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 following statement in response to Governor Landry’s letter, reaffirming the importance of this transformative project for addressing Louisiana’s land loss crisis:

“Governor Landry is doubling down on misinformation with this letter, repeating falsehoods that threaten the future of Louisiana’s most vital coastal restoration project. His stance on the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion marks a dangerous shift away from science, transparency and the public good—the very principles that have made Louisiana’s coastal program one of the best in the world. Failing to build the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion as designed, permitted and funded will leave our citizens and businesses even more vulnerable to future storms and floods. The stakes couldn’t be clearer: prioritizing political plays over sound science today puts lives, land and livelihoods at risk tomorrow.”

Media Contact:
Emily Guidry Schatzel
National Wildlife Federation
225.253.9781
schatzele@nwf.org

About Restore the Mississippi River Delta
Restore the Mississippi River Delta is working to protect people, wildlife and jobs by reconnecting the river with its wetlands. As our region faces the crisis of land loss, we offer science-based solutions through a comprehensive approach to restoration. Composed of conservation, policy, science and outreach experts from Environmental Defense Fund, National Audubon Society, the National Wildlife Federation and Pontchartrain Conservancy, we are located in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Washington, D.C.; and around the United States. Learn more at MississippiRiverDelta.org and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.