When measuring the impact of land loss plaguing the state of Louisiana, the staggering statistics verify the significance and need for coastal restoration. With over 2,000 acres lost since the 1980s, peril was traded for progress with the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) breaking ground in late summer on its $2.3-billion Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion (MBSD) project.
The MBSD coastal restoration endeavor is located at mile 60.7 on the Mississippi River between Ironton, La., and the now-closed Phillips 66 Alliance Refinery. Its boundaries span the Mississippi River's west bank to the Mid-Barataria Basin, west of what is referred to as the back levee. The project focuses on capturing rich sediment and freshwater from the river and then diverting it to the Barataria Basin. The MBSD is a joint venture between Archer Western and Alberichi.