Michael Haire, executive director of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board, delivered a year‑end review and previewed the CPRA FY2027 draft annual plan at the board’s December meeting.

Haire said CPRA had a busy year of construction and design activity and described the agency’s focus on delivering projects across the state. "We have 12 new construction starts this year," he said, adding that completed projects this year represented hundreds of millions of dollars in value. He highlighted region‑by‑region work including Rockefeller Refuge breakwaters, the Calcasieu‑Sabine migration project, White Lake shoreline protection and progress on the Bayou Lafourche pump‑station complex.

On funding and program capacity, Haire asked the board to view the annual plan as an expression of what CPRA can execute rather than a promise to spend every dollar immediately. He said the agency expects roughly $1.1–$1.2 billion in spending capacity in 2027 and noted that much of that represents multi‑year carry‑forward and project commitments. Board staff told members the plan is highly project‑focused, with roughly 93% of proposed spending tied to project work rather than studies or overhead.

The director flagged several project specifics: the Calcasieu‑Sabine migration project had received a large treasury grant (reported by staff as about $122 million for a $251 million project), work on pump stations in Saint Mary Parish advancing to bid, and White Lake early‑stage engineering and environmental review for a multi‑phase shoreline protection effort. Haire also discussed a set of land‑bridge initiatives and barrier‑island investments tied to a possible $680–$700 million NFWF allocation for barrier islands.

The board heard that CPRA is piloting a southwest Louisiana home elevation program. Haire said the pilot cohort was small and slow to start; CPRA staff later clarified the pilot was planned for 15–17 homes with two homes fully elevated so far. Board members pressed staff on pace, costs and whether buy‑outs might be appropriate in some cases; staff emphasized community cohesion and long‑term risk reduction as program goals.

Haire asked the public and agencies to review the draft plan and submit comments by Feb. 17. CPRA will hold in‑person regional meetings (Thibodaux, Jefferson, Abbeville) and a virtual webinar in January as part of the public process before transmitting the annual plan to the legislature.