New Orleans-Landowners who do coastal restoration and wetland preservation on their own could get a federal tax credit under a bill being proposed by U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-Napoleonville.”Every dollar someone spends on projects preserving and protecting their own land is a contribution to our shared fight against coastal land loss and ought to be deductible,” Melancon said.
“This is not intended to be a silver bullet bill to save our coast,” he said. “What it does is encourage private conservation and restoration by giving landowners a real incentive that they can measure in dollars.”
He said he has spoken with Pat and Barbara McCleary of Houma, who have spent $200,000 preserving wetlands on their property, local legislators and federal agencies and Gov. Kathleen Blanco. He said he hopes to get support from the entire Louisiana delegation.
