Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act
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Authorized by Congress in 1990, the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA) or "Breaux Act" provides Louisiana with approximately $40 million annually to assist in the long-term conservation of Louisiana's coastal wetlands. The Louisiana Coastal Wetlands Program established a Federal Task Force consisting of five federal agencies and the State of Louisiana.
The Breaux Act funds preservation and restoration programs selected by the CWPPRA Task Force from a project priority list from nine categories of projects: fresh water introduction and diversions, sediment diversions, marsh management, hydrologic restoration, beneficial use of dredged material, shoreline protection, barrier island restoration, vegetative planting, and sediment and nutrient trapping.
The Task Force is comprised of:
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Department of Defense - United States Army Corps of Engineers
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Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service
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Department of Commerce – National Marine Fisheries Service NMFS
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Department of Interior – United States Fish and Wildlife Service USFWS
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Environmental Protection Agency
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State of Louisiana Office of the Governor
Funding for the Breaux Act comes from a tax on small-engine fuel. Coastal states (including the Great Lakes states) and trust territories are eligible to apply for National Coastal Wetlands Conservation grants; however most of the act's provisions and funding have been focused on Louisiana's coastal wetlands. States are required to match those funds provided as a result of National Coastal Wetlands Conservation grants. The state's contribution drops to 25 percent if the state has a trust fund for acquisition of coastal wetlands, natural areas, and open spaces.
The Breaux Act's programs are cooperative, cost-shared undertakings by federal and state governments and private citizens and organizations to restore and protect coastal wetlands in Louisiana and other coastal states.
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