CPRA reports new construction starts, grant award and public-comment schedule in February implementation update

Glenn Ladev, executive director of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, told the board Wednesday that the agency now has 109 active projects, with 37 in construction and 68 in engineering and design.

Ledev highlighted recent construction starts and funding updates that affect multiple basins across coastal Louisiana. He said the LaBranche Shoreline Protection Project in St. Charles Parish began work in January and involves about 13,000 linear feet of rock dike as part of a roughly $25 million regional shoreline protection effort. He also said the Grand Bayou Ridge and Marsh Creation Restoration Project in Plaquemines Parish began construction Jan. 12 with Wicks Marine as contractor and an estimated cost of about $62.4 million for roughly 3,356 acres of marsh creation and about 10,657 linear feet of forested ridge.

Why this matters: the work represents near-term construction activity in multiple basins and follows CPRA planning and public engagement steps that will shape the agency's FY26 requests and the April presentation of the annual plan to the board.

Ladev gave several other construction updates. He described work on the Terrebonne HNC Bird Island rock dike with dredging to follow later in the year; a multi‑phase Bayou Lafourche pumping-capacity improvement led by the Bayou Lafourche Freshwater District to add roughly 1,500 cubic feet per second capacity (phase 2 pumping work and subsequent dredging), and the Bayou Pigeon boat-launch project in Iberville Parish — a recreation-access project funded with state dollars that will add seven boat slips and parking and is expected to complete this summer. He also noted parish-led shoreline protection near the Lake Pontchartrain rim funded with local bond proceeds.

On grants and outreach, Ladev said CPRA received a $5 million award from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s America the Beautiful grant slate to support construction and engineering for Chandeleur Island restoration. He highlighted a Super Bowl–related living-shoreline volunteer build in Lafourche Parish conducted with NFL Green and partner agencies and a recent outreach event that brought 400–500 high school students to the LSU Center for River Studies to learn coastal-career opportunities.

Ladev also summarized the public engagement the agency has conducted for the draft annual plan: three in‑person meetings (Lake Charles, Houma and Jefferson), one virtual meeting, about 200 attendees across those meetings, and 43 written comments received as of his update. He said the public comment period runs through March 22; the board is scheduled to receive the draft annual plan for action on April 16, 2025, after which CPRA would present to the legislature.

Ladev closed by reminding attendees that the Atchafalaya master-plan solicitation period ends Feb. 28 and by announcing Coastal Day at the Legislature on May 12 and the State of the Coast conference in May 2025.

The presentation included named industry and local partners: Wicks Marine and Weeks Marine as contractors, Stantec and Delta Coast Consultants among engineering teams, Bayou Lafourche Freshwater District leading the pumping improvements, and parish governments leading local shoreline efforts.

Ending: Ladev invited questions; board members had none and the meeting proceeded to the next agenda item.