CPRA September Newsletter

Posted on September 22, 2026

CPRA held its September Board Meeting on Wednesday, September 16 at the Louisiana State Capitol, where Executive Director Michael Hare provided Chairman Gordon “Gordy” Dove and the Board with updates on ongoing coastal projects around the coast, such as

Other presentations included updates from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), a Bird Foot Delta Hydrologic Restoration project update, and a Coastwide Reference Monitoring System (CRMS)

2029 Coastal Master Plan Public Solicitation #1 Summary Now Available

CPRA’s Master Plan Team is excited to share a summary of Public Solicitation #1 for the 2029 Coastal Master Plan. Submissions took place between July 18 and October 26, 2025.

During the period, CPRA received over 200 submissions, spanning the entire coast and all project types. The information is now available on the 2029 Coastal Master Plan: New Project Development website.

CPRA is accepting proposals for the FY 2027 Parish Matching Program through December 11, 2026.

This year, up to $5 million in GOMESA funding is available to provide matching funds for parish-led projects that address coastal restoration and resilience needs.

Since 2024, the program has supported 18 projects, awarding nearly $18 million and matching almost $50 million in parish funding.

CPRA’s Parish Matching Program provides essential supplemental funding to help parishes advance important coastal projects across South Louisiana.

CPRA September Newsletter

What’s Happening Around the Coast 🌊🌱

This month’s issue highlights various CPRA initiatives and projects with significant updates around the coast. Explore upcoming events and volunteer opportunities as we work together to safeguard and enhance our coastal landscape!

September Board Meeting Recap

Other presentations included updates from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), a Bird Foot Delta Hydrologic Restoration project update, and a Coastwide Reference Monitoring System (CRMS) presentation.

Watch the September Board Meeting Here

View the September Implementation Update Here

2029 Coastal Master Plan Public Solicitation #1 Summary Now Available

CPRA’s Master Plan Team is excited to share a summary of Public Solicitation #1 for the 2029 Coastal Master Plan. Submissions took place between July 18 and October 26, 2025.

For questions or comments, please contact masterplan@la.gov.

CPRA Opens Request for Proposals for FY 2027 Parish Matching Program

CPRA is accepting proposals for the FY 2027 Parish Matching Program through December 11, 2026.

This year, up to $5 million in GOMESA funding is available to provide matching funds for parish-led projects that address coastal restoration and resilience needs.

Since 2024, the program has supported 18 projects, awarding nearly $18 million and matching almost $50 million in parish funding.

CPRA’s Parish Matching Program provides essential supplemental funding to help parishes advance important coastal projects across South Louisiana.

View the Parish Matching RFP

Queen Bess Island Restoration Project Receives ASBPA National Best Restored Shore Award

CPRA announced that the Queen Bess Island Restoration Project has been selected as a 2026 Best Restored Shore by the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA), recognizing the project’s success in restoring critical coastal habitat and benefiting natural resources impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

ASBPA selected five projects nationwide for its 2026 Best Restored Shore Award, which recognizes outstanding natural infrastructure restoration projects that restore natural resources, enhance habitat, increase shoreline resilience, and provide long-term benefits to coastal communities.

Read the full release

Learn more about the ASBPA here.

Learn more about the Queen Bess Project here.

CPRA Coastal Louisiana Nature and Wildlife Event

Discover coastal Louisiana nature and wildlife on Sunday, October 3, 2026 from 1:00 until 4:00 p.m. at the LSU Center for River Studies in Baton Rouge!

This free, family-friendly event ims to connect organizations such as your own with the local community to share knowledge about the rich ecosystems of coastal Louisiana and the work done to preserve them for future generations.

Lagniappe Beignets will be on site with delicious beignets available for purchase throughout the event! River Model presentations will also be provided periodically.

If you or your organization would like to participate as an exhibitor in the event, please contact coastal@la.gov.

CPRA’s Todd Baker Honored with Coastal Stewardship Award

The Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL) held their annual Coastal Stewardship Awards on Thursday, September 17 and our very own Todd Baker was honored as one of their Coastal Stewards!

Todd Baker is project manager at CPRA who is leading the Chandeleur Islands restoration. His nomination stated that “Todd’s years of work with LDWF and CPRA shine through and through. From work on project development and planning to species conservation, he deserves to be recognized. In the field, he works tireless long hours to collect data for species that will allow us to seek funding for restoration projects across the state.”

For nearly three decades, the Coastal Stewardship Awards have recognized the people and organizations whose vision, dedication and leadership are helping shape the future of Louisiana’s coast. From restoring wetlands and advancing coastal science to inspiring volunteers and strengthening communities, these honorees represent the very best of coastal stewardship.

Congratulations, Todd, on this well-deserved honor!

Photo courtesy of the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana

CPRA’s Cynthia “Cindy Lou” Arnold Retires After 23 Years of Service

Please join us in congratulating Cynthia “Cindy Lou” Arnold on her retirement after 23 years of service with CPRA. Cindy served as an Administrative Program Specialist in CPRA’s New Orleans Regional Office.

When asked what she enjoyed most about her time at CPRA, Cindy said it was everyone working together toward the common goal of saving Louisiana’s coast. While she is looking forward to traveling and finally tackling some of the projects around her house, she says she will miss the people she worked with most of all.

Congratulations on your retirement, Cindy! Thank you for 23 years of dedication and service to CPRA and Louisiana’s coast. We wish you all the best in this exciting new chapter!

Save the Date! CPRA Hosting Fourth Annual Community Coastal Day

CPRA is thrilled to be bringing Community Coastal Day for a fourth year in a row! This annual event will be held on Sunday, November 8 from 1 – 4 p.m. at the LSU Center for River Studies.

This event is all about celebrating the incredible organizations working tirelessly to protect and restore Louisiana’s coast for future generations. It’s an opportunity for these organization to share their missions, connect with the public, and showcase the great work they do to further protect Louisiana’s coast.

If you or your organization would like to participate as an exhibitor at Community Coastal Day, please contact coastal@la.gov.

Save the Date: Coastal Connect to be held on November 19!

The Coastal Technical Assistance Center (CTAC) is excited to announce that the next Coastal Connect will be held in the Bayou Region on November 19th at the Coastal Center at Nicholls State University.

This event brings businesses, government agencies, and prime contractors together for matchmaking and networking to turn conversations into real contracting opportunities. More information and registration details will be available soon.

CRCL Leeville Living Shoreline Installation

Join CRCL in Leeville to complete their seventh recycled oyster reef! Since launching the program in 2014, CRCL has recycled over 17 million pounds of oyster shells. They will be moving bags of oyster shells from land to boats via a line of volunteers.

Bags of oyster shells weigh about 30 pounds; please be mindful of this when signing up to volunteer. They will also be planting marsh grasses behind the reef. Volunteers will take a short boat ride around the boat launch to the project site to install the bags of oyster shells and marsh grasses. Volunteers are invited but not required to get into the water to construct the reef. This project is in south Lafourche Parish.

Installations will occur each day Thursday, October 1 through Saturday October 3 and Thursday, October 8 through Saturday, October 10.

View event calendar to sign up

Southwest Louisiana Coastal Summit – October 27, 2026

Brought to you by the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana—host of the State of the Coast conference— this one-day event will convene hundreds of business leaders, scientists, engineers, public officials and others to focus on the unique challenges and opportunities facing southwest Louisiana’s coast.

The 2026 event will feature eight program topics ranging from “Chenier Plain: Hydrology, Landscape and Marsh Management” to “Culture, Community and Connection to the Land.”

The agenda and registration are both now available for the event.

Agenda

Registration

More information

State of the Coast – May 11 – 13, 2027

The State of the Coast (SOC) conference is the largest statewide conference of its kind, providing an interdisciplinary forum to exchange timely and relevant information on the dynamic conditions of Louisiana’s coastal communities, environment and economy.

The Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL) produces this forum, the need for which grows with every acre of land lost to the Gulf, along with CPRA and the Water Institute.

Proposal and abstracts for sessions, panel discussions, workshops, presentations and posters is open now through September 28.

Call for Proposals

Additional Information

CPRA Construction Updates

Project Name	Project Type	Parish	Status
Grand Isle Shoreline	Shoreline Protection	Jefferson	The contractor (TKTMJ, INC.) mobilized on 8-17 and started construction of the breakwaters.
UBBRR – Des Allemands Floodgate	Hurricane Protection	Lafourche, St. Charles	The Access Rd. Bid Opening was held on 8/5/26. Sealevel was the lowest bidder at $578K (the Engineer’s Estimate was approx. $875k).
Calcasieu-Sabine Large Scale Marsh and Hydrologic Restoration	Marsh Creation	Cameron	A mobilization started on 7/14/26 with BU area containment dikes and on 7/30/26 with excavation on the levee at the Grand Bayou Central site.
River Reintroduction into Maurepas Swamp	Marsh Creation	Ascension, St. James, St. John the Baptist	Design submitted to CN using the 0.5% grade basis, with supporting justification, allowing design progress. CN review comments expected 10/2/26.
West Belle Headland Repair	Barrier Island/Headland Restoration	Terrebonne	Notice to Proceed issues/acknowledged 8/8/26.
Cheniere au Tigre SP Gap Closure	Shoreline Protection	Vermilion	Notice to Proceed acknowledged/executed 8/6/26.

CPRA Engineering & Design Updates

Project Name	Project Type	Parish	Status
Raccoon Island Restoration	Barrier Island Restoration	Terrebonne	LA TIG is currently reviewing the preliminary final RP/EA, MAM Plans, FONSI, and NOA (TIG).
A-West Levee Improvement	Hurricane Protection	Lafourche	This project is pending Section 408 permit review.
State Wildlife Refuge Marsh Creation	Shoreline Protection and Marsh Creation	Vermilion	Bids for construction will be advertised 9/3/26. CPRA anticipates opening bids in late September.