Latest news with #MidBaratariaSedimentDiversion
Yahoo
01-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion Project canceled
PLAQUEMINES PARISH, La. (WGNO) — The Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion Project was officially canceled on July 17 in an announcement by the Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group. Amanda Moore, Senior Director of the Gulf Program for the National Wildlife Federation, said the project aimed to reconnect the Mississippi River to the delta and the Barataria Basin. Its goal was to restore the coastline and improve the health of the estuary. It was a major part of Louisiana's Coastal Master Plan. Slidell woman accused of buying Lamborghini while on government assistance The project began its design phase in 2013 and broke ground in 2023. Moore said it was looking at a 50-year timeframe and was estimated to build 5,000 acres in 10 years and 17,000 acres in 30 years. $618 million was already spent on the project and it was projected to cost close to $3 billion. 'Something that we always need to keep in mind with this project is that it's not just rebuilding wetlands,' Moore said. 'That's a big part, because that is obviously a storm surge buffer, but it's also restoring the function of the estuary. There's a lot of ecosystem benefits beyond just land being built.' Moore said the ecosystems in that area are dying out due to salinity changes, sea-level rise and the river being cut off from the delta. She said the project would have aimed to fix this. 'This project would keep giving benefits for generations using the natural processes,' Moore said. Hoop dreams add up for Gretna fifth grader The LTIG said the project was canceled due to multiple factors, such as a suspension of a federal permit by the Army Corp of Engineers and ongoing litigation. Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser said in a letter that the project had ballooned in price from $250 million to $3 billion. He also said the project would harm the dolphin population in that area as well as the oyster and shrimp industry. Haily Gentry, assistant director at the Tulane Institute on Water Law and Policy, said there was ongoing litigation against the project. Plaquemines Parish alleged that the state did not have the required permits related to elevated flood risk in the area. However, she felt that lawsuit probably would have been decided in favor of the state. Gentry said a lawsuit was filed by the Earth Island Institute, an environmental advocacy organization, alleging that the impacts of the project on local species had not been fleshed out. According to the Earth Island institute's release, they argue that the project would have introduced freshwater into a saline environment, buried existing wetlands and introduced toxic contaminants into the basin's environment. Heat relief resources, cooling centers available in New Orleans Moore said regardless, the fishing industry would be impacted by coastal erosion in the long run, whether the project goes forward or not. She argued that it ultimately would have improved the health of the ecosystem. Moore said mitigation efforts were already worked into the plan to protect the dolphins and the oyster industry. 'They were working with communities to come up with mitigation plans and they had hundreds of millions of dollars in mitigation funding to support those plans for communities,' Moore said. Gentry said there are remaining questions about what this cancellation will mean for the rest of Louisiana's Coastal Master Plan, as the project was a major component of it and much of the modeling and projections were made under the assumption that the project would move forward. She said it's also unclear what's going to happen with the money allocated for the project. It was funded using Deepwater Horizon's Oil Spill Posts New Orleans at-large candidates debate worker rights, city issues at forum Summer storms come back on Friday Favorite FQ restaurant may be forced to close Eastbank uses monster comeback to beat Mississippi in LLBWS Southwest Regional opener New Louisiana license plates showcasing the arts now available Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. Landry says coastal restoration project ‘no longer financially or practically viable'
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has weighed in on the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project. Landry posted a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, Monday morning, saying, 'The Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project, in its current form, is no longer financially or practically viable. Beyond the financial concerns, the MBSD threatens Louisiana's seafood industry, our coastal culture, and the livelihoods of our fishermen—people who have sustained our state for generations. @LouisianaCPRA is now moving forward with another coastal restoration plan—one that balances our environmental goals with the needs of all citizens, businesses, and industries.' Landry's statement comes after the cancellation of the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion Project on Thursday, July 17. The coastal project was started in 2023 and funded by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill settlement. It was intended to repair the disappearing coastline along the Gulf. Landry names new executive director of Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Latest News East Baton Rouge deputies, SWAT arrest burglary suspect after clash with homeowner WATCH: Delta flight makes emergency landing at LAX after engine catches fire Trump administration appeals Jenner & Block win over executive order Livingston Parish receives $476K grant for new weather stations Trump admin releases FBI records on MLK Jr. despite his family's opposition Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
