Mid-Brenton Sediment Diversion Project Selects Designer

The Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority announced their selection of Stantec Inc. to design the Mid-Brenton Sediment Diversion Project. The project will be built near Wills Point on the east bank of the Mississippi River in Plaquemines Parish, La., and would move up to 35,000 cu ft per second of water and sediment from the river into wetlands between the Mississippi and Lake Borgne, according to The Times-Picayune of New Orleans. The $488 million project would aim to nourish existing wetlands and build new wetlands in open water.

Louisiana’s 2017 coastal master plan update estimated the diversion would build approximately 83 sq miles of new land during the first 50 years of operation. However, the project is opposed by commercial fishers who argue the fresh water will damage native fish. Design for the project will begin immediately, but the state is still working towards receiving the necessary permits. The state has the goal of beginning construction by the end of 2020.