Coastal Plan, Politics Move Ahead — Mid-Barataria, Science Left Behind
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NEW ORLEANS (June 4, 2025) — This week, the Louisiana Legislature approved the state’s FY26 Annual Plan for Coastal Protection and Restoration. Heralded as a nearly $2 billion investment for coastal investments, the actual total is closer to $1.4 billion because two major projects included in the plan have been cancelled due to political interference, a disregard for science and public trust: the Mid-Barataria and Mid-Breton Sediment Diversions. Restore the Mississippi River Delta, a coalition of four national and local …
The Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion: Setting the Record Straight
Skip to a section 1. CLAIM: The diversion will not lower storm surge and will cause flooding in Plaquemines Parish. 2. CLAIM: Diversions contribute to saltwater wedges and navigation issues in the Mississippi River. 3. CLAIM: We can spend the $3 billion projected cost of the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion on other projects, like dredging. 4. CLAIM: MBSD could be constructed smaller than planned. 5. CLAIM: MBSD is being imposed on residents who don’t want it. 6. CLAIM: Dolphins are a …
Louisiana Commits $1.8 billion to Critical Coastal Restoration and Protection Projects
(New Orleans, LA – January 15, 2024) Today, Louisiana’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) released its Draft FY26 Annual Plan for public review and comment. The Annual Plan reflects which projects in the Coastal Master Plan will move forward in a given fiscal year and, upon its adoption by the CPRA Board and the approval of the Legislature, provides the authority to expend funds originating from the state, federal government and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Restore the Mississippi …
Restore the Mississippi River Delta Coalition Responds to Governor’s Letter on Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion
(New Orleans, LA – December 13, 2024) – Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry recently issued a response letter to the Deepwater Horizon federal trustees and other state and federal agency representatives regarding the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project. Using the river to restore Louisiana’s disappearing coast has long been one of Restore the Mississippi River Delta’s primary goals. The coalition of national and local conservation organizations comprised of the National Wildlife Federation, Environmental Defense Fund, National Audubon Society and Pontchartrain Conservancy released the …
Louisiana Voters Pass Constitutional Amendment Directing Offshore Wind Revenue to Coastal Restoration
Yesterday, Louisiana voters strongly supported a Constitutional Amendment to direct federal revenues received by the state from Outer Continental Shelf alternative or renewable energy production to be deposited into the Coastal Trust Fund and used for state restoration and protection initiatives. Restore the Mississippi River Delta, a coalition of national and local conservation organizations comprised of the National Wildlife Federation, National Audubon Society, Environmental Defense Fund and the Pontchartrain Conservancy, issued the following statement in response to the constitutional amendment passing: “Louisiana …
Hard Questions Remain on Stalled Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion
Restore the Mississippi River Delta is concerned about Louisiana’s rapidly disappearing coast, and we know you are, too. We want to keep you informed of the most critical issues currently facing our coast. This blog marks the fourth in a series expressing our concerns about recent shifts in our state’s successful and popular coastal program, including changes to the structure of our coastal program, the protection of coastal funding, and implementation of cornerstone projects in our science-based Coastal Master Plan. …
Coastal advocates identify priority projects to restore Louisiana’s coast
18 Coastal Master Plan projects maximize investments by building land, benefitting economy, protecting communities NEW ORLEANS (Sept. 10, 2024) — Today, leading national and state conservation groups, who make up the Restore the Mississippi River Delta (MRD) coalition, released a list of 18 restoration projects from Louisiana’s Coastal Master Plan that, if prioritized and implemented quickly, will help restore and maintain as much of Louisiana’s coast as possible to achieve a resilient future for the people, wildlife and industries of …
Port Fourchon: The Economic Hub Looks to a Restorative Future
Situated at the end of Bayou Lafourche and the crux of Belle Pass lies one of the nation’s biggest industrial support operations, Port Fourchon. The port has existed since the 1960s and is a global hotspot for servicing offshore energy projects in the Gulf of Mexico. Port Fourchon services 95% of the actors that operate in the Gulf, including commercial fisheries, offshore oil and gas drilling, and autonomous sub-aquatic research vessels. Beyond their lease-holding responsibilities, the port has also committed …
What’s the Difference Between Neptune Pass and Mardi Gras Pass?
In the final miles of the Mississippi River, two naturally occurring diversions on the east bank of the Mississippi River provide vital real-world examples of the power of the river. Their differences – and similarities – are instructive examples for the future of restoration projects along the river.Both Neptune Pass and Mardi Gras Pass are diversions on the east bank of the Mississippi River in Plaquemines Parish that formed naturally and continue to build land in their outfall areas. The …
Economic Research Reveals How Crucial Fast Action is to Coastal Restoration
Timing of coastal restoration projects effects sustainability, economic impact, and overall effectiveness NEW ORLEANS (May 29, 2024) — A new policy brief released today highlights research showing that coordinating and prioritizing how the state of Louisiana times investments in coastal restoration is a critical element in planning and implementing projects to maximize their benefits. The policy brief, “Investment Decisions for Coastal Restoration: Timely Actions, Sustainable Benefits,” was conducted by the Kathleen Babineaux Blanco Public Policy Center at the University of …
Historic Plan Authorizing Spending for Coastal Projects Advances to Legislature for Approval
(March 14, 2024 – Baton Rouge, La.) Today, Louisiana’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) Board approved the state’s historic $1.7 billion Annual Plan for coastal spending for Fiscal Year 2025. The plan, which will now progress to the state Legislature to approve for its adoption, is the funding vehicle for authorizing spending toward new and existing projects in the state’s integrated coastal protection and restoration efforts. Restore the Mississippi River Delta, an influential coalition of national and local …
Coalition Strongly Supports Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion
Restore the Mississippi River Delta, a coalition of national and local conservation organizations comprised of National Audubon Society, the National Wildlife Federation, Environmental Defense Fund, the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana and Pontchartrain Conservancy, strongly supports the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion. The Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion will build and fortify tens of thousands of acres in the Barataria Basin, which is experiencing one of the highest rates of land loss on the planet. By reconnecting the Mississippi River to its wetlands and mimicking natural processes, the land that …
Louisiana Governor Appoints New Leaders for Coastal Restoration and Protection
(New Orleans – Feb. 2, 2024) Louisiana’s new governor, Jeff Landry, announced several key coastal appointments to his administration this week. Gordy Dove will serve as chairman of the state’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority; Glenn Ledet, Jr. as executive director of the CPRA; and Tony Alford, as chairman of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Coastal Protection, Restoration and Conservation. Restore the Mississippi River Delta, an influential coalition of national and local organizations working to restore Louisiana’s coast, issued the …
Report Offers Insight into Louisiana’s Offshore Wind Revenue Potential
The initial lease will result in $860,000 in investments for workforce training and has the potential to power nearly 435,400 homes with clean, renewable energy NEW ORLEANS (Oct. 18, 2023) — During today’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) board meeting, researchers released a new report examining the growth potential for wind in the Gulf of Mexico, including estimates of revenue from federal offshore wind lease bids, rents and operating fees. The report, “Winds of Change: Navigating the Gulf of …
Wax Lake Delta Builds Land for 50 Years
Conservation Groups Celebrate Half-Century of Success near Morgan City (Morgan City, LA, October 12, 2023) – For 50 years, Wax Lake Delta near Morgan City has been building large amounts of new wetlands, a sign of hope for the future of the Mississippi River Delta, one of America’s most ecologically and economically important landscapes – and one its most imperiled. The reason: The Atchafalaya and Mississippi Rivers are connected to those wetlands, constantly delivering fresh water, nutrients and land-building sediment. …