Happy New Year and Happy Mardi Gras, friends! For me, New Year’s Day has always been a day to reflect on the past year – the good, the bad – and Mardi Gras is a time to celebrate all that is good no matter what. And boy, do we have a Mardi Gras to celebrate! Get ready for a newsletter that has nothing but good news. Because you know what? We all deserve it!
My name is Will Thinnes, the new Community Outreach Coordinator at the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL). I am thrilled to be a part of the team and to be a part of the effort to sustain the coastal communities that have welcomed me to Louisiana so generously. There is a lot of work to do for our coast, but for now – it’s time to celebrate some big victories! So sit back, relax, and enjoy our first newsletter of the year.
Onwards and Outwards! |
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- Will Thinnes
Community Outreach Coordinator
Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana
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Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion Receives Final Approval
After years of permitting processes, community conversations, and environmental impact statements, the CPRA received final permission from the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to construct and operate the long-awaited Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion (MBSD)!
The goal of the MBSD is to reconnect the Mississippi River to its surrounding areas. Levee systems that have protected communities have also prevented the river from depositing land-building sediment into wetland areas. Through a concrete channel controlled by a gate in the levee, MBSD will have a maximum flow of 75,000 cubic feet per second that is projected to deposit enough sediment to build and maintain about 30,000 acres of wetlands within 50 years. The CPRA has requested that the $2.2 billion project be funded by settlement money from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, especially since this land was some of the most impacted by the tragedy. The coastal restoration community views sediment diversions as a necessity to allow natural processes to rebuild our coast. One of the objectives of sediment diversions is to support a working coast, and the MBSD further includes mitigation strategies to help the fishing industry adapt to the changing environment.
As Kim Reyher, the Executive Director for the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana explains, “It would be impossible to overstate the importance of the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion, so this is a huge moment for our entire state… Finally, we are about to use the most important tool available to us: the mighty Mississippi.”
The Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion will be the largest ecological restoration project in U.S. history and key to restoring Louisiana’s coast. |
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A visualization of the completed Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion after construction. Graphic by Gulf Engineers & Consultants, Inc.
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Spotlight:
Simone Maloz, Campaign Director
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The spotlight this month goes to the our Campaign Director, Simone Maloz, who was just named one of the 2023 Louisianians of the Year by Louisiana Life Magazine! For over 16 years, Simone has worked tirelessly in coastal leadership. From working to promote the Restore the Mississippi River Delta coalition’s priority projects, to organizing community meetings to educate coastal residents about restoration efforts, Simone showcases her immense passion and robust knowledge in every aspect of her work. Everyone is very proud of you, Simone. Thank you for being you!
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2023 Coastal Master Plan Draft and Public Comment
At last, the 2023 Coastal Master Plan Draft is available online for public review and comment! The Coastal Master Plan (CMP) is a document created by the Coastal Protection Restoration Authority (CPRA) that serves as the state’s guiding document for coastal restoration activities – outlining the design, implementation, and operation of restoration projects that represent billions of dollars of investment. For a visual aid, the updated plan includes a 2023 Master Plan Data Viewer, allowing users to explore an interactive map of Louisiana to view the status of projects by location.
Before the plan is submitted to the legislature, the CRPA will be holding four public meetings where they will present the draft of the 2023 CMP and hold time for public comment. All four meetings will start with an open house at 3:30 p.m., followed by a presentation and public comment session from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The meeting dates and details are below.
To submit official written 2023 DRAFT Coastal Master Plan comments and feedback, email the CPRA at [email protected] or mail comments to:
Coastal Protection & Restoration Authority, Public Comments,
150 Terrace Avenue,
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Letters must be mailed to arrive no later than March 25, 2023. |
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Baton Rouge
Date: January 31, 2023
Location: East Baton Rouge Parish Library
Address: 9200 Bluebonnet Blvd |
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Houma
Date: February 2, 2023
Location: Houma Municipal Auditorium
Address: 880 Verret St |
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New Orleans
Date: February 7, 2023
Location: University of New Orleans
Address: 2000 Lakeshore Dr |
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Lake Charles
Date: February 16, 2023
Location: Burton Coliseum Complex
Address: 7001 Gulf Hwy |
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The MRGO restoration plan as outlined by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
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Thank You For the Support!
From all of us at the Restore the Mississippi River Delta, thank you for your continued support of our efforts to restore the Mississippi River Delta. Your continued dedication has allowed all of us to believe in a greater future for the Gulf Coast. Happy 2023!
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