On August 15, 2019, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-Louisiana) announced that $24,831,325 in grants had just been awarded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana (CPRA) for three projects to create and nourish marsh habitat, build terraces and restore ridge habitat along Louisiana’s coast.
Altogether, some 1309 acres of marsh will be recreated and restored.
“It is vital that we protect local communities and industries along our coast,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Securing funding like this is essential to restore our dissolving coastline. I thank the Trump administration for their support of our costal restoration efforts.”
Here’s how the funds will be allocated:
- $19,034,024 will go toward the Bayou Decade Ridge and Marsh Creation, Phase 2 project. The project is located in Region 3, Terrebonne Basin, Terrebonne Parish, Lake Merchant Mapping Unit. The goals are to restore 11,131 linear feet of ridge habitat along the northern bank of Bayou De Cade and create 390 acres and nourish approximately 90 acres of intermediate marsh.
- $2,986,339 will go toward the Breton Landbridge Marsh Creation (West), Phase I project. The project is located in Regional Planning Unit No. 2, Breton Basin, St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana. The goals are to restore 423 acres of marshes and bank lines along the south side of Grand Lake, which would create 326 acres and nourish 97 acres.
- $2,810,962 will go toward the East Delacroix Marsh Creation and Terracing, Phase I project. The project is located in Regional Planning Unit No. 2, Breton Basin, St. Bernard Parish. The goals are to create and nourish approximately 406 acres of marsh and construct approximately 12,950 linear feet of terrace (about 8 acres) utilizing a layout to help protect the community of Delacroix.
The CPRA is established as the single state entity with authority to articulate a clear statement of priorities and to focus redevelopment and implementation efforts to achieve comprehensive coastal restoration and protection for Louisiana. Their mandate is to develop, implement, and enforce a comprehensive coastal protection and restoration Master Plan.
For the first time in Louisiana’s history, this single state authority is integrating coastal restoration and hurricane protection by marshaling the expertise and resources of the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Transportation and Development and other state agencies, to speak with one clear voice for the future of Louisiana’s coast.
Working with federal, state and local political subdivisions, including levee districts, the CPRA is working to restore a safe and sustainable coast that will protect local communities, the nation’s critical energy infrastructure and the state’s natural resources for generations to come.