(1) The Department of Marine Resources, referred to in this chapter as “department,” shall serve as the primary state agency with regard to coordinating channel maintenance activities along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
(2) The department shall develop a comprehensive long-range management plan for channel maintenance activities. The plan shall at a minimum: Identify areas in which channels are in need of maintenance;
(3) Assess the short-term and long-term economic costs and benefits of the state’s channels;
(4) Promote channel sand bypassing to replicate the natural flow of sand; and
(5) Recommend channel maintenance projects to the Legislature for funding which ensures the geographic coordination and sequencing of prioritized projects.