Coastal Restoration Organizations Praise Appointment of New CPRA Interim Chairperson
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Chip Kline’s vast experience will provide ‘steady hand’ during critical time for Louisiana’s coast (Baton Rouge— December 6, 2018) Today, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards announced changes in the leadership of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, with Johnny Bradberry stepping down after two years of service and Chip Kline being appointed Interim Executive Assistant to the Governor for Coastal Activities, as well as Interim Chairperson of the state’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA). Restore the Mississippi River Delta, …
As Senate Committee Proposes New Commitments of Offshore Energy Dollars, Cassidy Highlights Critical Funding Need for Louisiana Coastal Restoration
Amendment Expands Potential Funding for Restoration in Gulf States (WASHINGTON — October 2, 2018) At a legislative markup today in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) pressed for increased funding to restore the Mississippi River Delta and the Louisiana coast, even as bills were advanced that would direct federal energy revenue derived from this ecosystem to other national needs. The Cassidy amendment, like legislation passed by a key House committee just two weeks ago, amends …
New Poll Shows Louisianians’ Overwhelming Bipartisan Support for Coastal Restoration
Majority of coastal voters support sediment diversions, believe more funds should be allocated to restoration solutions Poll Resources See full polling results Read more about the poll Listen to our podcast There is widespread, bipartisan support for action in addressing Louisiana’s coastal land loss crisis, according to a new poll released today by BDPC, LLC + Pinsonat and Restore the Mississippi River Delta. Of note, 79 percent of coastal voters said they support sediment diversions, large-scale engineering projects that would …
House Committee Discusses Importance of Revenue for Louisiana Coastal Restoration
Congressman Garret Graves’ Bill Expands Potential Funding for Gulf States (WASHINGTON — September 13, 2018) Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources is considering H.R. 6771, a bill introduced yesterday by Congressman Garret Graves (R-La.), which amends the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA) to increase the share of offshore oil and gas revenues that flow to Gulf states impacted by the industry. Restore the Mississippi River Delta – a coalition of national and local conservation organizations committed to …
Legal Action from the State on Mid-Barataria Delays Will Be Necessary Without Agreement
To avoid continued devastating land loss, Plaquemines Parish needs action, not politics (NEW ORLEANS – June 20, 2018) Earlier today, Louisiana’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) Board voted to proceed with legal action to ensure continued progress on the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion if the State could not come to an agreement with the Plaquemines Parish government. The Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion, a cornerstone Master Plan coastal restoration project that has been studied for decades, is currently in Engineering & Design …
Tagged sediment diversionRestore the Mississippi River Delta Unveils ‘Coast 360: A Virtual Day in the Delta’
Innovative video transports viewers to front lines of Louisiana’s land loss crisis and restoration solutions NEW ORLEANS, La. (May 30, 2018) — This week, in conjunction with the State of the Coast Conference, Restore the Mississippi River Delta, a coalition working to protect people, wildlife and jobs by reconnecting the river and its wetlands, launched a high-quality 360-video experience that conveys issues of coastal land loss and the urgent need for coastal restoration. “Coast 360: A Virtual Day in the …
Louisiana Legislature Unanimously Approves Plan Funding Coastal Restoration & Protection
2019 Coastal Annual Plan dedicates over $600 million to coastal projects across the state (BATON ROUGE, La. – May 11, 2018) Today, the Fiscal Year 2019 Coastal Annual Plan passed unanimously on the Louisiana Senate floor—its last stop during this 2018 regular session. This plan is the annual 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 restore and protect Louisiana’s coast. National and local conservation …
Timeline for Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion Accelerated by Two Years
Conservation groups applaud agencies for advancing crucial coastal restoration project (NEW ORLEANS, LA – April 2, 2018) Earlier today, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Louisiana Coastal Protection & Restoration Authority (CPRA) announced an update to the permitting timeline for the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion. The updates will advance the target date for completion of an Environmental Impact Statement and issuance of required decisions and permits from 2022 to 2020, shaving 22 months off the original schedule. Restore the …
Trustees Finalize Plan to Restore Vital Ecosystem Damaged by Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
Plan recommends sediment diversions, other restoration projects to address damage to habitat (NEW ORLEANS, LA – March 22, 2018) Earlier this week, Louisiana’s Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) Trustee Implementation Group (TIG) released a final restoration plan outlining priorities to repair damages and restore ecosystems in Louisiana’s Barataria Basin following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. In addition to being severely impacted by the spill, Barataria Basin has experienced some of the worst land loss in the country, and, …
Congress Advances Coastal Restoration Projects in Louisiana via Supplemental Aid Bill
Conservation groups applaud Louisiana’s governor and congressional delegation for supporting ecosystem restoration (WASHINGTON – Feb. 12, 2018) Late last week, Congress passed a supplemental aid bill that funds relief and recovery efforts across the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean following the devastating 2017 Atlantic hurricane season. In addition to this much-needed disaster relief funding, the bill included a provision at the request of Governor Edwards, spearheaded by Louisiana’s congressional delegation, that supports three large-scale ecosystem restoration projects from the …
State, Federal Partnership Critical To Advancing Large-Scale Louisiana Coastal Restoration Project
Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion Vital to Future of Nationally-Significant Region (WASHINGTON – Jan. 26, 2018) Earlier today, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) and other state and federal agencies to collaborate on permitting for the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion under the guidance of Trump Executive Order 13807. Located in Plaquemines Parish, the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion is a Louisiana Coastal Master Plan project that would direct sediment, …
Conservation Groups Urge Swift Action to Implement Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion
Release of scoping report with significant public input an important step forward (NEW ORLEANS – Jan. 23, 2018) The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) recently released a Final Scoping Report for the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion, a Coastal Master Plan project that would reconnect the Mississippi River to nearby wetlands to build and maintain land in Louisiana’s Barataria Basin. The report is based on 871 individual comments sent to the Corps to inform the development of an Environmental Impact Statement …
Conservation Groups Identify Priority Projects to Restore Louisiana’s Coast
Report outlines opportunities for comprehensive, coast-wide restoration through key projects (NEW ORLEANS – November 15, 2017) Today, leading national and local conservation groups working together to address Louisiana’s severe land loss crisis released a report, Restoring the Mississippi River Delta: A Recommended List of Coastal Restoration Projects and Programs, outlining 17 priority projects for restoring the Mississippi River Delta and coastal Louisiana. Restore the Mississippi River Delta – a coalition comprised of Environmental Defense Fund, the National Wildlife Federation, National …
Conservation Groups Underscore Support for Critical Coastal Restoration Funding for Louisiana
GOMESA Provides Consistent Stream of Funding to Restore Nationally-Significant Landscape (NEW ORLEANS – November 14, 2017) Signed into law in 2006, the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA) allows for the sharing of 37.5 percent of qualified Outer Continental Shelf oil drilling revenues with oil-producing Gulf Coast states. Louisiana voters overwhelmingly passed a constitutional amendment committing GOMESA funds to be used exclusively for restoration and protection activities. Now in Phase II, revenues from GOMESA to the State of Louisiana …
Conservation Groups: After 30 Years of Studies, Get Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion Constructed Quickly
As public scoping meetings begin, groups call on permitting agencies to act swiftly FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (NEW ORLEANS – July 20, 2017) Later today, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) will hold its first public scoping meeting to inform development of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion, with additional meetings to be held through July 27. During the scoping process, as required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), stakeholders will have an opportunity to …