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CWPPRA
COASTAL WETLANDS PLANNING, PROTECTION AND RESTORATION ACT
TASK FORCE MEETING

AGENDA
May 2, 2024, 9:30 a.m.

Location:
LA Department of Environmental Quality
Galvez Building – Oliver Pollock Room
602 North Fifth Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Virtual Component:
https://usace1.webex.com/meet/terri.m.vonhoven
Meeting Number: 2761 432 2324
USA Toll-Free: 844-800-2712

Documentation of Task Force meetings (including minutes, attendance records, PowerPoint Presentations, and meeting binders) may be found at:
http://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/Missions/Environmental/CWPPRA.aspx


Agenda Item

  1. Meeting Initiation 9:30 a.m. to 9:40 a.m.
    1. Introduction of Task Force or Alternates
    2. Opening remarks of Task Force Members
    3. Request for Agenda Changes/Additional Agenda Items/Adoption of Agenda

  2. Decision: Adoption of Minutes for the January 25, 2024, Task Force Meeting (Jennifer Vititoe, USACE) 9:40 a.m. to 9:40 a.m. Jennifer Vititoe will present the minutes from the last Task Force meeting. Task Force members may provide suggestions for additional information to be included in the official minutes.

  3. Report: Electronic Votes and Approvals (Amanda Landry) 9:40 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. USACE will report out on recent electronic votes and approvals.

  4. Report: Status of CWPPRA Program Funds and Projects (Baylissa Walter, USACE) 9:45 a.m. to 9:55 a.m. Baylissa Walter will provide an overview of the status of CWPPRA accounts and available funding in the Planning and Construction Programs.

  5. Report: Construction Update (Jennifer Vititoe, USACE) 9:55 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. The CWPPRA agencies will provide a report on projects that are currently under construction and projects that have recently completed construction.

  6. Report: Public Outreach Committee Report (Lauren Leonpacher, USGS) 10:15 a.m. to 10:35 a.m. Ms. Lauren Leonpacher will present the Public Outreach Committee report.

  7. Report: Coastwide Reference Monitoring System (CRMS) Report (Leigh Anne Sharp, CPRA) 10:35 a.m. to 10:55 a.m. Ms. Leigh Anne Sharp will provide a report on CRMS.

  8. Report/Decision: Upcoming 20-Year Life Projects (Amanda Landry, USACE) 10:55 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. The project sponsors will present a recommended path forward for the following projects nearing the end of their 20-year life and requesting the following approvals:

    1. Projects requesting approval for closeout with no cost increase:
      TE-37
      New Cut Dune and Marsh Restoration
      EPA
      30 Sept 28
      TE-40
      Timbalier Island Dune & Marsh Restoration
      EPA
      19 Mar 29
      TE-50
      Whiskey Island Back Barrier Marsh Creation
      EPA
      18 June 30
      PO-16
      Bayou Sauvage Hydrologic Restoration #1
      FWS
      30 May 24
      PO-18
      Bayou Sauvage #2
      FWS
      28 May 24
      BA-35
      Pass Chaland to Grand Bayou Pass Barrier Shoreline Restoration Project
      NMFS
      25-Aug-29
      BA-27d
      Barataria Basin Landbridge Shoreline Protection, Phase 4
      NRCS
      26 April 26

    2. Projects requesting approval for time extension with no cost increase:
      ME-19
      Grand-White Lake Landbridge Restoration
      FWS
      1 Oct 24
      BS-03a
      Caernarvon Diversion Outfall Management
      NRCS
      19 June 24

  9. Decision: Request to initiate inactivation of the Freshwater Bayou Marsh Creation (ME-31) Project (Angela Trahan, NRCS) 11:15 a.m. to 11:25 a.m. NRCS and CPRA request approval of the Task Force to inactivate the Freshwater Bayou Marsh Creation Project (ME-31). ME-31 has requested Phase 2 funds for the past 4 consecutive years. The request to inactivate is because of the number of unsuccessful Phase 2 Requests and a backlog of more cost-effective projects with limited program funds for construction.

