CPRA unveils draft FY2026 annual plan, seeks public comment; plans $1.8 billion in work with 80% for construction

The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority presented its draft fiscal year 2026 annual plan and an implementation update, noting the agenda includes active project counts, construction highlights and a schedule for public input.

CPRA Executive Director Glenn Ladey told the board the draft plan projects about $1.8 billion in total revenues for FY2026 and that the agency expects roughly 80% of that amount to be programmed for construction, with smaller shares for planning, engineering and operations.

The draft plan lays out a multi‑month schedule: board presentation of the draft at the January meeting, four public meetings (Lake Charles, Houma, Jefferson Parish and a virtual session), a public comment period that ends March 20, and a planned final annual plan for the board on April 16. “This is really a public process,” Ladey said, urging written and in‑person feedback.

The implementation update summarized active projects and recent changes. CPRA reported about 106 active projects across the coast, including 38 in construction, 64 in engineering and design and four in planning. Ladey highlighted projects recently completed or kicked off, including Long Point marsh creation, the ManShack land bridge shoreline protection (completed in November 2024), the Bayou Pigeon boat launch (construction began in January) and the Bayou La Lucha ridge restoration and marsh creation project (under construction).

Ladey also highlighted two major projects featured in the annual plan: the St. Mary Parish Lakeside Flood Protection Program, now entering engineering and design and planned to provide lakeside flood risk reduction for Morgan City; and Bayoucane Marsh Creation, which contains both CWPPRA components and an expanded state mitigation component tied to river reintroduction work at Maurepas Swamp. He said the Bayoucane work is moving to final design with a bid advertisement scheduled for summer and an estimated cost “right over $31,000,000.”

The presentation set out program‑level priorities: a continued push to move more dollars to construction (CPRA projects were shown at roughly 80% construction in FY26, up from 79% reported previously), an emphasis on large regional programs (Southwest Coastal, Calcasieu‑Sabine, Morganza to the Gulf and the Breton/Barataria land‑bridge efforts) and partnerships with parishes, levee districts and federal agencies.

Ladey reviewed outreach and scheduling for the plan: in‑person meetings beginning Jan. 28 and continuing through mid‑February, public comment methods (email, online, mail, in person), and an interactive annual‑plan website. He reminded the board that the public comment period will close March 20 so staff can prepare a final plan for the April board meeting.

Board members asked staff for clarifications on categories of active projects, the “other” classification in active project tallies, local requests such as dredging inquiries, and funding swaps to address storm and drainage needs that arose after Hurricane Francine. Ladey said staff will provide follow‑up details in February and in the April packet.

The board was also briefed on several near‑term events in which CPRA will participate — outreach days, an industry education event for high school students and the annual Washington, D.C., congressional fly‑in planned for March 20–21 — and on partnerships with the Coastal Technical Assistance Center and regional outreach offices.

The draft plan and interactive map are available on CPRA’s annual plan website; the board encouraged stakeholders to review the draft and submit comments during the public comment window that ends March 20.

Looking ahead, Ladey said staff will incorporate feedback into a final FY2026 annual plan that the board will consider on April 16 and, if approved, transmit to the state legislature for committee review starting April 21.

Ending: Board members thanked staff for the presentation and urged interested parties to use the available public‑comment channels. CPRA staff said supplemental details requested by board members would be provided in the February meeting packet and in the final April plan.