Historic Plan Authorizing Spending for Coastal Projects Advances to Legislature for Approval
← Older postsHistoric 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. …
Louisiana Breaks Ground on Largest Coastal Restoration Project in U.S. History
Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion will create up to 40 square miles of new land (NEW ORLEANS, LA August 10, 2023) — Today, the State of Louisiana broke ground on the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion, the largest single ecosystem restoration project in U.S. history and a monumental milestone decades in the making. The Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion, a cornerstone of Louisiana’s comprehensive plan to build and sustain coastal wetlands, will mimic natural land-building processes by reconnecting the Mississippi River to its surrounding wetlands, creating …
Louisiana Legislature Passes Pioneering Coastal Master Plan
Now in its fourth iteration, the plan provides a pathway to invest billions of dollars for coastal climate resilience NEW ORLEANS (May 25, 2023) – Today, Louisiana continued its leadership on climate change resilience and adaptation with the passage of the latest iteration of its Coastal Master Plan (CMP). The plan is a $50 billion, 50-year comprehensive blueprint first adopted in 2007 and updated every six years to reflect the latest science and evolving needs of vulnerable coastal communities. Following its passage, Restore …
Louisiana Voters Overwhelmingly Support Large-Scale Coastal Restoration
New poll finds significant increase in support for sediment diversions, urgent desire for action NEW ORLEANS (April 4, 2023) – There is widespread, bipartisan support for action to address Louisiana’s urgent land loss crisis through large-scale coastal restoration projects, according to a new poll released today by Global Strategy Group (GSG) on behalf of Restore the Mississippi Delta. An overwhelming 73 percent of Louisiana coastal voters support sediment diversions that address coastal restoration, up from 68 percent in 2021. Support …
Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion Greenlighted with Final Permits
Record of Decision advances largest ecosystem restoration project in U.S. history NEW ORLEANS (Dec. 16, 2022) – Today, Louisiana’s Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion reached a momentous milestone as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a Record of Decision and permits authorizing the project’s advancement. The decision – decades in the making and backed by the best available, world-class science and modeling – signifies a crucial step in turning the tide on the state’s land loss crisis. The Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion …
A Crucial Moment for Louisiana’s Future as Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion Advances
Project will build land, provide storm protection and protect communities from a changing future NEW ORLEANS (Sept. 23, 2022) — Following a comprehensive evaluation and public comment period, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued their Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project. In conjunction with this release, the Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group also released the Final Restoration Plan which proposes investing Deepwater Horizon oil spill fines to construct the project. As the single largest ecosystem restoration …
Coastal Restoration Plan Advances over $74M in Restoration Projects
Media Statement of Restore the Mississippi River Delta (New Orleans, LA.- July 29, 2022) Today, the Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group of the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustees released its Final Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment #8: Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitats. Earlier this year, over 160 representatives of business, government, environmental, community and other groups in Louisiana signed on to a letter in support of this plan. In response, Restore the Mississippi River Delta – a coalition of …
RISEE Act Would Provide Much Needed Long-term Funding for Louisiana’s Coast
Media Statement of Restore the Mississippi River Delta Leaders (New Orleans, LA.- July 21, 2022) Today the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources advanced the Reinvesting in Shoreline Economies and Ecosystems (RISEE) Act. This act would direct funding to the National Oceans and Coastal Security Fund from revenue generated by offshore wind production, and would expand restoration funding for the Mississippi River Delta and the Gulf Coast by eliminating the revenue sharing cap under the 2006 Gulf of …
Louisiana Legislature Approves Historic Investment in Louisiana’s Coast
Rep. Bourriaque and Restore the Mississippi River Delta respond to milestone achievement (BATON ROUGE, La. – May 24, 2022) Today, the Louisiana Senate approved the state’s Fiscal Year 2023 Coastal Annual Plan, finalizing its full passage by the Louisiana Legislature. The annual plan outlines nearly $1.3 billion in funding over a one-year period and $3.5 billion over the next three years for protection and restoration projects. It also describes the short-term and long-term restoration work that communities can expect to …
R. King Milling Recognized for Impact on Louisiana Coast and Communities
Statement of Restore the Mississippi River Delta on CRCL Lifetime Achievement Award Winner (New Orleans, LA — May 10, 2022) Restore the Mississippi River Delta commends R. King Milling on his Lifetime Achievement Award from the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana. This honor is one of the most prestigious in coastal restoration. Milling, the retired president of Whitney National Bank in New Orleans, will be recognized May 12 at the Coastal Stewardship Awards reception in Baton Rouge. “Louisiana is remarkably …
Coastal Stakeholders Urge Decisionmakers to Advance Critical Restoration Projects
Over 160 signatories including state and federal legislators, business and community leaders, environmental NGOs voice support for restoration projects following hurricanes and oil spill New Orleans, Louisiana – Earlier this month the Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group of the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustees released its Draft Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment #8: Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitats. In response to the draft restoration plan, over 160 representatives of business, government, environmental, community and other groups in Louisiana have …