The U.S. Senate passed last week the National Defense Authorization Act of 2023 (NDAA), which included the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 (WRDA).
WRDA 2022 formally prioritizes coastal ecosystem restoration as a top U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) mission, authorizes two major federal coast restoration projects, extends the timeline for the state’s final HSDRRS payment, and clarifies other major projects will be conducted at full federal expense.
WRDA is the biannual oversight bill for the USACE. It provides authorization for projects and makes policy changes, though it does not appropriate funding.
“This WRDA will be more valuable to the sustainability of our coast than any other such bill in over a decade,” said Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Chairman, Chip Kline.
“It not only clarifies roles and funding responsibilities for long-standing commitments to coastal protection and restoration, but also initiates new projects and policies that will provide major benefits to communities in Louisiana.”
A selection of key provisions for coastal Louisiana within WRDA 2022 include: