(CWPPRA or “Breaux Act”)
The CWPPRA program was authorized in 1990 and provides funds for planning and implementing wetland restoration and protection projects in coastal Louisiana. The program advances project planning and construction on an annual cycle with Priority Project Lists (PPLs) and has authorized over 200 projects. Over 100 projects have been constructed, creating over 100,000 acres and enhancing over 350,000 acres of wetland habitat. CWPPRA projects are operated and maintained for 20 years.
Geography: Projects are proposed and selected via four regions in CWPPRA:
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- Region 1 – Pontchartrain Basin;
- Region 2 – Barataria and Breton Sound Basins;
- Region 3 – Teche/Vermilion, Atchafalaya, and Terrebonne Basins;
- Region 4 – Calcasieu/Sabine and Mermentau Basins.
There are also Coastwide and Demonstration project categories. You can find an interactive map here.
Federal and State Agencies Involved: The CWPPRA Program is managed by the CWPPRA Task Force, whose members vote to advance projects. The Task Force is composed of the State of Louisiana, represented by the Governor’s Office of Coastal Activities, and five federal agencies: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA-NMFS; aka, NOAA Fisheries), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The Army Corps is the administrator of the program. Projects are developed from the parish level up, and various local stakeholders and experts are often involved in project development.
Funding: CWPPRA’s funding source is the Sport Fish Restoration & Boating Safety Trust Fund, which provides approximately $30 million – $80 million per year. CWPPRA project planning activities are 100% federally funded. Once a project is approved, cost-sharing is 85% Federal and 15% non-Federal. The local sponsor is the State on all CWPPRA projects.
How to Submit and/or Support a Project: Community stakeholders can work with CWPPRA representatives from CPRA or Federal agencies to propose a project. Local involvement and support are important to the CWPPRA process. All projects must be consistent with the Louisiana Coastal Master Plan, and most projects are in the $20-$35 million range (except for demonstration projects).
Subscribe to the CWPPRA Newsflash here for relevant updates.
Guide on How to Submit a CWPPRA project found here.
The CWPPRA Caminada Back Barrier Marsh will benefit 900 acres of marsh.
Points of Contact
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- CWPPRA Community Outreach, Kacie Wright: kmwright@usgs.gov
- Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, Coastal Resources Science Supervisor, Kent Bollfrass: kent.bollfrass@la.gov
- US Army Corps of Engineers, Program Manager, Alice Kerl: Alice.P.Kerl@usace.army.mil
- MRD Contact
- Restore the Mississippi River Delta, National Wildlife Federation, Gulf Program, Director, Amanda Moore: moorea@nwf.org
To see the current member of the Task Force, visit https://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/Missions/Environmental/CWPPRA/
You can sign up to receive updates from CWPPRA by sending an email from the address you want subscribed to: cwppra-subscribe@nwrccom.cr.usgs.gov. Then reply to the confirmation email, keeping the same subject line.