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CPRA reviews CWPPRA ("Quipra") program: history, selection process and recent approvals
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Summary
CPRA staff reviewed the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act program (commonly called CWPPRA or Quipra), its funding structure, selection process and recent approvals for engineering and construction-phase projects; board members raised parish representation and selection-process questions.
Neil (presenting) and Glenn Ladev outlined the state’s use of the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act program (CWPPRA, commonly referred to in the meeting as "Quipra") and summarized how the program feeds the state’s coastal project pipeline.
Ladev described the program’s origin, funding mechanics, and selection process: CWPPRA is funded from a share of excise revenues dedicated to coastal restoration; CPRA said Louisiana receives the largest state share and that the program’s cost-share arrangement historically has required about a 15 percent state match on projects after the state completed a wetlands plan. Ladev told the board that, over the last decade, the program typically supports about $70,000,000 in construction per year, enabling two to three construction starts annually and that program monitoring and CRMS (Coastal Reference Monitoring System) operations are major program outputs funded by CWPPRA.
CPRA staff summarized the basin-based nomination process: in-season project nominations are reviewed regionally and then narrowed to a short list (about 20), after which the federal and state partners vote to select 10 projects for further feasibility and design work. The board packet showed that since CWPPRA’s inception some 238 projects have moved through the program; not all proceed to construction because conditions, authorities and feasibility can change. Ladev and staff highlighted recent task-force approvals: a combined St. Bernard parish project moved to engineering, Grand Cheniere marsh creation and terracing entered engineering and design, and several projects (Port Fourchon Marsh Creation, North Delacro Marsh Creation and Terracing, Bay Rackersee Marsh Creation and Ridge Restoration) were authorized to move to construction following updated designs and funding commitments.
During discussion board members — including voices from Southwest and South Central parishes — urged stronger parish-level engagement in project nominations and expressed concern about perceived imbalances where federal agencies outnumber parish representatives in regional rankings and votes. CPRA staff acknowledged the concern and said state staff will continue working with parishes on master-plan support and technical assistance and that the CWPPRA program and Corps are open to modernizing selection criteria and processes where feasible.
Ladev closed by stressing the program’s monitoring role and its importance to the state coastal program, and by noting that the task force approved multiple projects in the most recent meeting and that regional nomination windows are currently under way.
