2021 Legislative Session Delivers Significant Gains for Louisiana’s Coast
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Leading conservation groups praise policymakers’ efforts to prioritize funding for vital restoration projects BATON ROUGE, La. (June 11, 2021) — Yesterday, the 2021 Louisiana Regular Legislative Session adjourned with a strong effort to protect funding for coastal restoration and prioritize community resilience, including unanimous passage of the Fiscal Year 2022 Coastal Annual Plan. The plan is the funding vehicle that supports the implementation of the 2017 Coastal Master Plan, the 50-year vision for priority coastal restoration and risk-reduction projects to …
55 Leading Scientists Express Overwhelming Support for Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion
Co-authored letter stresses urgent need for vital restoration project to sustain Louisiana’s coast NEW ORLEANS (June 1, 2021) — A group of more than 55 natural and physical scientists, engineers and social scientists with a combined 1,300 years of research and technical experience related to Louisiana’s coast have co-authored and signed a letter voicing support based on their scientific knowledge and expertise for the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion, the single largest ecosystem restoration project in U.S. history. The group’s collective interdisciplinary …
“Unless We Act Now, We Risk Losing It All”: Groups Underscore Importance of Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion
Using the Mississippi River to Restore Rapidly Vanishing Wetlands Vital to Future of Southeast Louisiana NEW ORLEANS (March 5, 2021) —The single largest ecosystem restoration project in U.S. history reached a significant milestone today when the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion. This Louisiana Coastal Master Plan project will reconnect the Mississippi River to adjacent wetlands to build and maintain tens of thousands of acres of land in the …
Coalition Unveils Findings on MRGO Ecosystem Recovery 15 Years After Hurricane Katrina
Report assesses impacts of channel’s closure, vital restoration needs and ongoing community recovery NEW ORLEANS (Oct. 1, 2020) — 15 years after Hurricane Katrina, the MRGO Must Go Coalition released a white paper today detailing new information about the environmental benefits of closing the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO) and the ongoing, urgent need for large-scale restoration of the ecosystem in order to protect communities from hurricanes and climate change. The white paper, titled “MRGO: The Road to Recovery,” was …
Louisiana’s Future Depends on Reducing Carbon Emissions and Building Climate Resilience
Governor’s executive orders establish task force to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and to develop resilience strategies across all sectors of state government (NEW ORLEANS – August 19, 2020) Earlier today, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards signed two executive orders that will have significant impacts in addressing the state’s climate and land loss crises. The first executive order establishes a Climate Initiatives Task Force charged with developing recommendations for how Louisiana can reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to help …
Coastal groups call progress on Mid-Breton Sediment Diversion vital to Louisiana’s future
Project will create a sustainable coast for future generations and buffer from storms and sea level rise (NEW ORLEANS – August 3, 2020) Earlier today, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers updated the status and shared the implementation timeline of the Mid-Breton Sediment Diversion on the Federal Permitting Dashboard. The update indicates that the expected release of the draft environmental impact statement for this project will be November 2022, and a record of decision is expected by February 2024. Restore …
Coastal groups provide statement on SB440, bill aimed at coastal parishes’ oil and gas lawsuits
Responsible parties should be held accountable for damages that they caused (NEW ORLEANS – May 27, 2020) Louisiana’s Legislature is currently considering SB440, a bill that would significantly impact ongoing lawsuits on behalf of Louisiana coastal parishes seeking to hold responsible parties accountable for damages done to wetlands within their jurisdictions. The Senate decided not to take up SB359 during this session, however, key aspects of this bill have now been added to SB440 which is making its way through …
Louisiana Legislature continues unanimous support for state’s coastal projects
