Louisiana Cancels Mid-Breton Sediment Diversion Project

Louisiana Cancels Mid-Breton Sediment Diversion Project, Raising Coastal Restoration Concerns

Louisiana officials have confirmed the cancellation of the Mid-Breton Sediment Diversion Project, which was designed to channel fresh water and sediment from the Mississippi River to coastal marshes in Breton Sound. Gordon Dove, chairman of the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, addressed this decision on Wednesday. This marks the second significant coastal restoration initiative halted by Governor Jeff Landry, following the earlier termination of the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project in May.

The Mid-Breton project was still in the design and engineering stages, with no construction having begun. Prior to its cancellation, the project had experienced a dramatic cost increase, escalating from several hundred million dollars to an estimated $1.8 billion. Governor Landry’s administration made this decision despite the availability of $3 billion from the Deepwater Horizon settlement, which includes a total of $8 billion for coastal restoration in Louisiana.

Impact and Context of the Cancellation

In the wake of the cancellations, environmental advocates and groups such as the Restore the Mississippi River Delta coalition have criticized the decisions. They argue that sediment diversions are essential for maintaining the long-term sustainability of Louisiana’s coastal restoration efforts. The coastal marshlands are vital for serving as natural storm barriers, providing habitats for wildlife, and absorbing floodwaters. Louisiana has lost over 2,000 square miles of coastal land since 1932, primarily due to reduced access to nutrient-rich water caused by levees that control flooding from the Mississippi River.

Despite these concerns, some local officials, particularly in St. Bernard Parish, supported the cancellation, citing worries about potential economic repercussions for local fishing industries. The ongoing coastal land loss is compounded by rising sea levels, a challenge worsened by climate change, indicating the urgency for effective restoration efforts.

Current State of Coastal Initiatives

Existing sediment diversions currently operational in Louisiana are smaller in scale and primarily focused on mitigating saltwater intrusion. The decision to cancel both the Mid-Breton and Mid-Barataria projects has raised alarms about the future of Louisiana’s Coastal Master Plan, which has been in place for nearly two decades. Before being halted, a total of $560 million had already been spent on the Mid-Barataria project.

With the future of major projects uncertain, Dove has proposed reallocating funds from the Mid-Breton project to support other coastal restoration initiatives, including smaller diversions that may help with land building. Advocates for coastal restoration emphasize the need for innovative and sustainable solutions to combat ongoing land loss and protect the fragile coastal ecosystems of Louisiana.