sediment diversions

Tulane University graduate student Augustine Nwokoye removes a water sample from the PS 200 isokinetic sediment sampler in the Lower Mississippi River Delta on Wednesday, April 23, 2025.

Mississippi River loses most of its sediment—and land building ability—before reaching the Gulf

New research shows that typically, less than 10% of land-building alluvium reaches the Bird’s Foot Delta region, the southernmost reach of the river, where it meets the Gulf.

Alisha Renfro, coastal scientist with the National Wildlife Federation, takes a sediment core sample from Quarantine Bay during a period of high water. New research shows that Neptune Pass is building new land with material from the Mississippi River.

Coastal Desk

Through a new Mississippi River channel, Mother Nature shows the land-building power of sediment diversions

Delaney Dryfoos (The Lens)

As the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion flounders amid politics, some scientists say that doubts about its effectiveness can be addressed by Neptune Pass, which branched off the Mississippi on its own and is creating the largest new delta in North America.

An aerial view of broken wetlands in Plaquemines Parish. Projections by Climate Central indicate that the parish could lose another 100,000 acres of wetlands by the end of the century.

Coastal Desk

Army Corps greenlights Louisiana’s $2.2 billion sediment diversion to combat land loss

Halle Parker

In a historic decision, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers signed off on Louisiana’s $2.2 billion plan to divert muddy Mississippi River water into Plaquemines Parish’s degraded wetlands to rebuild land on Monday.

Coastal Desk

Study: Sediment Diversions Could Inject Billions Into Local Economy

Travis Lux

The state’s proposed sediment diversions could inject billions of dollars into the regional economy, according to a new study sponsored by an…

Coastal Desk

New Study: River Diversions Don't Build Land; State Disagrees

Travis Lux

The Mississippi River plays a critical role in Louisiana’s plan to combat coastal land loss. The state wants to divert part of its flow into the dying…

Coastal Desk

New Poll: Majority Of Louisiana Voters Believe In Climate Change

Travis Lux

A strong majority of Louisiana voters believe in climate change, according to a new poll sponsored by several environmental groups.About 1,000 “chronic…

Coastal Desk

The Mississippi River Devastated Fisheries This Year. Some See It As A Preview Of The Future

Travis Lux

One of the ways the state plans to rebuild land on the Louisiana coast is by sediment diversions -- diverting the silt, sand, and dirty waters of the…

Coastal Desk

Mid-Barataria Diversion Project Delayed

Travis Lux

The state’s cornerstone coastal restoration project has been delayed. The announcement was made in Baton Rouge at the monthly Coastal Protection and…

Coastal Desk

Coastal News Roundup: Tracking Birds Across The Gulf, And More

Travis Lux

This week on the Coastal News Roundup -- how weather radar can be used to count migrating birds. Plus, the state looks to increase the size of a major…

Coastal Desk

State Considers Doubling Size Of River Diversion To Combat Land Loss

Travis Lux

Louisiana’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) released a draft of its new annual plan at the monthly CPRA Board meeting on Wednesday,…