance Program, Gulf Of Mexico Energy Security Act, the RESTORE Act and other funding for coastal Louisiana.