It’s December already?! Between the mild weather and host of recent significant events, I think I speak for a lot of us when I say that the end of the year has completely snuck up on me. But, ready or not, 2025 is just around the corner!
In order to celebrate accomplishments and reexamine challenges, I always find it important at the end of the year to take some time to reflect. One of the largest challenges included testimony by state officials against the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion, one of the largest restoration projects in the state that has been supported by federal agencies and backed by science to build and maintain 27 square miles of land over 50 years. On the other hand, we celebrated the passage of an amendment that supports coastal funding, the groundbreaking of a freshwater diversion to restore Maurepas Swamp, and more.
Looking ahead at the coming year, Restore the Mississippi River Delta will continue our support of coastal restoration. We recognize all our supporters, including you, who have made this work possible. We hope you have a restful and happy holiday season, and together we’ll be ready to enter the year with our best foot forward.
From all of us at MRD, Happy Holidays!
Warmly, |
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Will Thinnes
Advocacy & Outreach Manager
Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana
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Maurepas Diversion Breaks Ground
On December 3rd, coastal advocates came together to celebrate the groundbreaking of the highly anticipated River Reintroduction to Maurepas Swamp project. This freshwater diversion is estimated to benefit up to 45,000 acres of wetlands in the Maurepas Swamp by reconnecting the Mississippi River to Lake Maurepas, supporting one of the largest forested wetlands in the country by stabilizing salinity levels and nurturing the area with essential nutrients and sediment. We were thrilled to host a celebration attended by over 100 people for all of the partners and advocates who worked tirelessly to make this project possible. |
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Save the Date! Cook-Off for the Coast
It’s almost time for that OTHER most wonderful time of the year! The 7th Annual Cook-Off for the Coast will return to Docville Farm on February 1st, 2025. Cook-Off for the Coast is a free, family-friendly event open to the public that features free food samples, live music, coastal games and activities from local partners, and more. This year, proceeds from merchandise and donations will benefit the scholarship fund for Nunez Community College’s Coastal Studies and GIS Technology program. Come out, try some new food, and support our next generation of coastal leaders!
Interested in sponsoring? Email [email protected] to learn more.
Are you an artist of any age interested in our coastal art contest? Learn more and submit your art here. |
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64 Parishes Winter 2024
We were thrilled to join our partners at 64 Parishes Magazine in Lake Charles at the beginning of the month for their Winter 2024 publication party. The cover story, "Making Room" by Lucie Monk Carter, focuses on the concept of migrating and receiving communities in the face of coastal land loss, particularly in Southwest Louisiana. This, along with their new column, "Placemaking", exemplifies how well the 64 Parishes team ties together the idea that our culture and our land in Louisiana are inseparable, and both must be protected for the other to exist. Restore the Mississippi River Delta is a proud sponsor of this series, and we look forward to seeing more of their powerful work in the future. For more information, including subscription information, visit their website. |
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Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion
As reported in our previous newsletter, Governor Jeff Landry addressed the Louisiana Senate Transportation Committee with his most extensive comments on the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion so far. Among the negative comments, Landry mentioned that the diversion would harm Louisiana's culture. However, we found that over 60% of Louisiana participants who participated in polling felt that diversions have a positive impact on Louisiana culture, which may be a result of its benefits including positive economic impact and strengthening of wetlands that provide hurricane protection and habitat for Louisiana wildlife. We strongly believe that reconnecting the river to the wetlands through sediment diversions is a necessary step for coastal restoration in Louisiana, and we continue to support the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion.
Want to take action to support this project and the Coastal Master Plan?
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