As a member of the Restore the Mississippi River Delta Coalition, Audubon partners with the National Wildlife Federation, the Environmental Defense Fund, Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, and Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation to advance restoration of America's Mississippi River Delta and the Louisiana coast. For Audubon, this is a priority as the Mississippi River Delta ecosystem and coastal Louisiana support 100 million migratory, nesting and wintering birds. Protecting and restoring this vital habitat is crucial to the health and survival of many of these species. 

What's the problem?

Louisiana’s coast is disappearing at an astonishing rate: A football field of wetlands vanishes into open water almost every hour. Our land loss crisis is an environmental and economic disaster that puts our communities, wildlife, jobs and way of life at risk. Continued loss of coastal wetlands increases our exposure to damage from hurricanes, storm surge and other disasters. Through its Coastal Master Plan, the state has committed to improving the protection and restoration of our coast through sound, science-based solutions. With the support of concerned Louisianians like yourself, we have the power to move forward long-lasting, science-based restoration projects to ensure the resiliency and sustainability of our region for decades to come. Want to kow more? Discover the Delta 

What's the solution?

Louisiana has a plan to address this land loss crisis and implement solutions that can ensure the long-term survival of our region. In the aftermath of the devastation brought by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Louisiana’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) created the state’s Coastal Master Plan to enhance the long-term protection of its people and restoration of its disappearing coast. The plan is comprised of long-lasting, science-based solutions for addressing the root causes of land loss and implementing projects to build and sustain land across the entire Louisiana coast. CPRA works in conjunction with the governor’s office, state legislature and other state and federal agencies to move this plan into implementation. Louisiana needs leaders who will be a voice for coastal restoration and who support the Coastal Master Plan process. Want to know more? Discover the 19 priority projects that have been identified in the Mississippi River Delta. 

Who is the Restore the Mississippi River Delta Coaltion?

The Restore the Mississippi River Delta Coalition is a joint effort of non-profit organizations made up of science, public policy, economics and outreach experts working collaboratively to raise awareness and build support for science-based solutions to restore Louisiana’s coast. The coalition is comprised of staff experts from Environmental Defense Fund, National Audubon Society, National Wildlife Federation, Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana and Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation. Together, we are working to restore Louisiana’s coast through long-lasting, science-based restoration solutions, as identified in the state’s Coastal Master Plan. Of the projects included in the Coastal Master Plan, have identified a suite of 19 priority restoration projects that will collectively drastically reduce wetland loss and help protect New Orleans and other coastal communities from the effects of tropical storms and hurricanes. Want to know more? Learn more about our very important work. 

How can coastal restoration become a reality?

There is no one-size-fits-all solution to restoration. Rather, it requires a combination of strategies and projects working in tandem to not only build new but also sustain existing wetlands along Louisiana’s coast. Some of these projects include reconnecting the Mississippi River to its delta through land-building sediment diversions, strategic use of dredged sediment to build and sustain wetlands and barrier islands, and the construction of salinity control measures to prevent saltwater intrusion and improve the health of our basins. These coastal restoration projects not only build new land, but they also help protect cities, communities and infrastructure; support fisheries; and bolster the economy of Louisiana and the entire nation that depends on the health of the Mississippi River Delta. Want to know more? Stay up to date on the latest on coastal restoration news and projects. 

Learn more at MississippiRiverDelta.org. Sign up for our email list and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.