re: Cancellation of Mid-Barataria Diversion project could cost Louisiana at least $700 million

IIRC, sometime after Katrina the Corps of Engineers told Plaquemines Parish they couldn’t justify spending $4 billion, or whatever the huge number, to raise their levees from Belle Chase down to Venice to the same height as Nola, to protect a population of 25,000 people.

Katrina destroyed most of the marsh east of the river south of Delacroix, while coastal erosion has done the same for Barataria Bay. I have fished those areas for decades and the change from marsh to open water is remarkable and stunning.

That cat is out of the bag and not coming back to its former condition, even with the Diversion Project. Mardi Gras Pass, naturally created by the river on the east side, is a good example of how fresh water flow has rebuilt marsh in that area. To say we’ll do nothing, or dredge our way out of this as advocated by Nungesser et al, isn’t going to work.

The Diversion is a band aid but sorely needed. To say we’ll imperil the future of a million or so people for the wishes of 25,000 is not sound political leadership or wise. If it were in my power, I’d blow the levees somewhere south of Belle Chase and let the river do its thing, build land.

Do nothing and Nola Westbank levees in 50 years will be adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico, while Plaquemines Parish will be gone. New Orleans won’t be far behind, and it will be mostly open water between Baton Rouge and the Gulf.

We unfortunately live in a State that does political stupidity very, very well. At some point the Feds will quit bailing us out. Cancel the Diversion Project and you can kiss the coastline below Nola goodbye.