Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority

Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority
Name	Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority
Formed	2005
Jurisdiction	Louisiana
Headquarters	Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Chief1 name	Executive Director
Parent agency	State of Louisiana

Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority

The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) is the state agency responsible for planning, coordinating, and implementing coastal protection, restoration, and hurricane risk reduction in Louisiana. Created in the aftermath of major events such as Hurricane Katrina and the Hurricane Rita season, the authority integrates engineering, ecology, and policy tools to address land loss across the Mississippi River Delta, Atchafalaya Basin, and coastal parishes. CPRA works with federal entities including the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to deliver projects that intersect with programs like the National Flood Insurance Program and regional initiatives such as the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council.

History and Establishment

The authority traces its origins to legislative responses following Hurricane Katrina and the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season, when Louisiana reorganized coastal governance through acts of the Louisiana State Legislature. Policymakers referenced precedents from entities like the Army Corps of Engineers New Orleans District and invoked frameworks shaped by events including the Mississippi River flood of 1927 and the Bonnet Carré Spillway operations. Early planning documents synthesized technical guidance from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and studies by the Louisiana Coastal Wetlands Conservation and Restoration Task Force to set priorities for wetland restoration, storm surge reduction, and sediment diversion. Formation of CPRA followed debates involving the Governor of Louisiana and state agencies such as the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources.

Mission and Legal Authority

CPRA's statutory mandate is codified in state law enacted by the Louisiana State Legislature and shaped by federal statutes like the Coastal Zone Management Act and the Water Resources Development Act when coordinating with the United States Congress and the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The authority's mission aligns with executive directives issued by successive Governor of Louisiana administrations and operates within regulatory contexts influenced by the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and judicial decisions from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Legal authorities permit CPRA to plan, acquire land, enter contracts, and manage funds under instruments such as state appropriations and trust funds established after settlements like those involving the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Organizational Structure and Governance

CPRA is led by an Executive Director appointed under guidelines approved by the Governor of Louisiana and overseen by a governing board with membership drawn from offices such as the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, and academic partners including Louisiana State University and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. The agency organizes divisions that coordinate engineering programs similar to units within the United States Army Corps of Engineers, environmental planning comparable to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and financial management modeled after the State Bond Commission. Governance incorporates advisory input from regional stakeholders including parish governments like Plaquemines Parish, municipal entities such as New Orleans, and tribal representatives when projects affect areas tied to tribes recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Programs and Projects

CPRA implements large-scale initiatives such as sediment diversions in the Mississippi River system, barrier island restoration in zones like the Chandeleur Islands, marsh creation in the Barataria Basin, and marsh nourishment in the Bourg. Projects have included collaborations on hurricane risk reduction systems similar to the Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System and ecosystem restoration strategies aligned with the Coastwide Reference Monitoring System. CPRA's portfolio spans engineered levees, freshwater reintroduction, ridge restoration, and shoreline stabilization activities that interact with federal actions by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, research partnerships with institutions like the Louisiana Sea Grant, and mitigation measures under the Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act where species protected by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service occur.

Funding and Budgeting

Funding sources for CPRA combine state appropriations from the Louisiana Legislature, revenue streams allocated via settlements such as distributions from the Deepwater Horizon civil penalties, and federal assistance through congressional appropriations authorized by the Water Resources Development Act and grants from agencies including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The agency manages capital outlays, bond issuances reviewed by the State Bond Commission, and trust fund expenditures subject to audits by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor. Budgeting decisions reflect priorities established in comprehensive plans similar to those submitted to the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council and coordinated with the Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Task Force where nutrient management intersects with coastal restoration.

Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement

CPRA engages a network of partners: federal entities like the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency; academic institutions including Tulane University and Nicholls State University; nongovernmental organizations such as the Nature Conservancy and the National Audubon Society; and local governments across parishes like Jefferson Parish and St. Bernard Parish. Stakeholder processes draw input from fishing industry groups represented by associations active in Baton Rouge, community organizations in New Orleans, and port authorities such as the Port of New Orleans. Public participation mechanisms mirror practices used by the National Environmental Policy Act review processes and incorporate mitigation banking discussions referenced in guidance from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

Monitoring, Research, and Adaptive Management

CPRA conducts monitoring programs in collaboration with research entities including Louisiana State University, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and federal science agencies like the United States Geological Survey and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Data collection supports adaptive management frameworks influenced by reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and models developed by the Mississippi River Hydrodynamic and Delta Management Study. Monitoring includes remote sensing partnerships using platforms associated with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and biological surveys coordinated with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to assess outcomes under the Endangered Species Act. Adaptive management cycles inform periodic updates to the state's comprehensive coastal protection plan submitted to bodies such as the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council.

Category:Environment of Louisiana Category:State agencies of Louisiana