1 Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act (CWPPRA) Update Bren Haase Louisiana Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration Presentation for the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority January 26, 2011 Lake Charles

2 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 NRCSNMFSUSFWS

3 CWPPRA Background Act passed – 1990 Funded through Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act Amendment (PL ) CWPPRA extended until 2019, under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 CWPPRA dedicates $70 – $80 million to wetland restoration projects in Louisiana annually

4 CWPPRA Track Record  $1 Billion in federal funds since 1991  146 active projects  88 projects completed – 110,000 acres benefited (172 mi 2 )  15 projects under/approved for construction  43 projects under development (E&D)

5 CWPPRA Project Distribution

6 CWPPRA Organizational Structure Citizen 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

7 State Agencies Engaged in CWPPRA GOCA – Represents State on Task Force GOCA – Represents State on Task Force OCPR – Responsible for planning and implementation, staffs other committees OCPR – Responsible for planning and implementation, staffs other committees LDWF – Provides logistical support and technical input during planning phase LDWF – Provides logistical support and technical input during planning phase DEQ – Water Quality Certification DEQ – Water Quality Certification DOA – State Lands Office DOA – State Lands Office

8 Phase 0 Project Development And Selection for Phase 1 Engineering and Design 1 year20 years2-3 years Task Force Authorization for Engineering & Design Engineering & Design Task Force Authorization for Construction Phase 2 Construction and OM&M Regional Planning Teams (RPT) meet to identify 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

9 Accept proposals in each of the nine hydrologic basins: Accept proposals in each of the nine hydrologic basins: Calcasieu/Sabine Calcasieu/Sabine Mermentau Mermentau Teche/Vermilion Teche/Vermilion Atchafalaya Atchafalaya Terrebonne Terrebonne This process commonly results in proposals coast-wide This process commonly results in proposals coast-wide Phase 0 January Abbeville, Morgan City, New Orleans Barataria Barataria Mississippi River Mississippi River Breton Sound Breton Sound Pontchartrain Pontchartrain

10 Phase 0 cont. February 22 Baton Rouge Coast-Wide Voting meeting, 20 nominee projects are selected. Coast-Wide Voting meeting, 20 nominee projects are selected. Five federal agencies, the state, and the parishes are eligible to vote Five federal agencies, the state, and the parishes are eligible to vote Two nominee projects in each basin are selected, except for Terrebonne, Barataria, and Pontchartrain (three nominee projects are selected), and 1 in Atchafalaya Two nominee projects in each basin are selected, except for Terrebonne, Barataria, and Pontchartrain (three nominee projects are selected), and 1 in Atchafalaya Input solicited from CPRA, natural resource agencies, parishes and stakeholders Input solicited from CPRA, natural resource agencies, parishes and stakeholders

11 Phase 0 cont. April 19 New Orleans Technical Committee meeting - ten candidate projects selected for further evaluation Technical Committee meeting - ten candidate projects selected for further evaluation No geographic requirements No geographic requirements Input solicited from CPRA, natural resource agencies, parishes and stakeholders Input solicited from CPRA, natural resource agencies, parishes and stakeholders Environmental and engineering evaluation continues through the summer Environmental and engineering evaluation continues through the summer

12 November 30 Baton Rouge Phase 0 cont. November 30 Baton Rouge Technical Committee meeting - 4 projects recommended for Phase 1 Technical Committee meeting - 4 projects recommended for Phase 1 Input solicited from CPRA, natural resource agencies, parishes and stakeholders Input solicited from CPRA, natural resource agencies, parishes and stakeholders Task Force Meeting (January 2012)- four projects for Phase 1 E&D Task Force Meeting (January 2012)- four projects for Phase 1 E&D

13 Phase 0 Project Development And Selection for Phase 1 Engineering and Design 1 year20 years2-3 years Task Force Authorization for Engineering & Design Engineering & Design Task Force Authorization for Construction Phase 2 Construction and OM&M Regional Planning Teams (RPT) meet to identify nominees 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

14 Phase 1 E&D E&D Land rights Land rights Modeling Modeling Geotechnical investigations Geotechnical investigations Oyster lease acquisition Oyster lease acquisition NEPA compliance NEPA compliance Ecological review Ecological review

15 Phase 1 cont. Process commonly lasts two to five years Process commonly lasts two to five years Projects request Phase 2 approval at the winter Task Force meeting Projects request Phase 2 approval at the winter Task Force meeting

16 Phase 0 Project Development And Selection for Phase 1 Engineering and Design 1 year20 years2-3 years Task Force Authorization for Engineering & Design Engineering & Design Task Force Authorization for Construction Phase 2 Construction and OM&M Regional Planning Teams (RPT) meet to identify nominees CWPPRA Process Phase 2 OCPR -Acts as OM&M manager for all projects

17 Phase 2 Construction Construction 20 years of operations, maintenance, and monitoring (OM&M) 20 years of operations, maintenance, and monitoring (OM&M)

18 Future of CWPPRA Increasing maintenance burden Increasing maintenance burden Program life Program life Project life Project life

Bren Haase, OCPR