At their January board meeting, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) released the draft of the Annual Plan for Fiscal Year 2026. Each year, the CPRA produces the Annual Plan to provide updates on the coastal projects set out in the Coastal Master Plan, which serves as the state’s guiding document for coastal restoration activities – outlining the design, implementation, and operation of restoration projects that represent billions of dollars of investment. 

Restore the Mississippi River Delta has released the following statement about the Annual Plan: 

"While we are still reviewing the details of this year’s Annual Plan, we are pleased to see the strong level of planned investment and continued emphasis on construction in CPRA’s proposed $1.8 billion plan. Louisiana’s coastal land loss crisis remains an existential threat to the communities, economies and ecosystems of Louisiana, and the state must meet this dire challenge with projects based on strong science that meet the magnitude of the problem. 

“We are particularly encouraged to see the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion funded for continued construction in this spending plan. After a year of uncertainty and delay, it is crucially important to see the state make this public commitment to advance this foundational project, which has been at the heart of every Coastal Master Plan since 2007. We look forward to reviewing the details of this plan more carefully and tracking CPRA’s progress as the dollars shown are translated into actual construction on Coastal Master Plan projects —only then will coastal communities receive the urgently needed benefits that these projects can provide.” 

The meetings will be an opportunity for communities across the coast to provide feedback and a court reporter will be present to record official public comment. 

Lake Charles: January 28, 5:30 PM
Second Floor Meeting Rooms D & E
4310 Ryan Street
Lake Charles, LA 70602

Houma: January 30, 5:30 PM
Terrebonne Civic Center
346 Civic Center Blvd.
Houma, LA 70360

Jefferson: February 11, 5:30 PM
Joseph S. Yenni Building
Second Floor Council Chambers
1221 Elmwood Park Blvd.
Jefferson, LA 70123

Virtual: February 12, 1:30 PM
Link will be shared closer to the meeting date

If you cannot attend one of the public hearings, we invite you to submit a written comment on the 2026 Annual Plan. Not only is this a vital year in terms of restoration progress, but it is also an important year to be on the record in support of coastal restoration projects that so many concerned citizens and stakeholders have helped create. You can also look up specific projects near and relevant to you using the Interactive Annual Plan viewer.  If you have questions or would like help writing your comments; please email [email protected]. 

How to submit written comments:

• Email the CPRA at [email protected] OR 
• Mail comments to  
  Coastal Protection & Restoration Authority, Public Comments,  
  150 Terrace Avenue,  
  Baton Rouge, LA 70802 
• Letters must be mailed to arrive no later than March 22, 2025.