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Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act

(CWPPRA) Update

Bren HaaseLouisiana Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration

Presentation for the

Coastal Protection and Restoration AuthorityJanuary 26, 2011

Lake Charles

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• Provides federal funds to cost-share with state funds for wetland restoration efforts

• Created partnerships among the State of Louisiana and 5 federal agencies

CWPPRA

NRCS NMFS USFWS

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CWPPRA Background Act passed – 1990

Funded through Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act Amendment (PL 106-408)

CWPPRA extended until 2019, under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005

CWPPRA dedicates $70 – $80 million to wetland restoration projects in Louisiana annually

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CWPPRA Track Record $1 Billion in federal funds since 1991

146 active projects

88 projects completed – 110,000 acres benefited (172 mi2)

15 projects under/approved for construction

43 projects under development (E&D)

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CWPPRA Project Distribution

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CWPPRAOrganizational

StructureCitizen Participation

*All committees and workgroups are made up of representatives from all 5 Federal agencies and the State of Louisiana

Citizen Participation Group

Task Force

Public Outreach Committee

Technical Committee

Planning & Evaluation

Subcommittee

Environmental Workgroup

Engineering Workgroup

Economics Workgroup

Monitoring Workgroup

Academic Advisory Workgroup

Technical Advisory Group

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State Agencies Engaged in CWPPRA

GOCA – Represents State on Task ForceGOCA – Represents State on Task Force OCPR – Responsible for planning and OCPR – Responsible for planning and

implementation, staffs other committeesimplementation, staffs other committees LDWF – Provides logistical support and LDWF – Provides logistical support and

technical input during planning phasetechnical input during planning phase DEQ – Water Quality CertificationDEQ – Water Quality Certification DOA – State Lands OfficeDOA – State Lands Office

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Phase 0

Project DevelopmentAnd Selection for

Phase 1

Phase 1

Engineering and Design

1 year 20 years2-3 years

Task ForceTask ForceAuthorization forAuthorization for Engineering & Engineering &

DesignDesign

Task ForceTask ForceAuthorizationAuthorization

for Constructionfor Construction

Phase 2

Construction and OM&M

Regional Planning Regional Planning Teams (RPT) meet to Teams (RPT) meet to

identify nomineesidentify nominees

OCPR -Engaged in committees-Local sponsor for all projects

LDWF-Logistics support for WVA field trips -Landowner of some projects

CWPPRA Process Phase 0

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Accept proposals in each of the nine Accept proposals in each of the nine hydrologic basins:hydrologic basins: Calcasieu/SabineCalcasieu/Sabine MermentauMermentau Teche/VermilionTeche/Vermilion AtchafalayaAtchafalaya TerrebonneTerrebonne

This process commonly results in 60-70 This process commonly results in 60-70 proposals coast-wideproposals coast-wide

Phase 0Phase 0January 25-27 Abbeville, Morgan City, New January 25-27 Abbeville, Morgan City, New

OrleansOrleans

BaratariaBarataria Mississippi RiverMississippi River Breton SoundBreton Sound PontchartrainPontchartrain

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Phase 0 cont.February 22 Baton Rouge

Coast-Wide Voting meetingCoast-Wide Voting meeting, 20 nominee , 20 nominee projects are selected.projects are selected. Five federal agencies, the state, and the Five federal agencies, the state, and the

parishes are eligible to voteparishes are eligible to vote Two nominee projects in each basin are Two nominee projects in each basin are selected, except for Terrebonne, Barataria, selected, except for Terrebonne, Barataria,

and Pontchartrain (three nominee projects are and Pontchartrain (three nominee projects are selected), and 1 in Atchafalayaselected), and 1 in Atchafalaya

Input solicited from CPRA, natural resource Input solicited from CPRA, natural resource agencies, parishes and stakeholdersagencies, parishes and stakeholders

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Phase 0 cont.Phase 0 cont.April 19 New OrleansApril 19 New Orleans

Technical Committee meeting Technical Committee meeting - ten - ten candidate projects selected for further candidate projects selected for further evaluationevaluation No geographic requirementsNo geographic requirements Input solicited from CPRA, natural resource Input solicited from CPRA, natural resource

agencies, parishes and stakeholdersagencies, parishes and stakeholders Environmental and engineering evaluation Environmental and engineering evaluation

continues through the summercontinues through the summer

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Phase 0 cont.November 30 Baton RougeNovember 30 Baton Rouge

Technical Committee meeting - Technical Committee meeting - 4 4 projects recommended for Phase 1projects recommended for Phase 1 Input solicited from CPRA, natural Input solicited from CPRA, natural

resource agencies, parishes and resource agencies, parishes and stakeholdersstakeholders

Task Force Meeting (January 2012)- four Task Force Meeting (January 2012)- four projects for Phase 1 E&Dprojects for Phase 1 E&D

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Phase 0

Project DevelopmentAnd Selection for

Phase 1

Phase 1

Engineering and Design

1 year 20 years2-3 years

Task ForceTask ForceAuthorization forAuthorization for

Engineering & DesignEngineering & Design

Task ForceTask ForceAuthorizationAuthorization

for Constructionfor Construction

Phase 2Phase 2

Construction and OM&M

Regional Planning Teams Regional Planning Teams (RPT) meet to identify (RPT) meet to identify

nomineesnominees

CWPPRA Process Phase 1

OCPR -Provides E&D on some projects-Acts as E&D contract manager

LDOA - State Lands Office-Issues Grant of Particular Use and Letter of No Objection

LDEQ -Issues WQC

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Phase 1Phase 1 E&DE&D Land rightsLand rights ModelingModeling Geotechnical investigationsGeotechnical investigations Oyster lease acquisitionOyster lease acquisition NEPA compliance NEPA compliance Ecological reviewEcological review

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Phase 1 cont.

Process commonly lasts two to five yearsProcess commonly lasts two to five years

Projects request Phase 2 approval at the Projects request Phase 2 approval at the winter Task Force meetingwinter Task Force meeting

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Phase 0

Project DevelopmentAnd Selection for

Phase 1

Phase 1

Engineering and Design

1 year 20 years2-3 years

Task ForceTask ForceAuthorization forAuthorization for

Engineering & DesignEngineering & Design

Task ForceTask ForceAuthorizationAuthorization

for Constructionfor Construction

Phase 2Phase 2

Construction and OM&M

Regional Planning Teams Regional Planning Teams (RPT) meet to identify (RPT) meet to identify

nomineesnominees

CWPPRA Process Phase 2

OCPR -Acts as OM&M manager for all projects

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Phase 2Phase 2

ConstructionConstruction

20 years of operations, maintenance, and 20 years of operations, maintenance, and monitoring (OM&M)monitoring (OM&M)

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Future of CWPPRAFuture of CWPPRA

Increasing maintenance burdenIncreasing maintenance burden

Program lifeProgram life

Project lifeProject life

Bren Haase, OCPRBren Haase, OCPRbren.haase@la.gov

225-342-1475225-342-1475

http://lacoast.gov/new/Default.aspx

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