For Immediate Release: September 15, 2009
Contact: Chris Macaluso
(225) 342-3968
chris.macaluso@la.gov

BATON ROUGE -- The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana (CPRA) is seeking recommendations from residents and stakeholders regarding possible projects and programs to be included in the next Water Resources Development Act (WRDA).

Recommendations from stakeholders will be accepted through September 28, 2009 and will be included in a list of project and program suggestions being crafted by the CPRA, the Governor's Office of Coastal Activities and the Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration.

WRDA-authorized projects and programs are critical to the protection and restoration of coastal Louisiana.

Congress is expected to begin work on new WRDA legislation (WRDA 2010) early next year.

The last WRDA was passed in 2007 and included several large-scale coastal restoration and hurricane protection projects for Louisiana.

The CPRA will work closely with Louisiana's Congressional delegation to help ensure the state's urgent coastal needs are addressed again in WRDA 2010.

Please email project or program suggestions and recommendations to be included in WRDA 2010 to info@lacpra.org or send by mail to CPRA: attention Kyle Graham. 1051 North 3rd Street. Baton Rouge, La. 70802.

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

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 Louisiana Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration, 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.