For Immediate Release: August 13, 2008
Contact: Chris Macaluso
(225) 342-3968
chris.macaluso@la.gov

CPRA Dedicates $300 Million to Host of Coastal Restoration, Hurricane Protection Projects

NEW ORLEANS -- The Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority approved a host of coastal restoration and hurricane protection projects across coastal Louisiana that will receive additional funding from state budget surpluses at a special meeting Wednesday at the University of New Orleans.

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and the State Legislature dedicated $300 million in surplus funds to the Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund in March during the Second Special Session of 2008. Of that $300 million, $160.5 million will be used to advance hurricane protection projects while $110 million will be used to advance coastal restoration efforts.

An additional $16 million will be used to advance innovative coast-wide initiatives such as incentives for innovative dredge technologies and carbon credits and a $13.5 million emergency reserve to advance high priority projects.

"This surplus money will allow us to advance critical projects that will rebuild wetlands and provide critical hurricane protection to areas across our coast," said CPRA Chairman Garret Graves. "This investment in our coast is enormous and is a testament to how important restoring and protecting coastal Louisiana is to Governor Jindal and our state legislators."

The following is a complete list of the projects that will receive surplus funds:

$300 million Total Surplus

$160.5 million Hurricane Protection - State match for federally funded projects

$100 million Greater New Orleans -
$50 Lake Pontchartrain and Vicinity Hurricane Protection Project
(Includes previously committed $2.5M to accelerate building of Inner Harbor Navigation Canal storm surge protection structure)
$50 West Bank and Vicinity Hurricane Protection Project
(Includes previously committed $5M to accelerate West Bank and Vicinity Hurricane Protection Project)

$55 Morganza-to-the Gulf & Larose -to-Golden Meadow Hurricane Protection Projects
$40 Morganza-to-the-Gulf
$15 Larose-to-Golden Meadow

$5.5 Southwest Coastal Louisiana Study
$3 Southwest/Chenier
$1.5 Acadiana Gulf of Mexico Access Channel and Hurricane /Ecosystem Protection (Vermilion, Iberia, St. Mary)
$1 Cameron Creole Levee

$110 Restoration -

$45 Barrier Island Restoration / Shoreline Restoration and Protection
$30 Caminada Headland Barrier Shoreline/Elmers Island

$15 Cameron Gulf Shoreline Protection

$30 Mississippi River Freshwater Diversions -
$20 Bayou Lafourche
$7 Myrtle Grove
$3 Hope Canal/Maurepas Diversion

$20 Beneficial Use of Dredge Spoil from navigation channels

$15 Pipeline conveyance of dredge spoil/Dedicated Dredging

$16 Innovative Coast-wide Initiatives

$13.5 Emergency Reserve/Accelerated Advancement of High Priority Project
$300 Million Total

The projects were chosen using a list of criteria developed by the CPRA after the surplus funds were allotted. All projects receiving surplus funds must advance urgent, early action items contained in the CPRA's Comprehensive Coastal Restoration and Hurricane Protection Master Plan and all must be ready to proceed to construction in the next 18-24 months. The criteria also demanded that a balance of restoration and protection projects be considered.

The CPRA also received nearly 70 suggestions from the public for the use of the funds. All were considered when determining the project list.

For more information about Wednesday's CPRA meeting or any of Louisiana's coastal restoration and hurricane protection efforts, please contact Chris Macaluso at (225)- 342-3968 or by email at chris.macaluso@la.gov.

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The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority's mandate is to develop, implement and enforce a comprehensive coastal protection and restoration master plan. For the first time in Louisiana's history, this single state authority will integrate coastal restoration and hurricane protection by marshalling the expertise and resources of the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Transportation and Development, and other state agencies, to speak with one clear voice for the future of Louisiana's coast. Working with federal, state and local political subdivisions, including levee districts, the CPRA will work to establish a safe and sustainable coast that will protect our communities, the nation's critical energy infrastructure, and our bountiful natural resources for generations to come. The CPRA of Louisiana was established by Act 8 of the 1st Extraordinary Session of 2005.