• Louisiana Coastal Area projects can move forward
BATON ROUGE, LA, Nov. 10, 2008 -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the state of Louisiana's Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) signed a cost share agreement that will initiate several studies that are part of the recent Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA) authorization.
"Louisiana has lost more than 2300 square miles of vital coastal wetlands over the last century and this loss continues to threaten the safety of our communities, the energy security of this country and the essential fisheries and wildlife habitat along our coast," said CPRA Chairman Garret Graves. "The LCA projects we are moving forward with mark the first truly comprehensive efforts to reverse the loss of Louisiana's wetlands."
Included in the 2007 Water Resources Development Act, the studies under this agreement will evaluate numerous options for introducing freshwater and sediment into marshes and restrict saltwater intrusion throughout southern Louisiana. The studies will evaluate how to increase organic deposits and improve the productivity of the marsh while working to prevent further deterioration.
"We are very pleased to work with our state partner, the CPRA, on these studies," said District Commander, Col. Alvin Lee. "These restoration efforts will help to protect and restore Louisiana's valuable wetlands."
The total cost for the studies is approximately $27 million. The studies will culminate in a report the State and Corps will release in December 2010.
>> Addtional information about the CPRA
The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority's 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 will integrate coastal restoration and hurricane protection by marshalling 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 will work to establish a safe and sustainable coast that will protect our communities, the nation's critical energy infrastructure, and our bountiful natural resources for generations to come. The CPRA of Louisiana was established by Act 8 of the 1st Extraordinary Session of 2005.
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