Louisiana’s new coastal spending plan passes, but questions remain

Spending plan lacks detailed reporting on spending and project implementation

BATON ROUGE, La. (April 27, 2026) – The Louisiana Legislature approved the state’s FY27 Annual Plan for Coastal Protection and Restoration, which outlines the state’s coastal priorities and funding strategy for the next fiscal year.

Restore the Mississippi River Delta, a coalition of four national and local conservation groups working to advance meaningful, large-scale coastal restoration, released the following statement:

“The plan contains many worthwhile individual projects, but this year’s spending plan excludes large-scale river reconnection projects, does not outline an adequate plan for remaining Deepwater Horizon oil spill funds and lacks detailed reporting on spending and project implementation to date.

We are supportive of many projects in the plan, including the East Orleans Landbridge, which is moving towards construction, Chandeleur Island Restoration, which will restore a vital barrier island, the Calcasieu-Sabine Large-Scale Marsh and Hydrologic Restoration Project in the southwest and the River Reintroduction into Maurepas Swamp, the only remaining active diversion project leveraging RESTORE funding.

However, the elimination of other river reconnection projects from the plan underscores a concerning shift in the coastal program under Governor Jeff Landry. The cancellations of the Mid-Barataria and Mid-Breton sediment diversions by Governor Landry’s administration, which would have built a combined 43,000 acres of new land over 50 years, left a restoration gap within each basin. The move raises questions about how the state will address future land loss and growing storm risks.

The state has already spent nearly $700 million in Deepwater Horizon funds on its two largest diversions before abruptly cancelling the Mid-Barataria and Mid-Breton projects– without any restoration to show for it. The plan does not outline a strategy for how the state will spend the remaining oil spill penalties while avoiding waste and rebuilding land at scale, nor does it report on spending to date. Without this information, it is difficult to determine if funds are being used effectively.

Louisiana’s world-renowned coastal program has built a reputation for transparency and science-based decision-making, and, as a result, gained public trust. The cancellation of its keystone projects behind closed doors, the waste of three quarters of a billion dollars of Deepwater Horizon funds and the general lack of transparency is eroding that trust.

Recent polling reflects that 98% of Louisianans want more transparency around the state’s use of the Deepwater Horizon dollars, and 76% disagree with the state’s cancellation of the sediment diversion projects.

This plan has many good elements, but it needs a bolder vision for how to address land loss at the scale necessary to protect our communities and our way of life for future generations.”

Media Contact:
Annie Matherne
Gambel Communications
504.650.5539
annie@gambelpr.com

About Restore the Mississippi River Delta:
Restore the Mississippi River Delta is working to protect people, wildlife and jobs by reconnecting the river with its wetlands. As our region faces the crisis of land loss, we offer science-based solutions through a comprehensive approach to restoration. Composed of conservation, policy, science and outreach experts from Environmental Defense Fund, National Audubon Society, the National Wildlife Federation and Pontchartrain Conservancy, we are located in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Washington, D.C.; and around the United States. Learn more at MississippiRiverDelta.org and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.