CPRA reports major awards and construction progress, including $90M Restore Council award for Schindler Island
July 16, 2026 | Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board, Boards & Commissions, Organizations, Executive, Louisiana
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Michael Haya, CPRA’s executive director, opened the board’s project update July 15 with a snapshot of the agency’s portfolio and several funding developments for high‑profile restoration work.
Haya said CPRA currently has 33 projects in active construction, 72 in engineering and design, and two in planning. He reported that "we did receive another $90,000,000 for that project from the Restore Council" referring to Schindler Island, and said CPRA has reviewed a 95% design for Raccoon Island and expects that project to proceed to construction.
On Northwest Little Lake Marsh Creation (increment 2), Haya said the contract award process advanced and that the project will restore roughly 600 acres; he listed a total contract value in the tens of millions and described a construction schedule spanning many months. "This is gonna restore approximately ... about 600 acres," he said, and noted the contract duration and estimated completion timetable.
Haya described continuing coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and FEMA for projects with post‑storm reimbursement; he said CPRA had filed claims and received settlement funding that offsets costs on projects damaged in prior hurricanes and that some bids came in higher than FEMA estimates, requiring temporary agency funding to keep contracts moving. "We were able to move some additional funds to this project so we can get it awarded," Haya said.
Funding for individual projects includes mixes of FEMA awards, Restore Council grants, parish and CPRA surplus dollars. For the Bouchon Beach Restoration and Protection Project, Haya said CPRA is contributing roughly $2,000,000 and identified total available FEMA and parish funds used to leverage the work.
Board members asked about construction pacing, mitigation credit challenges and operations at diversions such as Davis Pond. Several members urged continued emphasis on interagency coordination to speed delivery, and Haya said staff will return with further briefings and updates on the summit action list and project schedules.
The board received the update and engaged on scheduling, mitigation constraints and reimbursement timing; no new project appropriations were approved during the briefing.
Haya said CPRA currently has 33 projects in active construction, 72 in engineering and design, and two in planning. He reported that "we did receive another $90,000,000 for that project from the Restore Council" referring to Schindler Island, and said CPRA has reviewed a 95% design for Raccoon Island and expects that project to proceed to construction.
On Northwest Little Lake Marsh Creation (increment 2), Haya said the contract award process advanced and that the project will restore roughly 600 acres; he listed a total contract value in the tens of millions and described a construction schedule spanning many months. "This is gonna restore approximately ... about 600 acres," he said, and noted the contract duration and estimated completion timetable.
Haya described continuing coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and FEMA for projects with post‑storm reimbursement; he said CPRA had filed claims and received settlement funding that offsets costs on projects damaged in prior hurricanes and that some bids came in higher than FEMA estimates, requiring temporary agency funding to keep contracts moving. "We were able to move some additional funds to this project so we can get it awarded," Haya said.
Funding for individual projects includes mixes of FEMA awards, Restore Council grants, parish and CPRA surplus dollars. For the Bouchon Beach Restoration and Protection Project, Haya said CPRA is contributing roughly $2,000,000 and identified total available FEMA and parish funds used to leverage the work.
Board members asked about construction pacing, mitigation credit challenges and operations at diversions such as Davis Pond. Several members urged continued emphasis on interagency coordination to speed delivery, and Haya said staff will return with further briefings and updates on the summit action list and project schedules.
The board received the update and engaged on scheduling, mitigation constraints and reimbursement timing; no new project appropriations were approved during the briefing.
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