Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority

The Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) is a governmental authority created by the Louisiana Legislature in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The organization takes advantage of both federal and state funding of around $1 billion annually. Since its founding, the organization has dredged over 60 miles of sediment into islands and artificial land, as well as 36,000 acres of marshland. CPRA predicts that over the next 50 years, over 1,450 square miles of land in Louisiana could be lost along coastal areas.^[1]

History

The creation of CPRA was ordered by Congress in Pub. L.Tooltip Public Law (United States) 109–148 (text) (PDF).^[2] The CPRA's forerunner, the Wetlands Conservation and Restoration Authority, was restructured as the CPRA by Act 8 of the First Extraordinary Session of 2005^[3] when the tasks of coastal restoration and hurricane protection were consolidated under a single authority. The authority is responsible for overseeing all levee districts in the Louisiana Coastal Zone and dispersal of funding from Louisiana's Coastal Protection and Restoration Trust Fund to be used exclusively for wetland restoration and hurricane protection projects. Act 8 defines the CPRA's mandate as, "hurricane protection and the protection, conservation, restoration, and enhancement of coastal wetlands and barrier shorelines or reefs." Additionally, the act defined the term "coastal area" as the Louisiana Coastal Zone and contiguous areas that are subject to storm or tidal surge.

In April 2007, the CPRA submitted Louisiana's first ever Comprehensive Master Plan for coastal restoration and hurricane protection to the state's legislature for approval. The legislature approved the plan unanimously. Entitled: "Integrated Ecosystem Restoration and Hurricane Protection: Louisiana's Comprehensive Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast," the Master Plan represents an overarching vision that fully incorporates hurricane protection projects and structures with coastal wetland and hydrology restoration projects. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials will use the CPRA Master Plan as the cornerstone of the Congressionally mandated Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration (LaCPR) Report scheduled to be written and submitted to Congress by December 2007.^{[needs update]}

In 2012, an article in The New York Times reviewed the current state of improvements to New Orleans defenses.^[4] August 24, 2015, an article in The Huffington Post titled "10 Years After Katrina, Louisiana Is Becoming A Model For Climate Resilience" summarized the current state of Louisiana's shoreline and coastal community protection.^[5]

Plan for a Sustainable Coast

Every five to six years CPRA must submit a revised plan to the state legislature. The current plan is the 2023 Master Plan, which was passed unanimously by the state legislature in May 2023.^[6]

Projects detailed in the plan fall into the following categories:

Structural Protection
Bank Stabilization
Oyster Barrier Reefs
Ridge Restoration
Shoreline Protection
Infrastructure
Terraces
Barrier Island Restoration
Marsh Creation
Sediment Diversion
Hydrologic Restoration

Projects

There are many projects listed on both the CPRA and CWPPRA websites, and both sites have interactive maps to readily display projects.

As of 2023, Louisiana's Coastal Master Plan^[7] intends two diversions:

On August 8, work will begin to channel the Mississippi west — 75,000 cubic feet per second — into marshes in Barataria. This project will cost an estimated $2.9 billion.
Later, work will begin to send fresh water east into wetlands in Breton Sound.^[8]

Current members

Current members of the Board are listed on the agency website.

Districts

The following Levee Districts are overseen by the CPRA.

Atchafalaya Basin Levee District
Grand Isle Independent District
Lafourche Basin Levee District
North Lafouche Levee District
Plaquemines Parish Government
Pontchartrain Basin Levee District
South Lafourche Levee District
Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority - East
Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority - West
St. Mary Parish Government
Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District

Additionally, decisions are pending on the Southwest Louisiana Parishes of Cameron, Vermillion and Iberia.^{[needs update]}

References

^ "Louisiana fights the sea, and loses". The Economist. 26 August 2017. Retrieved 2017-08-30.
^ http://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/109-148_2005_hurricanes.pdf^{[bare URL PDF]}
^ https://www.legis.la.gov/Legis/ViewDocument.aspx?d=329530^{[bare URL PDF]}
^ Schwartz, John (June 14, 2012). "Vast Defenses Now Shielding New Orleans". New York Times.
^ Sheppard, Kate (24 August 2015). "10 Years After Katrina, Louisiana Is Becoming A Model For Climate Resilience". huffintonpost.com. Huffington Post. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
^ "Gov. Edwards, CPRA Celebrate Passage of 2023 Coastal Master Plan and FY 2024 Annual Plan". Coastal Protection And Restoration Authority. 2023-05-25. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
^ "2023 Coastal Master Plan". Coastal Protection And Restoration Authority. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
^ Mooney, Chris; Murphy, Zoeann; Carioti, Ricky; Muyskens, John (August 7, 2023). "Facing the surge". Washington Post. Retrieved August 7, 2023.

External links

Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA)—official website (state agency)
The Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA)—official website (federal agency)