Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority and its partners broke ground on a new project recently. The River Reintroduction into Maurepas Swamp is a freshwater diversion providing important life-giving sediments for Louisiana’s largest and last remaining coastal freshwater marsh.
Years ago, man leveed off the Mississippi River, providing flood protection and stability for local communities, but in doing so, they deprived the Louisiana Delta of freshwater and essential nutrients. Cut off from the Mississippi River, the Maurepas Swamp has begun to wither and die slowly.
The River Reintroduction into Maurepas Swamp plans to change that.
Located on the East Bank of the Mississippi River in St John the Baptist Parish, this freshwater diversion will reconnect the swamp with a critical freshwater source.
This project will benefit over 9,000 acres of wetland, allowing it to blossom and thrive. A healthier ecosystem means a healthier habitat for numerous birds, fish, and wildlife that call South Louisiana home, said CPRA.
Also, this reinvigorated wetland will add an extra layer of protection for nearby communities from storm surge.