Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act
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| Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act | |
|---|---|
 U.S. Government · Public domain · source | |
| Name | Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act |
| Acronym | CWPPRA |
| Enacted | 1990 |
| Jurisdiction | United States |
| Administered by | United States Fish and Wildlife Service; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; United States Army Corps of Engineers; Natural Resources Conservation Service; United States Geological Survey; Environmental Protection Agency |
Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act The Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act was enacted in 1990 to address accelerating wetland loss along the United States Gulf Coast, responding to long-term concerns highlighted by federal entities such as the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, United States Geological Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and regional stakeholders including the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources and Mississippi Department of Marine Resources. The Act established a framework for project funding, planning, and interagency coordination among agencies like the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Environmental Protection Agency, with inputs from conservation organizations such as the National Audubon Society and the Nature Conservancy.
Background and Purpose
The Act arose from scientific assessments by the United States Geological Survey, policy reviews by the Congressional Research Service, and advocacy from organizations including the Environmental Defense Fund, Sierra Club, and the National Wildlife Federation that documented links between wetland loss, storm surge vulnerability demonstrated in events like Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Andrew, and economic impacts on ports such as the Port of New Orleans and Port Fourchon. Its purpose integrated recommendations from commissions such as the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force and research institutions like the Louisiana State University Coastal Studies Institute to prioritize restoration, shoreline stabilization, and barrier island reconstruction in estuaries adjacent to the Mississippi River Delta and Atchafalaya Basin.
Legislative History and Enactment
Initial proposals were debated in sessions of the 101st United States Congress and reported by committees including the United States House Committee on Natural Resources and the United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, with legislative language shaped by stakeholders including the State of Louisiana, the American Petroleum Institute, and fishing industry groups represented by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's regional offices. The statute was enacted amid contemporaneous policy developments such as the Clean Water Act amendments and in the same policy era as legislation addressing coastal management like the Coastal Zone Management Act. Key congressional proponents included legislators from Gulf Coast states who coordinated with agencies like the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and research centers at Tulane University.
Program Structure and Funding
The program established a Pilot Project Program and a long-term funding mechanism administered through interagency collaboration among the United States Army Corps of Engineers, United States Geological Survey, Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency, with oversight by the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission for habitat aspects. Funding has been allocated through appropriations from the United States Congress and matched by state contributions from entities such as the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, and implemented using financial instruments influenced by federal budgeting practices overseen by the Office of Management and Budget.
Project Selection and Implementation
Project selection used criteria developed with scientific input from institutions like the Louisiana State University Coastal Studies Institute, United States Geological Survey mapping programs, and models from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to evaluate alternatives including marsh creation, sediment diversions, shoreline protection, and hydrologic restoration in areas such as the Mississippi River Delta, Chenier Plain, and Grand Isle. Implementation engaged contractors, state agencies such as the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, academic partners like University of New Orleans researchers, and federal operators including the United States Army Corps of Engineers to execute projects ranging from beneficial use of dredged material at the Port of New Orleans to barrier island restoration at Chandeleur Islands.
Environmental and Socioeconomic Impacts
Evaluations by the United States Geological Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and academic studies from Louisiana State University and Tulane University have documented habitat gains for species listed under the Endangered Species Act and forage improvements for fisheries managed by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, while economic analyses by the Congressional Budget Office and Economic Development Administration noted benefits to infrastructure protection for facilities like the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port and communities including Plaquemines Parish and St. Bernard Parish. Projects influenced wetland dynamics linked to migratory bird populations monitored by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and fisheries such as those regulated by the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Criticisms and Legal Challenges
Critics including scholars from Tulane University and advocacy groups like the Public Interest Research Group have raised concerns about project prioritization, long-term sustainability, and potential conflicts with industrial interests including the American Petroleum Institute, leading to litigation involving state agencies such as the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources and federal reviews under statutes like the National Environmental Policy Act and consultations required by the Endangered Species Act. Legal challenges have addressed issues of funding continuity debated in hearings before the United States Senate Committee on Appropriations and administrative disputes involving the United States Army Corps of Engineers and Environmental Protection Agency.
State and Local Partnerships
State and local partnerships featured coordination with the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, parish governments such as Jefferson Parish and Plaquemines Parish, port authorities including the Port of New Orleans and Port Fourchon, and nonprofit partners like the Nature Conservancy and National Audubon Society, leveraging technical support from universities such as Louisiana State University and University of New Orleans and federal programs administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to implement multi-jurisdictional restoration projects.