Sediment Diversion

Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion

  • Project TypeSediment Diversion
  • Project BasinBarataria Basin

This sediment diversion is located along the west bank of the Mississippi River near Myrtle Grove. The brackish and freshwater wetlands in the influence area are highly degraded due to a combination of saltwater intrusion, decreased fresh water supply, alterations to the natural hydrology of the area and a lack of sediment input. This project will reconnect the river to the influence area and divert sediment, nutrients and fresh water to build new land, maintain existing marshes and increase habitat resiliency to sea level rise and storm events. Project synergies with marsh creation projects in the influence area of the diversion create the potential for hundreds of acres of restored wetlands to be enhanced by the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion as soon as it is constructed and operated.

In March 2021, the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion. Coming in at over 5000 pages, consisting of 10 chapters and 20 appendices, the statement is chock full of information about this proposed project and what it can do to restore our coast. 

Learn about the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion | Read the DEIS here | Learn more about the project on the CPRA website