The Coastal Wetlands Planning Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA) Task Force invites the public to its 25th anniversary ceremony October 14, 2015, at Grand Isle State Park in Grand Isle, Louisiana. The ceremony will celebrate CWPPRA's continued commitment to coastal restoration. The event will begin at 10 am and conclude with a lunch provided by local sponsors. During the event, the public is invited to meet wetland engineers, scientists, and policy holders who have worked together to complete 101 Louisiana projects over the last 25 years.
CWPPRA has been the backbone of coastal restoration efforts in Louisiana for the last 25 years and will continue to play a very important role as Louisiana moves forward in constructing more and larger ecosystem restoration projects with federal partners in the future. The innovation and technology developed through the CWPPRA program and the lessons learned by establishing these vital projects is making it possible to design even larger projects so Louisiana can build upon the foundation laid over the past two decades.
The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) of Louisiana and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be leading a field trip to the Caminada Headlands Beach and Dune Restoration Increment II project site. The trip will leave from Grand Isle State Park via caravan to Elmer’s Island Rd. where ATVs will take participants to the project site. The trip will last approximately 1 ½-2 hours including travel time from the state park. Space is limited for the field trip. Please make field trip inquiries when you RSVP for the dedication ceremony.
The projects being highlighted are:
- Barataria Barrier Island Complex Project: Pelican Island and Pass La Mer to Chaland Pass Restoration (BA-38)
- Lake Hermitage Marsh Creation (BA-42)
- Bayou Dupont Ridge Creation and Marsh Restoration (BA-48)
- Grand Liard Marsh and Ridge Restoration (BA-68)
- Pass Chaland to Grand Bayou Pass Barrier Shoreline Restoration (Ba-35)
- Little Lake Shoreline Protection/Dedicated Dredging Near Round Lake (BA-37)
- Caminada Headlands Back Barrier Marsh Creation (BA-143)
CWPPRA was enacted in 1990 under former U.S. Senators John Breaux and J. Bennett Johnston. Since its inception, the federal Act has approved 204 restoration projects, benefiting over 97,401 acres of land. CWPPRA represents a collaborative effort, and is managed by a Task Force comprised of the State of Louisiana, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service.
The anniversary ceremony will be hosted at Grand Isle State Park, 108 Admiral Craik Drive Drive, Grand Isle, LA 70358. Join in the celebrations as the community celebrates the progress on CWPPRA projects in Louisiana. Please RSVP by September 30, 2015 to ncavalier@usgs.gov or by phone at (337) 266-8626. Lunch will be provided to all those who RSVP for the FREE event.
For more information on CWPPRA's restoration projects, or to download press photos, visit: www.LaCoast.gov
For media inquiries, contact CWPPRA Public Outreach Coordinator, Kelia Bingham at (337) 266-8623 or kbingham@usgs.gov.