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Coastal authority outlines $1.8 billion draft annual plan; construction accounts for most spending
Summary
The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority told Senate Finance staff its FY26 draft annual plan lists roughly $1.8 billion in projects, with about 80% of that amount tied to construction. Members asked for additional breakdowns and for a schedule of active projects and costs.
The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority presented its draft FY26 annual plan to Senate Fiscal Services, laying out approximately $1.8 billion in projected expenditures across planning, design and construction activities.
Carrie Cuveon of Senate Fiscal Services summarized the plan and the board’s prioritization. The draft plan lists 133 active projects; Fiscal Services noted 73 projects are in construction, 53 are in engineering and design and seven are in planning. The agency’s documents show construction will account for roughly 80 percent of projected FY26 spending.
CPRA’s presentation highlighted multiple federal funding streams that finance restoration and monitoring work, including CWPPRA, NRDA, GOMESA and other federal programs. The agency’s staff also called out operations and monitoring, adaptive management and maintenance costs for completed projects.
CPRA staff said the annual plan’s dollar total is up from earlier years and that the construction share of spending has increased compared with a decade ago, when a larger share of budget went to planning and design. Committee staff emphasized the need to track project schedules and contractor performance because large construction commitments will consume much of next year’s cash flow.
Senators and staff asked for a simple list of active projects and their FY26 budgeted amounts; CPRA agreed to provide a breakdown of the $68 million in a specified program and additional detail on major project costs. Committee staff also reminded members that some surplus recommendations under consideration at the executive level could be allocated to CPRA-related capital priorities.
Why it matters: CPRA directs major coastal work — restoration, flood risk reduction, operations and monitoring. The draft annual plan is the primary document that moves projects from planning to construction. Large construction allocations this year mean CPRA will obligate substantial federal and dedicated funds that require monitoring and oversight.
