CPRA Approves Coastal Annual Plan While Advocates Call for Clearer Vision and Transparency
← Older postsCPRA Approves Coastal Annual Plan While Advocates Call for Clearer Vision and Transparency
NEW ORLEANS (March 18, 2026) – Today, the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) board voted to approve the Fiscal Year 2027 Annual Plan, which included more than 140 projects aimed at restoring and protecting Louisiana’s coast with a total cost of $1.54 billion, up from 130 projects and $1.27 billion outlined in the draft released at the end of last year. Restore the Mississippi River Delta, a coalition of national and local organizations working to restore Louisiana’s coast, issued the following statement: “Many of the investments in this year’s Annual Plan will help sustain communities, wildlife habitat, and a working coast economy, and …
Louisiana’s New Coastal Spending Plan Cuts Back on Restoration
Without Diversions, Spending Drops in FY27 Annual Plan and Southeast Louisiana Loses Major Protective Projects The Landry Administration’s coastal spending plan for the next fiscal year is a major departure from prior plans, which included two land-building river reintroduction projects – Mid-Barataria and Mid-Breton – as cornerstones. Now that the Administration has cancelled these projects, overall coastal spending has been sharply reduced year-over-year, and the future of southeast Louisiana is uncertain. Some of the challenges with the FY27 Annual Plan are that it: Overlooks Southeast Louisiana. Southeast Louisiana is facing one of the highest rates of land loss in the world, but this plan cuts restoration funding for the region by two-thirds, largely due to the cancelation of the river reintroduction …
Louisiana’s Coastal Program at a Crossroads
What does the draft spending plan tell us about the future of the coast? The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) has released its draft Fiscal Year 2027 Annual Plan and is accepting public comments through February 17. But what is the annual plan and what does this draft tell us about the new direction the coastal program has taken under the Landry Administration? The annual plan is a few things rolled into one. It is a statement of priorities, …
Louisiana residents urged to provide critical input to safeguard Louisiana’s science-based Coastal Master Plan
NEW ORLEANS, LA (Dec. 10, 2025) – Today, Louisiana’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) released its Draft FY27 Annual Plan for public review and comment. The Annual Plan reflects which projects in the state’s comprehensive coastal plan will move forward in a given fiscal year and, upon its adoption, provides the CPRA authority to expend those funds outlined in the plans. Restore the Mississippi River Delta, a coalition of national and local organizations working to restore Louisiana’s coast, issued …
Rising Above Flood Risk: How Louisiana Is Adapting Through Home Elevation
Flooding is a persistent challenge for communities across the United States, particularly in coastal areas. Increasingly frequent and severe storms, rising sea levels, coastal land loss and land subsidence are putting people and property at greater risk. While many states and localities are actively working to reduce this risk, large-scale infrastructure solutions like levees and seawalls aren’t always practical, especially in rural areas. In many cases, the best and most cost-effective solution isn’t to block water, but to adapt to …
Reconnecting the River: How Sediment Diversions Fit into Louisiana’s Coastal Future
It’s no secret that river diversions work. Reconnecting the Mississippi River with nearby wetlands to build and sustain those areas has long been recognized as a key tool in Louisiana’s restoration toolbox, and places like Neptune Pass and the Wax Lake Delta are a testament to the Mississippi River ‘s ability to build land. River diversions have been included in plans to restore the coast for decades, including all of the state’s previous Coastal Master Plans. The 2029 Coastal Master …
State of Louisiana Cancels Mid-Breton Sediment Diversion
NEW ORLEANS (Oct. 9, 2025) – The state of Louisiana has withdrawn the state and federal permit applications for the Mid-Breton Sediment Diversion, effectively cancelling another cornerstone project of the state’s coastal program. Restore the Mississippi River Delta, a coalition of national and local conservation groups, issued the following statement: “Cancelling the Mid-Breton Sediment Diversion is yet another devastating blow to the future of our coast, our communities and our economy. The Mid-Breton decision, which follows the cancellation of …
Delta Dispatches: Future Leaders of Coastal Louisiana
Listen Now: In the final episode of Delta Dispatches, host Simone interviews two young rising leaders in coastal restoration, Kylie Miller and Franziska Trautmann. The episode delves into their backgrounds, experiences, and insights on tackling Louisiana’s coastal challenges. Kylie Miller shares how her education, volunteer, and leadership experiences inspired her to focus on a career in the environmental field. Franziska Trautmann, co-founder and CEO of Glass Half Full, talks about the innovative ways her organization is using recycled glass for …
Restoring Louisiana’s Coast: The Road to the 2029 Coastal Master Plan
Every six years, Louisiana’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority develop the Coastal Master Plan (CMP), a blueprint for how the state will address its land loss crisis and protect communities, industries and ecosystems. The CMP isn’t a pot of money or a list of construction-ready projects. Instead, it’s a science-based framework that guides which projects move forward, how they are prioritized and how Louisiana positions itself to compete for funding. The CMP is designed to be inclusive, transparent and non-political. …
Delta Dispatches: Reconnecting the River (Parishes)
Listen Now: In this episode of Delta Dispatches, host Simone Maloz discusses the importance of restoring Louisiana’s coast with guests Brad Miller, Project Manager at the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, and Kristi Trail, Executive Director of Pontchartrain Conservancy. Brad Miller delves into the River Reintroduction into Maurepas Swamp project, emphasizing its significance and historical background. Kristi Trail discusses various initiatives by Pontchartrain Conservancy, including the FLOWS and CORE programs, which aim to enhance local education and resilience in communities. The …
Delta Dispatches: Celebrating 200 Episodes
Listen Now: In the 200th episode of Delta Dispatches, host Simone Maloz celebrates this milestone by welcoming special guests to discuss the crucial work of restoring Louisiana’s coast. Simone is joined by Charles Sutcliffe, the resilience climate and coastal policy specialist for the National Wildlife Federation, who talks about his extensive experience in coastal policy and resilience. The episode also introduces Donnie Davidson, the new Science Policy Research Fellow. Finally, making a nostalgic return, former co-host Jacques Hebert reflects on …
Delta Dispatches: From Plans to Projects
Listen Now: In this episode of Delta Dispatches, Simone talks with Allie Olsonoski of the Environmental Defense Fund and Katie Freer from the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) about the importance of the Louisiana Coastal Master Plan and the development process of the upcoming 2029 Plan. Allie discusses her work tracking priority projects within the MRD coalition, while emphasizing the importance of community relationships. Katie shares insights on the origins and goals of the Coastal Master Plan, how it …
Coastal Plan, Politics Move Ahead — Mid-Barataria, Science Left Behind
NEW ORLEANS (June 4, 2025) — This week, the Louisiana Legislature approved the state’s FY26 Annual Plan for Coastal Protection and Restoration. Heralded as a nearly $2 billion investment for coastal investments, the actual total is closer to $1.4 billion because two major projects included in the plan have been cancelled due to political interference, a disregard for science and public trust: the Mid-Barataria and Mid-Breton Sediment Diversions. Restore the Mississippi River Delta, a coalition of four national and local …
The Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion: Setting the Record Straight
Skip to a section 1. CLAIM: The diversion will not lower storm surge and will cause flooding in Plaquemines Parish. 2. CLAIM: Diversions contribute to saltwater wedges and navigation issues in the Mississippi River. 3. CLAIM: We can spend the $3 billion projected cost of the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion on other projects, like dredging. 4. CLAIM: MBSD could be constructed smaller than planned. 5. CLAIM: MBSD is being imposed on residents who don’t want it. 6. CLAIM: Dolphins are a …
Louisiana Commits $1.8 billion to Critical Coastal Restoration and Protection Projects
(New Orleans, LA – January 15, 2024) Today, Louisiana’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) released its Draft FY26 Annual Plan for public review and comment. The Annual Plan reflects which projects in the Coastal Master Plan will move forward in a given fiscal year and, upon its adoption by the CPRA Board and the approval of the Legislature, provides the authority to expend funds originating from the state, federal government and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Restore the Mississippi …