Louisiana Coastal Agency Allocates $778M for Protection, Restoration

Louisiana’s coastal protection authority wants to spend $778 million on projects restoring the Gulf Coast and protecting against hurricanes in the next fiscal year.

The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority on voted without objection to approve the spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

Much of the 2009-10 money, $300 million, would come from state surplus revenue from last year.

The spending proposal is part of a three-year plan to spend $1.37 billion on marsh creation, a coastal forest project, marsh repair and other projects across the coast.

The plan requires approval from the Legislature, which convenes April 27