Mid Barataria Sediment Diversion Reaches Milestone; Have Your Voice Heard

At the beginning of March, the US Army Corps of Engineers released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion. There is also a companion restoration plan by the Louisiana Trustee Group, which oversees the spending of post-BP dollars which has been designated to pay for the project, as well as the mitigation and stewardship required.

The urgency to build the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion cannot be overstated: Without this project, the future for our coast, communities, economy and wildlife is dire. The Barataria Basin alone could lose an additional 550 square miles of land over the next 50 years, a nightmare scenario that would jeopardize the safety and prosperity of not only Lafourche Parish, but our entire region, threatening our unique culture and our status as Sportsman’s Paradise.

For decades, scientists and engineers have considered all the tools available and agree the Mid-Barataria project is the best long-term solution necessary to match the challenges we face from land loss and sea level rise. Is it without challenges? No. But this is our best shot, and we need to take it. A “future without action” would mean a future without Louisiana, and that is something we simply cannot afford or allow.

Get to Know More about the Project and Process

The Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group, CPRA, and the Environmental Law Institute have partnered to host a dialogue—facilitated by the Restore the Mississippi River Delta—to provide information on the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion.

These virtual meetings will provide the public with an informal opportunity to learn and ask questions about the project and the permitting process. CPRA and Louisiana Trustees will guide participants through the recently released draft environmental statement and restoration plan. We will also discuss how participants can participate in the upcoming formal public meetings and submit formal public comments.

These meetings are not an opportunity to comment publicly on the draft restoration plan and draft environmental impact statement, like the meetings scheduled for April 6 – 8. These virtual community conversations are a chance to better understand the two documents and the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project through a dialogue with the participating organizations.

Please join one of the community webinars for a better understanding of the project and the DEIS and TIG process on:

March 22 from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.

March 23 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

April 20 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

How to Provide Public Comment

Public comments on both the DEIS and Restoration will be accepted for 60 days through May 4 via one comment portal that utilizes the National Park Service.

Online:

https://parkplanning.nps.gov/MBSD

Mail: 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District
Attn: CEMVN-OD-SE, MVN-2012-2806-EOO
7400 Leake Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70118

Voice Mailbox:

866-211-9205

Virtual Meeting Dates and Times (registration to be posted):

April 6, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. CT

April 7, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. CT

April 8, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. CT