The Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) has announced the Louisiana Legislature’s unanimous approval of the Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Plan.
CPRA’s Annual Plan provides an update on the state’s efforts to protect and restore its coast and describes the short-term and long-term results that Louisiana can expect to see as the state progresses toward a sustainable coast. Also, it outlines a $1.35 billion investment toward 142 active projects across South Louisiana.
Commenting the news, CPRA Chairman Chip Kline , said: “This year’s $1.35 billion plan represents the largest annual investment in the history of the coastal program. With 81% of funding going directly toward construction activities, this year’s plan will bring many monumental projects envisioned in the Coastal Master Plan to life.”
Additionally, CPRA has begun construction on two of the largest dredging projects ever undertaken by the State.
The Lake Borgne Marsh Creation project in the Pontchartrain Basin and the Spanish Pass Marsh Creation project in the Barataria Basin will use nearly 30 million cubic yards of dredged material to restore nearly 4,500 acres of marsh and ridge.
With nearly a quarter of the entire American dredge fleet actively working on coastal projects in Louisiana, this year promises to be the Year of the Dredge.
Historic level of federal investment
“We are also seeing a historic level of federal investment. Louisiana will receive over $2 billion in federal emergency supplemental disaster relief funds to build critical flood protection projects and increase resiliency for our coastal communities after Hurricanes Ida, Laura, and Delta,” said Kline.
“We will capitalize on over $643 million in funding to Louisiana from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) directed to the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to be spent on protection and restoration projects that would complement our Coastal Master Plan objectives.”
CPRA said that they expect a much-anticipated federal permitting decision on the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion in this fiscal year – a cornerstone project of the Coastal Master Plan.
This project represents the largest coastal restoration effort ever undertaken in the U.S. and is a global example of innovative coastal restoration.
“Through decades of studies, careful planning, and intensive analysis, it is clear that reconnecting the Mississippi River is our best chance at preserving and sustaining coastal Louisiana for the next generation,” added Kline.
“As we face increasingly intense storms and changing environmental factors in combination with the drastic rates of land loss we are already experiencing today, implementing projects that maximize sustainability and increase resiliency could not be more important.”
Creating a sustainable coast
Every six years, per the directive of the state Legislature, CPRA releases Louisiana’s Comprehensive Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast, which details the priorities, projects, plans, and benchmarks for implementing an integrated approach to coastal protection and restoration in Louisiana.
This plan is intended to be a living document, updated incrementally to reflect changes to the coast, economy, and society, as well as advancements in science and technology, used in the decision-making, planning, and implementation processes.
As such, the Annual Plan serves as an opportunity to inventory integrated coastal protection and restoration projects, provide an update on progress toward long-term goals, and relay funding, budgets, and expenditure information.
Louisiana’s recovery effort is ongoing, and the effects of the storms and climate change can be seen and felt today.
The above mentioned projects require careful and detailed planning to maximize the use of each dollar and ensure longevity in the face of a changing climate and natural disasters, concludes CPRA.