So Far, So Good: Looking Back at 8 Years of the Breaux Act

1989

Louisiana establishes trust fund for coastal restoration.
The trust fund sets aside $5 to $25 million of taxes and royalties per year from oil and gas reserves for coastal wetland restoration.

November 1990

Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA or Breaux Act) signed into law by President Bush.
This legislation provided the first national mandate for coastal wetlands restoration, designating 70% of its authorized funds to Louisiana restoration projects ($35 - 40 million per year).

January 1991

Task Force meets for first time.
The Breaux Act Task Force is given administrative responsibilities for federal and state restoration projects in Louisiana. The Task Force represents the Department of the Army, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of the Interior, Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce and the state of Louisiana.

October1991

Priority Project List #1 approved.
Fourteen restoration projects approved with an estimated cost of $48 million.

October 1992

Priority Project List #2 approved.
Fifteen restoration projects approved with an estimated cost of $54 million.

March 1994

First project completed.
Vegetative Plantings Demonstration at West Hackberry covers 98 acres at a total cost of $15,000.

Summer 1995

Breaux Act Task Force agrees to shifts emphasis to "big picture projects."
At least two-thirds of annual funding dedicated to projects extensive enough to affect major portions of Louisiana's coastal basins.

June 1995

First issue of Water Marks published.
Published by the Breaux Act Task Force to communicate the magnitude of the crisis and the progress made toward restoring Louisiana's coastal wetlands.

July 1996

Tenth project completed.
Vegetative Plantings Demonstration on Timbalier Island protects 169 acres at a cost of $96,500.

August 1996

Breaux Act goes on-line at www.lacoast.gov
The home page informs visitors about Breaux Act's history, status of projects, facts and figures about coastal Louisiana and links to related informative sites.

Spring 1997

Coast 2050 initiated to integrate coastal restoration/protection efforts.
A joint planning initiative of the Louisiana Wetland Conservation and Restoration Authority and the Breaux Act Task Force, Coast 2050's goal is to develop community-based planning for a sustainable and productive coast.

May 1997

Priority Project List #6 approved.
Eleven projects approved with an estimated cost of $39 million.

November 1997

State's Coastal Wetlands Conservation Plan approved.
Plan's guarantee that state development will not result in net coastal wetland loss reduces Louisiana's share of project construction costs from 25 to 15 percent.