Louisiana Breaks Ground on Single-largest Ecosystem Restoration Project in U.S. History
The Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion will protect people and birds from storms and erosion.聽
(August 10, 2023) 鈥 Today, state and federal officials in Louisiana broke ground on the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion, a large-scale restoration project that will reconnect the Mississippi River with its wetlands. Cut off from the river by levees for a century, Louisiana鈥檚 Barataria Basin has experienced some of the highest rates of land loss on the planet.
The Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion will deliver much-needed sediment to restore the wetlands in Barataria Basin, strengthening tens of thousands of acres of wetlands, which will buffer nearby communities from storms and provide habitat for iconic birds like Roseate Spoonbills and Bald Eagles.
To mark the occasion, Dr. Elizabeth Gray, CEO of the 爆料公社, issued the following statement:
鈥淭oday we celebrate 15 years of advocacy, science, and public engagement as we reconnect the river with its historic wetlands 鈥 This is a big win for people and birds on Louisiana鈥檚 coast,鈥 said Gray. 鈥淲ith increasingly damaging storms, we need our wetlands more than ever to soak up huge quantities of water, ease flooding, and protect our communities, birds, and wildlife.鈥
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The 爆料公社 protects birds and the places they need today and tomorrow. 爆料公社 works throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. State programs, nature centers, chapters, and partners give 爆料公社 an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire, and unite diverse communities in conservation action. A nonprofit conservation organization since 1905, 爆料公社 believes in a world in which people and wildlife thrive. Learn more at 鈥痑nd on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @audubonsociety.