CPRA reports 109 active projects, highlights LaBranche shoreline, Grand Bayou marsh creation and Bayou Lafourche pump upgrades

Glenn Lade, executive director of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, told the board on Feb. 19 that CPRA currently has 109 active projects across the coast, with 37 in construction and 68 in engineering and design.

Lade said construction began in January on the LaBranche Shoreline Protection Project in St. Charles Parish, funded with surplus dollars and budgeted at approximately $25,000,000, and on the Grand Bayou Ridge and Marsh Creation Restoration Project in Plaquemines Parish, led by Wicks Marine and estimated at $62,400,000. “We’re back up to 109 active projects,” Lade said during the implementation update.

Why it matters: CPRA’s active project portfolio and near-term advertising of construction bids indicate substantial ongoing work on shoreline protection, marsh creation and hurricane protection across Coastal Louisiana. Several of the listed projects are intended to protect populated corridors and working fisheries and to create or restore marsh that buffers storm surge.

Key project details and program updates

- LaBranche Shoreline Protection (St. Charles Parish): Lade said the project will include about 13,000 linear feet of rock dike, dredging of access channels, and rock replacement beginning next month; he gave an approximate overall budget of $25,000,000. The project was described as part of a regional shoreline protection effort near the I-10 corridor.

- Grand Bayou Ridge and Marsh Creation (Plaquemines Parish): Construction began Jan. 12, led by Wicks Marine; Lade said the project includes roughly 356 acres of marsh creation plus about 10,657 linear feet of forested ridges along the western bank, with an estimated cost of $62,400,000.

- Bayou Lafourche pumping improvements (Ascension Parish/Donaldsonville): Lade reported ongoing work to increase pumping capacity by 1,500 cubic feet per second (CFS) as part of a three‑phase program led by the Bayou Lafourche Freshwater District with technical and funding support from CPRA and DEQ. He said dredging to achieve full capacity remains a future phase.

- Bayou Pigeon boat launch (Atchafalaya/rec‑use): As part of the Atchafalaya Basin program, CPRA and local partners have begun work on a Bayou Pigeon boat launch that will provide seven new slips, improved parking and other access infrastructure; CPRA expects completion in summer 2025.

- Terrebonne Bird Island and other marsh‑building efforts: Lade described finishing work on rock dikes, more breakwaters, dredging and sand placement to complete bird islands and other habitat projects.

Grants, outreach and public process

Lade highlighted a $5,000,000 award from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s America the Beautiful grant to support Chandeleur Island restoration engineering and construction. He also described a Super Bowl‑related living‑shoreline volunteer build in Lafourche Parish and a recent high‑school career event at the LSU CPRA Center for River Studies.

Annual plan public comment and next steps

Lade said CPRA presented a draft annual plan and then held three in‑person public meetings and one virtual meeting (Lake Charles, Houma and Jefferson) with about 200 attendees; CPRA had received 43 written comments at the time of his remarks. He said CPRA would present a revised annual plan to the board on April 16 and then, if approved, would present to the legislature. Lade gave a public comment channel (email and online form) and a near‑term solicitation deadline for the Atchafalaya master plan’s project submittal period of Feb. 28.

Board response and questions

There were no substantive board objections recorded during Lade’s update and no motions specific to projects during the presentation.

Looking ahead: CPRA signaled multiple projects will advertise for construction bids in the coming months and that the agency will continue public engagement on the annual plan and Atchafalaya master plan.