Louisiana Officially Cancels State's Largest Coastal Project

Environmentalists lament, while oystermen celebrate, demise of Mid-Barataria diversion

Advocates and supporters of the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project rallied Monday, May 12, 2025, on the State Capitol steps. The project has now officially been canceled. (Elise Plunk/Louisiana Illuminator.)The long-controversial Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project was officially canceled Thursday, bringing to an end the battle over the largest and most expensive effort to build land along Louisiana’s sinking coastline.  The Louisiana…

Louisiana’s $3 Billion Coastal Boondoggle: The Sediment Diversion That Washed Away

Landry’s critics say he’s “abandoning science.” On the contrary, he’s recognizing the difference between real science—which admits uncertainty—and expensive, bureaucratic groupthink dressed up as “climate resilience.” With budget-busting risks, legal uncertainty, and unreliable modeling, the only responsible course was to hit pause.

Louisiana scraps $3B coast restoration plan, may have to repay $618M

Louisiana scrapped a $3 billion coastline restoration effort for a vanishing Gulf coastline on Thursday, July 17. The plan had been financed by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. While conservationists asserted it was a vital plan to combat climate change, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, a Republican, called it a threat to residents' livelihoods and argued it was too expensive. State may have to repay $618M The project at the heart of the state’s…

Louisiana scraps $2.2B Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project

(The Center Square) − Louisiana officials have formally canceled the massive Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project, citing rising costs, permit challenges, and fierce opposition from coastal communities.

Louisiana cancels $3B coastal restoration project - American Press

Louisiana officially canceled a $3 billion coastal restoration funded by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill settlement money, state and federal agencies confirmed Thursday. The Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion Project had been intended to rebuild upward of 20 square miles of land in southeast Louisiana to combat sea level rise and erosion on the Gulf Coast. The money must be used on coastal restoration and it was not immediately clear if the $618 m…

Louisiana coastal restoration project funded by oil spill settlement canceled; $3B at stake

BARATARIA BAY, La. (NEWS 15) — A $3 billion coastal restoration project in Louisiana, funded by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill settlement, has been officially canceled. Conservation groups had backed the initiative to restore over 20 square miles of land…