Posted on January 19, 2019
NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – The state’s coastal protection agency began the process Wednesday of winning approval for a major new diversion project on the East Bank of Plaquemines Parish.
That project is creating concern for those who fish the waters in that region.
The Louisiana Coastal Restoration Agency has set its sights there for a new diversion project which would cost an estimated $800 million.
The project which could divert between 35,000 and 70,000 cubic feet per second of river water has been proposed for below the tiny community of White Ditch.
As is the case with many diversions, this one is creating new concerns for fisherman and trappers who make their living in that region. They worried that an influx of freshwater could hurt their catch.
“Our concern is our livelihood and heritage in St. Bernard Parish. We don’t think diversions are going to work,” said St. Bernard Parish President and CPRA Board Member Guy McInnis.
The site was selected after several hydrological studies outlined massive amounts of sediment which could be diverted into the depleted marsh to restore it.
“It’s all about the delta and estuary in the cold mingling of freshwater into a salt water environment adding nutrients. It’s worked for thousands of years,” said Brad Barth with the CPRA.
As the debate over the new diversion continues, the Mississippi River is about to be deepened for larger ships and that will create a lot more sediment.
“This organization needs to pay close attention to what happens in the beneficial use of the dredge material,” said CPRA Board Bember Marty Chabert.
The state’s coastal protection authority has more than $800 million worth of projects slated for 2018.
“As we enter a new year I asked that you re-commit yourself in an effort for the ages,” said CPRA Board Chairman Chip Kline.
The effort now includes seeking permits for a new Plaquemines Parish diversion project called the Mid-Breton that could be up and running in four years.
The CPRA also discussed former Commissioner Chair Johnnie Bradberry. He resigned to take a position with a private engineering firm called GEC, which does a lot of coastal restoration work in Louisiana.
Coastal legal advisers said they are working to put firewalls in place to make sure there are no conflicts of interest between the state and Bradberry in his new position.
Source: Fox 8
