in 2005, two of the united states' most devastating hurricanes hit the gulf coast (hurricane katrina, august 2005; hurricane rita, september 2005). their impact gained national attention due to the vast property damage and loss of life. these two storms also impacted cwppra efforts for coastal restoration, for the better. as scientists and policy makers seek ways to protect coastal communities and industries from future hurricanes, they look to the marshes and barrier islands that form the coast’s first line of hurricane defense. this is magnifying the importance of cwppra and related projects and the necessity for the successful restoration of the coastal wetlands.