Posted on January 22, 2019
The Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority released its draft 2020 Annual Plan this week, detailing spending on more than $783 million in projects.
The reports includes dozens of projects headed for construction and financing in Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes.
The plan includes project money for fiscal years 2020 through 2022. According to the draft, CPRA would spend $738 million on projects in 2021 and $938 million in 2022.
The draft plan will be open for public comments through March 9. CPRA will hold three public hearings, including one at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center, 343 Civic Center Blvd., Jan. 31. An open house will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by a presentation at 6 p.m. and public comments at 7 p.m.
Some of the largest local projects include money for the Morganza-to-the-Gulf hurricane protection system, various pump stations in Terrebonne and Lafourche, and barrier island restoration.
The Morganza project is scheduled to receive more than $11.5 million through 2020.
“We applaud the dedication of funds for the western side of Reach L of the Morganza-to-the-Gulf project,” Morganza Action Coalition President Jay Walker said in a statement Wednesday. “We appreciate CPRA’s continued support to protect this invaluable region we call home.”
The South Lafourche Levee District was awarded $6 million for Reach L, a segment of the 98-mile levee system.
The North Lafourche Levee District was awarded several million dollars for three projects through 2022 from state Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act revenue-sharing money.
Combined with other state money, district will have received more than $14 million for these projects in three years.
“With this $14 million in construction funding proposed in the FY 2020 Draft Annual Plan, the North Lafourche Levee District will move three significant levee projects through construction to completion, strengthening flood protection for residents and businesses throughout North Lafourche,” district Executive Director Dwayne Bourgeois said.
“This significant funding proposed for our projects in the Draft Annual Plan demonstrates that the investment our community is making in levee protection is not only critical to North Lafourche but to the state of Louisiana as well,” Bourgeois said. “Our community is worth protecting.”
Large island and marsh restoration projects listed in the plan include: $26.5 million for Caminada Headlands Back Barrier marsh creation, $10.5 million for Queen Bess Island restoration and $42.95 million for Terrebonne Basin ridge and marsh creation along Bayou Terrebonne.
“Through the projects we aim to get in construction in FY20 we hope to have a positive impact on more than 8,600 acres of marsh and more than 162 miles of levee. We are also going to be advancing a series of projects in engineering and design in FY20 that will offer benefits to approximately 117,000 acres of marsh and more than 18 miles of levee when finally completed,” said Bren Haase, CPRA deputy executive director.
The draft 2020 Annual Plan is available online at http://coastal.la.gov/our-plan/annual-plan.
Source: houmatoday.com
