Construction on six major coastal restoration and protection projects in Southwest Louisiana totalling $112 million should begin within the next 18 months, state coastal officials said Wednesday.
Members of the state Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority board met at the Lake Charles Civic Center to discuss progress on costal protection measures in Cameron, Calcasieu and Vermilion parishes. Pat Landry, CPRA regional operations manager for Southwest Louisiana, spoke of 12 projects, most of them in Cameron Parish. They include shoreline protection in Grand Lake, marsh creation in Oyster Bayou and Grand Bayou, and building three miles of breakwater structure along the shoreline at Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge.
Board chairman Johnny Bradberry spoke of the need to get bids secured and construction started ahead of the scheduled dates. Bradberry also serves as the governor’s executive assistant for coastal activities.
Laurie Cormier, assistant planner and coastal zone manager for the Calcasieu Police Jury, said the scheduled projects will benefit Southwest Louisiana’s coastline greatly.
“This is the result of many years of work by a lot of different people,” she said. “Next, it’s going to be boots on the ground.”
Nedra Davis, Chenier Plain Authority executive director, gave an overview of the Chenier Plain strategic plan, which outlines short- and long-term goals through 2020. One of the long-term goals, she said, is getting voters to approve a dedicated millage for the three coastal parishes in Southwest Louisiana. Currently, the authority has received $464,000. That amount is made up of $250,000 in state capital outlay funding allocated in 2013; contributions from individuals and organizations; and $50,000 each from Cameron, Calcasieu and Vermilion parishes.
Davis said the proposed millage could be either 3 mills or 5 mills. The authority is accepting public comment on the proposed millages before taking action at its Sept. 20 meeting to put the item on the April 29 ballot.
To request a presentation of the strategic plan, email nedra.davis@cpcrpa.org.
Board members also heard about the Southwest Coastal Louisiana Feasibility Study. The Army Corps of Engineers recently issued the final report needed to send the study to Congress for funding consideration.
It calls for $3.3 billion in coastal restoration and protection projects for Cameron, Calcasieu and Vermilion. Projects range from marsh restoration and shoreline protection, to chenier reforestation.
“It would protect some 15,000 acres of wetlands, if funded,” Cormier said.
The study includes a voluntary program that would allow eligible residents to elevate their home or business and avoid damage from potential floods.
Work began on the study in 2009. While Bradberry was pleased with the recent progress, he said more work remains.
“Seven years is too long,” he said of the period when the study began. “That’s why it’s very important that we talk to our delegation. Certainly now is not the time to sit back and rest on our laurels.”
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