Kelia Bingham

Watershed Coordinator @Acadiana Planning Commission

Lafayette, LA, US

The Acadiana Planning Commission is the fiscal agent for the Louisiana Watershed Initiative, Region 5. LWI Region 5 is now the Acadiana Watershed District, which was legislatively created in 2023. I am the Watershed Coordinator for this region. Louisiana has a total of 9 regions through the LWI. This is a watershed-based approach to reducing flood risk in Louisiana guided by the following principles: 1) Use of scientific tools and data (gauge network and watershed modeling), 2) Enabling transparent, objective decision making specific to each region, 3) Maximizing the natural function of floodplains, and 4) Establishing regional, watershed-based management of flood risk.The goals of the Acadiana Watershed District are to improve water management to address flood risk and flood mitigation proactively and effectively within the boundaries of the district; promote and support a unified effort to address drainage and flood issues in the region in cooperation with local, state and federal agencies; and cooperate with local and state entities engaged in establishing best practice development standards for flood-risk

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

B.S., Resource Biology and Biodiversity

Louisiana State University

M.Ed., Secondary Science Education