The CPRA is established as the single state entity with authority to articulate a clear statement of priorities and to focus development and implementation efforts to achieve comprehensive coastal protection for Louisiana.

The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority’s mandate is to develop, implement, and enforce a comprehensive coastal protection and restoration Master Plan.

For the first time in Louisiana’s history, this single state authority is integrating coastal restoration and hurricane protection by marshaling the expertise and resources of the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Transportation and Development and other state agencies, to speak with one clear voice for the future of Louisiana’s coast.

Working with federal, state and local political subdivisions, including levee districts, the CPRA is working to establish a safe and sustainable coast that will protect our communities, the nation’s critical energy infrastructure and our bountiful natural resources for generations to come.

The Water Institute of the Gulf is a not-for-profit, independent applied research and technical services institution. Its mission is to help coastal and deltaic communities thoughtfully prepare for an uncertain future. Through an integrated and interdisciplinary approach, The Water Institute of the Gulf helps create more resilient communities, thriving economies and a healthy environment.

Key initiatives include development of numerical modeling and decision support tools, ecological assessment, nature-based restoration and protection tools and a comprehensive integrated risk assessment to establish scientific benchmarks and provide guidance that will better inform policy makers, communities and businesses. Leveraging this knowledge and these tools, the Institute provides government, business, industry and philanthropic interests thoughtful ways to plan for sustainable infrastructure, landscapes, ecosystems and economies and emergency preparedness.

The LSU Center for River Studies is used for outreach, engagement and advocacy showcasing Louisiana’s working delta, Louisiana’s coastal program and research dedicated to coastal restoration and river management. The cornerstone of the Center is the Lower Mississippi River Physical Model, a 90 ft. x 120 ft. movable bed model of the lower Mississippi River.

The Lower Mississippi River Physical Model simulates the river’s depth, sediment and flow and is designed to study how it responds to modification. Twenty high-resolution projectors are mounted above the model bed to project aerial photographs, project features, diversion outputs and other simulations/animations.