Pontchartrain Conservancy Applauds Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion Project for Coastal Restoration
NEW ORLEANS — Pontchartrain Conservancy is thrilled to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion that took place today, Aug. 10. This is a significant milestone in a project aimed at strengthening Louisiana’s coastal communities and combating land loss. Harnessing the power of the Mississippi River, this project will send sediment to Barataria Bay to help rebuild lost land and restore the health of wetlands and marshes.
"The Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project is a critical step for our region's future,” says Kristi Trail, executive director of Pontchartrain Conservancy. “We support this diversion as one of the many lines of defense that will help rebuild and protect our coast. As the Mississippi River flows, so do our hopes for a healthy ecosystem, thriving industry and the preservation of our cherished communities."
Pontchartrain Conservancy has advocated for a healthy environment since 1989, which benefits from projects like this diversion. The Conservancy’s scientific research supports the use of both gray and green infrastructure to create the strongest protections possible from storm surge and sea level rise. The momentous groundbreaking of this project is a testament to Pontchartrain Conservancy’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that science-based solutions are enacted to benefit all Louisianians.
Trail added, “This diversion will harness the natural power of the Mississippi River to divert over 300 million tons of sediment into rapidly vanishing wetlands, restoring the health of the entire ecosystem and building and maintaining thousands of acres to buffer our region from more intense hurricanes and sea level rise."
For more information about Pontchartrain Conservancy, visit https://scienceforourcoast.org###
*Editor’s Note: High-resolution photos are available here.
About Pontchartrain Conservancy: Pontchartrain Conservancy is a New Orleans-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to an environmentally sustainable, prosperous and resilient region. Our mission is to drive environmental sustainability and stewardship through scientific research, education and advocacy. Pontchartrain Conservancy consists of a board of directors representing Lake Pontchartrain Basin parishes and regulatory agencies. For more information or to get involved, visit www.scienceforourcoast.org. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram at @PontchartrainConservancy and Twitter at @OurBasin.