Louisiana halts costly Mid-Breton sediment diversion project

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — The state of Louisiana has officially canceled the Mid-Breton sediment diversion project, withdrawing its permit applications due to escalating costs.

The Mid-Breton project, located on the east bank of the Mississippi River in Plaquemines Parish, was designed to channel freshwater and sediment into Breton Sound to help build wetlands. However, the cost of the project has ballooned from an initial $90 million to an estimated $1.8 billion, prompting the state to halt the project.

Gordon Dove, Chairman of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA), cited the rising costs as the primary reason for the project’s cancellation, stating that it was beyond what the state could handle.

Polly Glover, Project Coordinator for Restore or Retreat, expressed disappointment over the cancellation, noting that the Mid-Breton project was a cornerstone of the state’s coastal master plan.

The Mid-Breton project was one of two major sediment diversion projects planned for the region, with the other being the Mid-Barataria diversion on the west bank of the Mississippi River. Both projects were integral to the state’s efforts to combat coastal erosion and restore wetlands.

Glover highlighted the significance of these projects, stating that their cancellation is a major setback for the state’s coastal program. She emphasized the importance of developing new projects to ensure the future resilience of Louisiana’s coast.

The cancellation of the Mid-Breton project marks a significant challenge for Louisiana’s coastal restoration efforts, as the state must now seek alternative solutions to address its coastal erosion issues.