Louisiana Legislature Approves Historic Investment in Louisiana’s Coast

05.24.2022 | In Press Releases

Rep. Bourriaque and Restore the Mississippi River Delta respond to milestone achievement

(BATON ROUGE, La. – May 24, 2022) Today, the Louisiana Senate approved the state’s Fiscal Year 2023 Coastal Annual Plan, finalizing its full passage by the Louisiana Legislature. The annual plan outlines nearly $1.3 billion in funding over a one-year period and $3.5 billion over the next three years for protection and restoration projects. It also describes the short-term and long-term restoration work that communities can expect to see as the state progresses toward a sustainable coast. 

In response, Restore the Mississippi River Delta – a coalition of national and local conservation groups working together to address Louisiana’s land loss crisis comprised of Environmental Defense Fund, National Audubon Society, the National Wildlife Federation, Pontchartrain Conservancy and the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana – released the following statement:

“This year’s Coastal Annual Plan is the largest in Louisiana history, setting up a historic investment in Louisiana’s coast. As we approach another hurricane season, Louisiana’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority continues to demonstrate its commitment to taking real, substantive action to protect Louisiana’s coast and communities.

“In the aftermath of devastating hurricanes, Louisiana must not slow down in its efforts to build and maintain a productive, sustainable coast through large-scale coastal restoration projects. This milestone investment will fund critical, priority restoration projects that protect communities from hurricanes, sea level rise and the impacts of climate change. By passing this year’s Coastal Annual Plan, the Louisiana Legislature has taken a vital step toward promoting coastal restoration and community resilience, but we can’t stop here. Louisiana’s coast needs sustained investments to ensure that the projects with the greatest benefits to people, wildlife and our economy receive adequate funding and rapid implementation.”

Louisiana State Representative Ryan Bourriaque (District 47), who authored and championed this bill through the legislative session, released the following statement:

“It has been an honor and a pleasure to carry the CPRA’s Fiscal Year 23 Annual Plan this session. House Concurrent Resolution 34 highlights the ongoing efforts of this agency to protect and restore our coast. Witnessing the transformation of this agency and its efforts from a concept or advocacy position to one constructing billions of dollars of protection along our coast has been incredible. These projects and their success will solidify Louisiana’s role in a global economy, assist with sustaining our culture, and improve our ability to mitigate future disasters. I wish to commend the CPRA on their progress and hope to see this critical work continue for decades to come.”

About Restore the Mississippi River Delta:

Restore the Mississippi River Delta is working to secure a just, climate-resilient coast where people and nature thrive. As our region faces the crisis of land loss and climate change, we seek to advance an equitable, safer and flourishing coast for Louisiana’s communities, ecosystems and economy. Composed of conservation, policy, science and outreach experts from Environmental Defense Fund, National Audubon Society, the National Wildlife Federation, Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana and Pontchartrain Conservancy, we are located in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Washington, D.C.; and around the United States. Learn more at MississippiRiverDelta.org and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

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