Decision reflects urgent need to get critical restoration and protection projects into construction as land loss crisis continues (BATON ROUGE, La. – May 22, 2020) Today, the Fiscal Year 2020 Coastal Annual Plan passed on the Louisiana Senate floor, finalizing its approval. The annual plan guides funding used to implement the 2017 Coastal Master Plan, the 50-year vision for priority coastal restoration and risk-reduction projects to restore and protect Louisiana’s coast. The legislature’s decision reflected the nearly universal belief of …
Coastal groups call on legislature to protect funding for flood protection and coastal restoration
Coastal investments will reduce impacts of hurricanes, while stimulating the economy and creating jobs NEW ORLEANS (May 19, 2020) – Yesterday, Louisiana’s House Appropriations Committee approved House Bill No. 2, the state’s Capital Outlay bill. The bill annually provides the funds for constructing projects across the state, projects that are needed more than ever because they provide jobs and stimulus to local economies. An amendment was added in committee that removed $117 million of 2018-19 surplus funds that had been included for …
Gulf Oil Spill Anniversary A Reminder of Urgent Need to Restore Ecosystems
Conservation experts urge further action to make communities and ecosystems more resilient to land loss and sea level rise NEW ORLEANS — Next week marks 10 years since the Deepwater Horizon explosion killed 11 men, released 134 million gallons of oil into open waters and devastated the Gulf Coast, destroying habitats and livelihoods. A decade after the disaster, as advocates continue to address the impacts of the spill and help make communities resilient to rising sea levels resulting from climate …
Coalition Unveils Recommendations for Continued Recovery 10 Years After Gulf Oil Spill
Strategies focus on funding, restoration project implementation and building community resilience NEW ORLEANS (March 11, 2020) — As the 10th anniversary of the Gulf oil spill approaches on April 20, Restore the Mississippi River Delta released a report today with nine recommended strategies for advancing critical ecosystem restoration in the delta, maximizing the investment opportunities of the oil spill settlement and engaging local communities for a more resilient future. The recommendations, titled “A Decade After Disaster,” were compiled by …
Governor Edwards’ Speech Seen as Paving the Way for a More Resilient Louisiana Coast
Second-term priorities integrate state agencies into coastal plan and begin to limit worst effects of sea level rise (BATON ROUGE, La. – February 20, 2020) Today, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards outlined his second-term priorities for Louisiana’s coast and how his administration aims to protect people, wildlife and jobs in the face of the state’s ongoing land loss and climate crises. Restore the Mississippi River Delta – a coalition of national and local conservation organizations committed to coastal restoration in Louisiana …
RESTORE Council Commits Gulf Oil Spill Funds to Defend Threatened Louisiana Swamp
Project to sustain world-renowned habitat and build climate resilience of wildlife and communities (NEW ORLEANS, LA – February 12, 2020) Today, the Gulf Ecosystem Restoration Council (RESTORE Council) voted to approve funding for two important restoration priorities in the Gulf, including investing $130 million in a critical diversion project in Louisiana’s Maurepas Swamp. As ecosystems and wildlife continue to recover nearly 10 years after the Gulf oil disaster, the River Reintroduction into Maurepas Swamp project would use restoration funds from …
Louisiana Children Highlight Importance of Coastal Restoration at State Capitol
Youth advocates presented ‘Restore the Coast. Protect Their Future’ books to coastal authority board BATON ROUGE (Dec. 19, 2019) — Louisiana coastal youth advocates stressed the urgency of Louisiana’s land loss crisis and the need for large-scale coastal restoration to members of Louisiana’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) board during a presentation on Wednesday, Dec.18 at the State Capitol in Baton Rouge. Students hand-delivered books highlighting the results of Restore the Mississippi River Delta’s year-long “Restore the Coast. Protect …
New Study Shows Construction of Sediment Diversions Will Deliver Significant Economic Benefits
Construction will increase regional sales by $3 billion and support nearly 4,000 jobs over seven years (NEW ORLEANS, LA – Oct. 16, 2019) A new report released today by Dr. Loren C. Scott & Associates, Inc. details the regional economic impacts of building the Mid-Barataria and Mid-Breton sediment diversions. The report, “The Economic Impact of Constructing the Mid-Barataria and Mid-Breton Sediment Diversion Projects” showcases how local and state businesses, governments and residents will benefit economically during the combined seven-year period …