Shovels up on Mid-Barataria project

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards was among participants shoveling dirt to officially kicked off construction of the $2.9 billion Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion near Ironton on the west bank of the Mississippi River - the most ambitious wetlands restoration effort yet in state history. 

Decades in the making, the massive diversion project aims to recreate the river's natural land-building processes by diverting a portion of the river's freshwater, sediment and nutrients into the Barataria Basin. The hope is that it will rebuild up to 21 square miles of land and wetlands in Jefferson and Plaquemines parishes over the next 50 years. 

The diversion will include a 2-mile channel built along a 1,600-foot corridor between the river and the basin. It'll have gates on the riverside and a wide outfall on the basin side, aimed at moving sediment and water into areas of open water and existing wetlands when it is completed in about five years. 

Historically speaking, the origin of a diversion plan goes back to the latter part of the 19th century, although the state first requested permits for the project in 2016. The project has critics - from oyster growers and fishers to a number of politicians, including Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, who has said the money for the project would be better spent on other projects tt build land more quickly. 

St. Bernard Parish Council member Kerri Callais, who serves on the board of Save Louisiana Coalition, a key opponent, cited the environmental impact statement accompanying the permits saying it will cause "major, permanent adverse impacts" to oysters and brown shrimp, "higher prices for locally caught seafood," and adverse impacts on spotted sea trout, better known as speckled trout. 

Over time, the diversion will improve freshwater fisheries, Bren Haase, chairman of the state Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, which is building the diversion, pointed out. It will result in increased economic benefits. The construction will produce an estimated 12,400 jobs and $1.4B in increased sales for the region, according to recent economic studies. (NOLA.com 08/10/23) $2.92 billion Mid-Barataria Diversion groundbreaking today | Environment | nola.com