2025 Year in Review
2025 was a year of incredible momentum for the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana. Together with our volunteers, partners and supporters, we planted trees, built reefs, empowered coastal leaders and celebrated the culture that makes Louisiana home. Every shell recycled, every cypress tree planted and every mile traveled was proof of what we can accomplish when we stand as One Coast, One Voice.
We kicked off the year in the mud, with dozens of volunteers rolling up their sleeves in the Central Wetlands and Maurepas Swamp to plant hundreds of bald cypress and tupelo trees. In February, as the Super Bowl spotlight shone on Louisiana, CRCL and our partners built a living shoreline in Leeville, a community on the front lines of coastal land loss. More than 170 volunteers joined with Force Blue, NFL Green to build a reef of recycled oyster shells and plant marsh grasses along the boat launch and fishing pier. This project created vital fish and wildlife habitat, improved water quality and provided a natural buffer against storms — a powerful step toward protecting a community that has lost 80% of its land. The Leeville Living Shoreline stands as a model of what’s possible when local resilience meets national collaboration.
For Valentine’s Day, volunteers deliver our Oyster Lovers Packages, connecting Louisiana’s love of seafood with support for coastal restoration. By March, we gathered hundreds of supporters for the seventh annual Shell-A-Bration at the Audubon Zoo, a lively night that raised funds for our Oyster Shell Recycling Program.
In May, CRCL’s year-long leadership programs celebrated nearly 50 graduates of the Coastal Leadership and Future Coastal Leaders programs. These participants gained hands-on experience with restoration projects, heard from experts in science, policy, and culture, and built the foundation for life-long coastal stewardship.
Spring and summer also saw nonstop action on the ground. From Violet to Lake Boudreaux, Pointe-au-Chien to Jean Lafitte, volunteers installed prepared oyster shells, planted marsh grasses, removed debris and nurtured seedlings that will be planted along our coast. By July, CRCL volunteers were hard at work at our St. Bernard Parish headquarters, caring for the cypress trees grown from pods collected during last fall’s seed drive and preparing them for future planting.
The fall brought more energy and celebration. Our Coastal Restoration Roadshow covered 285 miles in just two months, engaging residents across Cameron, Calcasieu and Vermilion parishes to lift up local restoration project ideas. In September, OysterNight, hosted by Chefs Brigade, highlighted the deep ties between our seafood traditions and restoration work, bringing together partners and the community for a night of coastal culture and impact.
All year long, CRCL programs grew stronger. The Oyster Shell Recycling Program surpassed 16 million pounds of shell recycled since 2014, and with our volunteers we will build our eighth reef this fall in Cocodrie. Our Native Plants Program expanded, with volunteers planting hundreds of trees — including CRCL’s one millionth tree and plant since 2000 — and caring for seedlings that will restore wetlands for decades to come. The inaugural CRCL Coastal Leadership Institute trained leaders across the coast, and the Future Coastal Leaders program expanded to a year-long program for students and exposed students to new opportunities and the chance to get their hands dirty .
2025 proved what we already knew: When we come together as One Coast, One Voice, we can restore and protect the wetlands that protect and benefit us all.
Looking Ahead: Join Us in 2026
As we celebrate the milestones of 2025, we are also looking ahead to what we have left to accomplish this year and to all that 2026 will bring. We invite you to get involved, because no matter what your interest is in the coast, CRCL has a way for you to give back.
Here’s how you give back:
Volunteer your time: Whether you are planting trees or preparing oyster shells, your hands-on efforts are invaluable in protecting our coast.
- Community reef build at Cocodrie: Roll up your sleeves and join us in building our next living shoreline reef — protecting coastal communities, creating wildlife habitat and recycling oyster shells for restoration.
- Grand Isle Planting: Help us restore barrier island habitat by joining our volunteer team for a large-scale dune grass planting on Grand Isle, protecting the community from storms.
Share our newsletter: Share our efforts with family and friends to engage more people in our work.
Attend an event: Join us for Shell-A-Bration, Coastal 101, or another CRCL event — connect, learn, and help protect Louisiana’s coast.
- CRCLectures Series: Our popular lecture series returns with engaging speakers who will explore the science, policies and cultures shaping Louisiana’s future.
- Coastal Stewardship Awards: Celebrate the coastal champions who go above and beyond to protect Louisiana’s coast. Join us on November 13 as we recognize their leadership and impact.
- Shell-A-Bration 2026: Mark your calendar for March 26 as we return to the Cajun Ballroom at Audubon Zoo for our biggest party of the year, raising support for the Oyster Shell Recycling Program.
Shop to support: Purchase a tree, grab an Oyster Lover Package, or shop our online store — every item helps restore and protect Louisiana’s coast.
- Give the Gift of a Tree: This holiday season, honor someone special by purchasing a tree in their name. Each gift supports our Native Plants Program and helps restore wetlands across the state.
- Oyster Lovers Packages: Back by popular demand! Support the coast while enjoying a trio of celebrations with our Oyster Lovers Packages — timed for the Super Bowl, Mardi Gras and Valentine’s Day.
- CRCL Online Store: Every purchase supports coastal restoration! From t-shirts to hats, your purchase helps protect Louisiana’s coast—one shell, one seed, and one sale at a time.
Donate to support our mission:
- $50 will plant a tree: Every tree helps stabilize wetlands, creating habitat for wildlife and slowing erosion.
- $100 provides supplies for volunteers: Keep our volunteers safe, hydrated and nourished.
- $250 recycles 1,000 pounds of oyster shell: Keep shells out of landfills while restoring our coast.
- $500 builds one foot of oyster reef: Help create living shorelines that protect against storm surge and provide habitat for new oysters and other marine life.
- $1,000 sponsors a Future Coastal Leader: Support the next generation of coastal advocates and stewards.
- $2,500 supports our advocacy work: Ensure coastal communities have a voice in critical decision-making processes.
- $5,000 helps fund community gatherings: Bring residents, local leaders and policymakers together to plan for a resilient future.
Whether you love volunteering, celebrating coastal culture or supporting through gifts and donations, CRCL has a place for you in 2026. Together, we are restoring Louisiana’s coast — one shell, one tree and one voice at a time.
CRCL Across the Coast
From Cameron to Violet, the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana united volunteers, students, and partners across the state to restore and protect our coast.
Other ways to give
Every gift to CRCL is an investment in our mission to unite people in action to achieve a thriving, sustainable Louisiana coast for all. Whether a one-time or monthly contribution, your tax-deductible donation to CRCL helps grow our work. Thank you for your support!
If you prefer to give a gift via check, simply make check out to CRCL and send to: Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, 25 Walnut Street, Suite 201, New Orleans, LA 70118-4881.
Donor Advised Fund
Donor-advised funds are the fastest-growing charitable giving vehicle because they are the easiest, and most tax-savvy way to give to charities. Consider growing your investment in our mission with a contribution from your donor-advised fund (DAF).
DAF Direct enables you to donate to CRCL directly from your DAF. If your DAF sponsoring organization does not participate in DAF Direct, please have them direct your gift to Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, 25 Walnut Street, Suite 201, New Orleans, LA 70118-4881.
Matching GIfts
Double your impact with your company’s matching gift program. Many companies offer a matching gift program to encourage employees to donate to organizations with missions that matter to them. Most of these programs match contributions dollar for dollar and can double, triple or even quadruple the impact of your gift.
Please reach out to your employer to inquire about matching gift opportunities to extend the impact of your gift. Email your matching gift form (which your employer will provide) to donations@crcl.org.
Stocks or Investments
Gifts of publicly traded securities that have appreciated in value allow you to avoid capital gains taxes, while also receiving a tax deduction for your gift.*
- Broker’s name and email
- Donor’s name and email
- Name of the stock
- Number of shares
- Date of the stock transfer
Our team will share instructions with your broker on how to transfer stock directly to the CRCL brokerage account. If you have any questions, please email donna.betzer@crcl.org.
*CRCL is a 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions are deductible as allowed by law. Please speak with your financial adviser about the deductibility of your gift.
Planned Giving
A planned gift to CRCL may help you manage your personal financial plan and extend your ability to help defend out coast for generations. Consider leaving a bequest in your will or establishing a charitable trust to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana. For information, call 504-655-7644.