WRDA funds ready to crest federal approval

The U.S. House and Senate reach an agreement during a legislative conference over provisions in the federal Water Resources Development Act, provisions that are key to the state’s hurricane protection and coastal restoration projects.

The WRDA act includes funding for the Morganza to the Gulf project and improvements to the Larose to Golden Meadow projects.

“This conference report, when signed into law, will authorize major improvements in coastal, hurricane and flood protection projects including the complete authorization of the Morganza to the Gulf,” said Sen. David Vitter, R-La.

The bill, if passed, will authorize $900 million for the Morganza to the Gulf project.

The bill would also authorize $90 million for higher, stronger levees as part of the Larose to Golden Meadow project, as well as billions more for comprehensive coastal restoration and protection work in south Louisiana under the Louisiana Coastal Area project.

“Completing the first WRDA bill in seven years is a monumental move in our fight to restore and protect Louisiana’s fragile coast,” said Gov. Kathleen Blanco. “Action on long-awaited projects like Morganza to the Gulf hurricane protection and the Louisiana Coastal Area will move us closer to a safer and more sustainable coastal Louisiana.”

Vitter said the state loses a football field of land every 38 minutes and lost 217 square miles of coastal wetlands and land in the two days Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck the coast.

The final WRDA agreement could receive a vote as early as next week.

“The Congress is expected to pass this Conference Report in overwhelming margins. I urge President Bush to sign it into law immediately,” said Blanco. “This is a long overdue investment in our nation’s critical water resource infrastructure, and a critical part of Louisiana’s long term recovery and safety.”