The Breaux Act

In a situation that demands action and innovation, the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA), commonly known as the Breaux Act, has served as a catalyst for breaking new ground.  The Breaux Act includes several important features:  it stipulates that a coalition of five federal agencies work with the state to address the problem, it recognized that a coast-wide approach is required, and it provides approximately $50 million each year for coastal projects.  Together, these measures are designed to support the development of a comprehensive coastal restoration program. 

The federal government and the state of Louisiana have a plan in place to cost-share on restoration project construction and maintenance.  Restoration project implementation is based on evaluation of the project by the Coastal Restoration and Coastal Engineering Divisions of the DNR.  Once a project is constructed, the Breaux Act Task Force works with the DNR to ensure project quality. 

The Coast 2050 planning initiative is an effort that began with the Breaux Act Task Force.  It was designed to build on prior restoration plans while providing a more strategic, ecosystem-wide approach.  With the Coast 2050 strategies in hand, the next step is to move toward implementation.  The Army Corps of Engineers and the state have developed the Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA) Ecosystem Restoration Plan, which will provide the scientific and technical analyses needed to more fully describe the Coast 2050 strategies.

Louisiana’s Vanishing Wetlands