Office of Coastal Management

Louisiana’s coastal restoration progress marked with dedication of six projects

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Louisiana’s Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act celebrated the progress of six coastal restoration projects in Terrebonne and St. Mary parishes on Oct. 26, at the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium in Cocodrie.

CWPPRA, also known as the Breaux Act, is a collaborative effort to protect, preserve and restore Louisiana’s coastal wetlands.  Since 1990, CWPPRA has completed or initiated 143 restoration projects in coastal Louisiana.  Each year projects in various stages are celebrated through a dedication ceremony where local, state and federal leaders join the public to highlight CWPPRA’s progress, and discuss Louisiana’s coastal restoration efforts. 

The six projects celebrated were:

“We are delighted that our state and federal partners are here to mark this occasion,” said Leslie Suazo, Terrebonne Parish’s Director of Coastal Restoration and Preservation.

“The ceremony here at LUMCON is an important milestone for our restoration efforts here in Terrebonne Parish,” said Suazo, who has been active in Louisiana’s coastal restoration efforts for more than seven years.

 “The Oyster Lease Acquisition Program recently implemented by the state has cleared the way for two of the projects being dedicated today,” she said. “We’re also excited about the completion of two barrier island projects that our parish really depends on as a first line of defense against storms … and they’re great fishing spots!”

The dedication also included boat tours of the New Cut, West Lake Boudreaux and Raccoon Island projects, along with a guided marsh tour of the wetlands near LUMCON. 

Guest speakers and other invited guests also participated in helicopter and seaplane tours of nearby projects.

For additional information on Breaux Act projects, visit www.LaCoast.gov.

Editors: For more information, contact the DNR Public Information Office at 225-342-8955.

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