Baton Rouge — The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority reported Wednesday that 101 coastal projects are active statewide and highlighted a $45,000,000 marsh-creation contract for the Bayou Caine area now out to bid and the near completion of Upper Barataria risk-reduction work in St. Charles Parish. The authority said the Bayou Caine work is designed to restore marsh and stabilize shoreline, while the Upper Barataria work consolidates and raises existing levees.

The updates came from Clay Parker, deputy director of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, during the CPRA Restoration Authority meeting at the state Capitol. Parker told the board, “We’re looking at a 101 active projects, 36 in construction with 62 in engineering and design and 3 in planning.”

The Bayou Caine Marsh Creation project was advertised on June 25, had a pre-bid conference reported as successful, and is scheduled for bid opening on July 29, CPRA staff said. CPRA described the contract as a $45,000,000 dredge-driven marsh creation project to restore 558 acres along roughly 6 miles of shoreline using dredged lake sediment placed into seven marsh creation cells.

CPRA reported the Sunset Leeville (Upper Barataria) risk-reduction work in St. Charles Parish was “substantially complete as of July 8.” The agency said final earthwork activities were finishing and that work established crown elevations throughout the system, with a target elevation of 8 feet. CPRA staff said the improvements tie into the St. Charles Parish West Bank protection levee between Davis Pond and Parity Canal and form part of the Upper Barataria system.

Parker also provided a parish-matching update for St. Tammany Parish: CPRA and the parish are funding a shoreline protection project around the Chifungka/Chafunka River Lighthouse. CPRA reported a first phase that includes a 425-foot bulkhead capped with riprap and a 310-foot pier and breakwater to conserve shoreline and restore lost pier infrastructure. CPRA said its contribution to that phase is $1,000,000 and the parish’s share is $833,000; the agency described the work as the first step in a multi‑phase restoration program that would include a future roughly 1,300‑foot breakwater.

CPRA staff reminded the public that the Chandelier Islands restoration plan is open for review and that comment closes the same day as the meeting. The agency also said it has been coordinating with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as the New Orleans District plans a change of command this month; staff showed photos of stakeholder meetings with incoming Colonel Otan and thanked outgoing Colonel Jones for his service.

In remarks introducing the agency’s new executive director, Gov. Jeff Landry appointee Mike Haire said the agency’s work is urgent and time-limited. “The only true enemy out there is time,” Haire told the board, adding he was honored by the appointment and pledged to strengthen CPRA’s partnerships with federal, state and local stakeholders.

Discussion: Board members asked no substantive questions during the implementation update, and CPRA staff offered contact information and social-media links for members of the public who want more detail about specific projects.

Background: CPRA staff said projects with construction or engineering stages number consistently month to month and that the projects briefed Wednesday are part of the agency’s active portfolio used to deliver coastal restoration and hurricane-protection work across Louisiana.

Next steps: CPRA said the Bayou Caine project would proceed through the advertised bidding schedule and that the public may track solicitation and award milestones on CPRA’s procurement pages. The Chifungka lighthouse work will continue in future phases if additional funding and permitting are secured.