Louisiana Leaders Demand Action on State’s Largest Coastal Restoration Project
← Older postsLouisiana Leaders Demand Action on State’s Largest Coastal Restoration Project
The once-in-a-generation Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion has broad support across Louisiana – but now faces political jeopardy BATON ROUGE (May 12, 2025) – Today, community advocates, business leaders and coastal experts gathered at the Louisiana State Capitol to urge state leaders to advance the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion (MBSD), a once-in-a-generation project widely regarded as essential to rebuilding and protecting Louisiana’s vanishing coast. The press conference was part of Coastal Day at the Capitol and comes amid growing concern that Gov. Jeff …
Restore 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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …