Restore the Mississippi Delta Responds to Suspended Permit for Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion
← Older postsRestore the Mississippi Delta Responds to Suspended Permit for Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion
(New Orleans, LA – April 26, 2025) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has suspended a permit for Louisiana’s keystone restoration project, the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion. 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 following statement in response to the suspended permit: “The …
CPRA Board Moves Forward with Coastal Restoration Plan
Plan includes full funding for Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion, despite a construction halt announced by the state BATON ROUGE, La. (April 16, 2025) – Today, the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) board voted to approve the Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Plan, which maintains full funding for the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion (MBSD) and other critical coastal restoration and protection projects. Restore the Mississippi River Delta, a coalition of national and local organizations working to restore Louisiana’s coast, issued the following …
New Poll Shows Strong, Bipartisan Louisiana Voter Support for Sediment Diversions
Surveys finds steadfast backing of timely science-based coastal restoration efforts NEW ORLEANS (April 15, 2025) – Two new surveys released today show widespread bipartisan support for reconnecting the Mississippi River to its wetlands through sediment diversion projects, including the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion. These results come at a pivotal moment, as Governor Jeff Landry has stalled progress on the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion and the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) recently announced a 90-day construction halt on the project. A strong …
Groundbreaking Ceremony for River Reintroduction to Maurepas Swamp Project
A Landmark Step Toward Restoring Coastal Louisiana MAUREPAS, LA (Dec. 3, 2024) – Today, the state of Louisiana broke ground on the critical River Reintroduction into Maurepas Swamp project, which would reconnect one of the largest forested wetland complexes in the nation with the Mississippi River to aid in preventing further wetland loss and habitat degradation. The project will benefit more than 45,000 acres, providing a wetland buffer that can reduce storm surge for communities stretching from the Greater Baton …
Louisiana Governor Landry Criticizes Keystone Restoration Project Despite Decades of Supporting Science
Questions remain about future of Louisiana’s coastal program to address ongoing land loss crisis NEW ORLEANS (Nov. 21, 2024) — 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, strongly supports the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion. Following today’s hearing of the Louisiana Senate Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works, where Governor Jeff Landry gave an update on the stalled Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion, the …
Restore the Mississippi River Delta Response to Status of the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion
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, strongly supports the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion. Following the correspondence the federal trustee agencies sent to the state in response to the status of the project, the coalition issued the following statement: “We have been concerned for some time that the current administration was wavering from the state’s longstanding commitment to the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion …
40 leading scientists express overwhelming support for Louisiana’s Coastal Master Plan
“We want to see our state’s Coastal Master Plan remain the wonder that it is: the most comprehensive coastal plan in the country, guided by the best-available science,” say concerned signers NEW ORLEANS (Oct. 22, 2024) — A group of 40 natural and physical scientists, engineers and social scientists with extensive research and technical experience related to Louisiana’s coast have co-authored and signed a letter voicing support of Louisiana’s long-standing, science-driven Coastal Master Plan (CMP). “While there is much to …
Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion — What you Need to Know Now and Why
Restore the Mississippi River Delta is concerned about the state of 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 post marks the third in a series expressing our concerns about recent shifts in our state’s successful and popular coastal program, including the progress of implementation of key projects in our science-based Coastal Master Plan. Recently, the Mid Barataria Sediment Diversion, a cornerstone …
New report shows Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion’s extensive economic benefits
Project estimated to create $1.9 billion in new sales for Plaquemines Parish and more than 3,000 jobs across five parishes Download the Report NEW ORLEANS (July 23, 2024) — A new report released today by Loren C. Scott & Associates, Inc. details the significant economic impacts of the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion on Plaquemines Parish and the surrounding five parishes. The report, “The Economic Impact of Constructing the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion Project,” showcases how Plaquemines, St. Bernard, Orleans, Jefferson and St. …
Conservation Groups Concerned by Decrease in Legislative Funding for Coastal Projects
NEW ORLEANS (June 25, 2024) — This weekend, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry signed into law several key budget bills passed by the Legislature during its 2024 Regular Session. While the Legislature directed over $1 billion to one-time projects, only $10 million was allocated to the Coastal Trust Fund to support the implementation of the science-based Coastal Master Plan. Restore the Mississippi River Delta remains concerned about recent changes in the coastal program, particularly this decrease in Legislative funding for priority …
Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion Stop Work Order Partially Lifted
Coalition Calls for Project to Move Forward Immediately, As Designed NEW ORLEANS (June 13, 2024) — Today, the stop work order on the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion was partially lifted, allowing certain early work on the nearly $3 billion project to move ahead, including site preparation and construction on various temporary structures. Restore the Mississippi River Delta, a coalition of national and local conservation groups comprised of the Environmental Defense Fund, National Audubon Society, the National Wildlife Federation and Pontchartrain Conservancy …
Louisiana’s Coastal Program is at Risk: Louisiana’s Keystone Project in Limbo
Restore the Mississippi River Delta is concerned about the state of 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 post marks the second 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 …
Louisiana’s Coastal Program is at Risk: Proposed Changes to CPRA’s Structure
Restore the Mississippi River Delta is concerned about the state of 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 post marks the first 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 …
Cook-Off for the Coast 2024
In its sixth year, the Cook-Off for the Coast 2024 was our largest and most successful Cook-Off to date! Over $20,000 was raised through sponsorships, donations and merch sales, and more than 2,000 attendees came out to enjoy the delicious food and plentiful sunshine at Docville Farm on February 24th. As always money raised will go to coastal restoration projects in St. Bernard Parish. This year the Cook-Off will be supporting the Chandeleur Sound Living Shoreline Project, a partnership with …
Master Plan Success: River Reintroduction to Maurepas Swamp
Project Highlight: River Reintroduction to Maurepas Swamp As one of the largest forested wetlands in the nation, Maurepas Swamp provides important ecological and socioeconomic benefits to southeast Louisiana. The swamp not only improves water quality and habitat for many species of conservation importance but also increases resilience against storms for coastal communities from the Greater New Orleans region to the River Parishes and up into Greater Baton Rouge. Voice for Restoration “The Biloxi Marsh Living Shoreline Project provides much-needed storm …