While much attention has always focused on the “restoration” role of the state agency that Chip Kline headed ably for five years, the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority also spends a great deal of effort on protecting Louisiana’s coastline.
That comes to mind because of the significant expansion of levee building and funding Kline can point to as he steps down as head of CPRA.
Among those accomplishments are levee projects begun and completed, including funding the state’s share — with the support of Gov. John Bel Edwards and the Legislature — of the system that has protected greater New Orleans post-Katrina.
Other projects have commenced in both southeastern and southwestern Louisiana — all during a period of major hurricanes and the coronavirus pandemic.
”Chip has overseen some of the biggest coastal restoration projects in our state’s history despite the challenges of multiple natural disasters,” Edwards said in a statement. ”Few people are as knowledgeable about the needs of our coast as Chip is, but I am confident that current CPRA Executive Director Bren Haase with his extensive experience is ready to take on the role of chairman.”
CPRA and its 50-year coastal master plan are a science-based approach to addressing coastal issues. Louisianans across the political spectrum support those efforts, though there have been concerns over whether Edwards’ successor will maintain the same bipartisan approach given the politicization of climate change and related issues.
That’s always a concern during a change in administrations — Edwards cannot run for a third consecutive term — but we see strong levels of support for coastal protection and restoration today. The recent unanimous vote of the Legislature for the master plan helmed by Kline suggests that the key leaders know the importance of CPRA’s work.
Funding is always a challenge, and specific projects may be debated. Fortunately, settlement money related to the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010 has helped lawmakers address part of the long-term fiscal challenge. A significant portion of that money has funded large-scale restoration projects along the coast.
The BP settlement funds will run out in 2032, and the state is already seeking ways to replace them. While Kline has effectively maximized money from the infrastructure bill passed by Congress, Louisiana will need a lot more federal support to complete CPRA’s colossal mission.
For now, and hopefully in the future, it’s good to see the bipartisan nature of our state’s commitment to the coast: Kline worked for both Edwards, a Democrat, and former GOP Gov. Bobby Jindal, a Republican. The infrastructure bill’s favorable provisions for coastal protection reflect the efforts of Louisiana’s entire delegation in Washington, but particularly GOP U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, of Baton Rouge.
If Louisiana is to have a secure future, we must keep the progress of recent years going.
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