  10. Decision: Request for a Change in Scope for the PPL29 – North Delacroix Marsh Creation and Terracing (BS-41) Project (Brandon Howard, NMFS) 11:25 a.m. to 11:35 a.m. NMFS and CPRA request approval of the Task Force for a change in scope for the North Delacroix Marsh Creation and Terracing (BS-41) Project. A scope change is required due to an increase in total project cost by more than 25%, and the ratio of the total cost to the number of net acres created by more than 25% from the Phase 0 Candidate.

  11. Decision: Request for Operations and Maintenance Budget Increase for Oaks/ Avery Canal Hydrologic Restoration (TV-13a) (Dion Broussard, CPRA) 11:35 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. CPRA and NRCS request a $501,995 budget increase to perform the final maintenance event in advance of project close out.

  12. Decision: FY25 Planning Budget Approval, including the PPL 35 Process, and Presentation of FY25 Outreach Budget (Process, Size, Funding, etc.) (Amanda Landry, USACE) 11:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.The P&E Subcommittee will present their recommended FY25 Planning Program Budget development, including the PPL 35 Process.
    1. The Task Force will vote based on the Technical Committee recommendation to approve that the PPL 35 Process include selecting four nominees in the Barataria Basin, four nominees in the Terrebonne Basin; three in the Breton Sound Basin, three in the Pontchartrain Basin; two in the Mermentau Basin, two in the Calcasieu/Sabine Basin, two in the Tech/Vermilion Basin; and one in the Atchafalaya Basin.
    2. The Task Force will vote based on the Technical Committee recommendation to approve the FY25 Outreach Committee Budget, in the amount of $452,113.
    3. The Task Force will vote based on the Technical Committee recommendation to approve the FY25 Planning Budget (includes Outreach Committee Budget), in the amount of $5,000,000.

  13. Report: Selection of Ten Candidate Projects to Evaluate for PPL 34 (Kristen Ramsey, FWS) 12:00 p.m. to 12:15 p.m. At the April 4, 2024 meeting, the Technical Committee selected ten projects as PPL 34 candidates for Phase 0 analysis as listed below.
    Region
    Basin
    PPL 34 Candidates
    Agency
    2
    Breton Sound
    East Lake Lery Shoreline Restoration
    FWS
    2
    Breton Sound
    Wood Lake Marsh Creation
    NRCS
    2
    Barataria
    Bayou L’Ours Ridge Restoration and Marsh Creation
    NRCS
    2
    Barataria
    West Dupre Cut Marsh Creation
    NRCS
    2
    Barataria
    Elmer's Island Restoration
    NMFS
    2
    Barataria
    Southeast Lafitte Marsh Creation
    NMFS
    3
    Terrebonne
    Eastern Terrebonne Landbridge Marsh Creation Increment 1
    FWS
    3
    Terrebonne
    South Isle de Jean Charles Landbridge Increment
    NRCS
    4
    Mermentau
    Grand Chenier Marsh Creation
    NRCS
    4
    Mermentau
    Gulf Shoreline Protection West
    FWS

  14. Additional Agenda Items (Jennifer Vititoe, USACE) 12:15 p.m. to 12:20 p.m.

  15. Request for Public Comments (Jennifer Vititoe, USACE) 12:20 p.m. to 12:25 p.m.

  16. Announcement: Date of Upcoming CWPPRA Program Meeting (Amanda Landry, USACE) 12:25 p.m. to 12:25 p.m. The Technical Committee meeting will be held September 5, 2024 at 9:30 a.m.

  17. Announcement: Scheduled Dates of Future Program Meetings* (Amanda Landry, USACE) 12:25 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.
    September 5, 2024
    9:30 a.m.
    Technical Committee Meeting
    New Orleans
    October 3, 2024
    9:30 a.m.
    Task Force
    New Orleans
    December 5, 2024
    9:30 a.m.
    Technical Committee Meeting
    New Orleans
    *Subject to change

  18. Decision: Adjourn


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