We take on many of the biggest environmental and health challenges of our time and stick with them. The law makes change. Press Room Louisiana accused of ignoring wildlife conservation deals; Air Products’ CO2 pipeline faces legal hurdle Dustin Renaud, drenaud@earthjustice.org Healthy Gulf filed a lawsuit in the 19th judicial district court for the Parish of East Baton Rouge alleging state agencies are acting outside their authority when they approved Air Products Blue Energy’s plan to construct a carbon dioxide pipeline through the Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management Area Healthy Gulf is represented by Earthjustice The group alleges that when the State of Louisiana accepted the donations of tracts of land from private donors it entered agreements that include binding language prioritizing land conservation in its natural state and prohibiting the use or development of the land for any commercial activity — such as building a CO2 pipeline the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ (LDWF) and other state agencies acted outside their legal authority by allowing a private company to gain access to what should be a natural resource for all citizens of Louisiana “Lake Maurepas is a valuable natural resource and the state recognized that when it promised the donors of the land it would preserve and protect it,” says Lauren Godshall “The state’s approval of this pipeline flies in the face of why this land was set aside for wildlife management and preservation and undermines the state’s credibility.” “This land was meant to be preserved for the enjoyment by citizens of Louisiana There are laws that protect it from being developed for industrial purposes — like a carbon dioxide pipeline,” says Rodrigo Cantu “This plan to place a CO2 pipeline here is not only a bad idea; it violates the state’s own contracts.” The pipeline will originate in Ascension Parish at the site of a proposed “blue” ammonia and “blue” hydrogen facility which would utilize fossil fuels for carbon capture The pipeline will carry captured carbon dioxide through the protected Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management Area into a proposed carbon storage facility proposed under Lake Maurepas The state has given a private company a shortcut through public lands “The Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management Area is protected for a reason — it’s a vital refuge for Louisiana’s wildlife and a cornerstone of our conservation efforts,” said Andrew Whitehurst “Allowing a carbon waste pipeline to cut through these lands not only violates the law but undermines the mission of the LDWF to protect Healthy Gulf is asking the court to hold state agencies accountable to their duty to safeguard our natural heritage not sacrifice it for industrial projects that threaten its future.” the state acquired several tracts of land for the benefit of creating this Lake Maurepas Wildlife Management Area These wetlands and swamps surround the western border of one of the most pristine and heavily used natural resources near New Orleans Because these lands were of such a high ecological value the use of the lands was restricted to ensure natural protection and conservation The state even received federal funds to ensure that these lands would be protected from development state agencies entered into a carbon dioxide storage agreement with Air Products which included development of a pipeline that would destroy and permanently scar the wildlife management area the LDWF then separately provided Air Products a letter approving the pipeline development over the land that is to be protected While LDWF’s approval of the pipeline was premised on state law providing that the state may lease lands for the purpose of storage of carbon dioxide the wildlife management area is specifically governed by a separate law prohibiting the breach of any term or condition of any donation which has been accepted by the state for wildlife management this action is both beyond the states’ legal authority and in violation of state law Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people's health to preserve magnificent places and wildlife We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer “Our work to rectify 150 years of injustice is far from over.” Stay informed on how we hold accountable those who break our environmental laws © 2025 Earthjustice. We respect your privacy You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience and security Flood waters in the Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management Area (WMA) have triggered an automatic deer hunting season closure the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) announced enacted by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission closes deer hunting in the WMA when the flood gauge reaches 3.0 feet The season will reopen once the water falls below 2.5 gauge height feet. The WMA gauge height can be found at https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/300602090375100/#parameterCode=00065&period=P7D&showMedian=false is located approximately 25 miles west of New Orleans and along the south shore of Lake Maurepas west to near Sorrento Available game species on Maurepas Swamp WMA include white-tailed deer All visitors to Maurepas Swamp WMA and all LDWF WMAs must have either a WMA Access Permit, Senior Hunting/Fishing License, Louisiana Sportsman’s Paradise License, or Lifetime Hunting/Fishing License. Go to https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/wmarefugeconservation-area-licenses-and-permits for more information For additional information on Maurepas Swamp WMA go to: http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/maurepas-swamp or contact the LDWF Hammond Field Office at 985-543-4777 Less than an hour outside of New Orleans lies an iconic landscape filled with all the things one may think of when picturing Louisiana: bald cypress trees draped in delicate Spanish moss alligators roaming the waters with snouts and eyes barely visible and large-winged herons and egrets hunting along the flooded forest floor one of the largest remaining swamp forests in the United States provides a critical link for birds like Prothonotary Warblers migrating between their nesting grounds in North America and their wintering grounds in Central and South America and a new project breaking ground today aims to save them and there aren’t enough young ones growing to replace them Maurepas serves as a critical buffer for surrounding communities from storms and flooding—without it major cities like New Orleans and Baton Rouge would face even greater challenges as climate change increases those threats It's a swamp in serious need of a comeback Researchers at Audubon Delta and Louisiana State University spent over 20 years examining the health of the Maurepas Swamp and the impact of these disruptions on the vulnerable ecosystem’s hydrology—the flow of water in and out of the swamp They tracked bird populations and even looked at an unexpected indicator—caterpillars—to get the full picture of what's happening in this unique swamp Caterpillar outbreaks on the two dominant tree species in Maurepas Swamp can defoliate large expanses of forest in some years these caterpillars only have one generation per year and the trees quickly regrow leaves after the outbreak is finished by late summer these caterpillars are also not newly introduced—in fact their emergences coincide with the nest season for food for insectivorous swamp birds like the Prothonotary Warbler and therefore play an important role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem Audubon’s research has shown that over the last two decades bald cypress leafroller caterpillar outbreaks have become increasingly rare These caterpillars depend on healthy cypress trees to thrive but the entire swamp ecosystem is increasingly out of balance largely because of the lack of freshwater flow we need to restore its connection to fresh water Luckily, there's a solution on the way. The River Reintroduction to Maurepas Swamp project is set to bring a much-needed boost of freshwater giving the swamp the lift it needs to thrive for the long haul and become more resilient than ever This novel diversion project is set to reconnect one of the largest forested wetland complexes in the U.S preventing further wetland loss and habitat damage In the face of climate change and sea-level rise boosting a natural wetland buffer that helps reduce storm surges for communities all the way from Greater Baton Rouge to Greater New Orleans It’s a game-changer for both the environment and the people who depend on it With the River Reintroduction project on the ground Maurepas Swamp will keep providing a perfect home for the Prothonotary Warbler and a whole host of other amazing wildlife from wading birds and migratory birds to bald eagles Another key piece of Louisiana’s coast is poised for a much-needed revival ensuring that this vital ecosystem continues to thrive for generations to come supporting both its incredible wildlife and the communities that rely on its protection Pledge to stand with Audubon to call on elected officials to listen to science and work towards climate solutions MAUREPAS — Louisiana State Police are investigating a crash on LA 16 near Old Ferry Road shortly after 5:30 a.m Hickerson was driving west on LA Hwy 16 in a 2014 GMC Sierra A 2007 Ram 2500 pickup truck was going the opposite direction the Ram crossed over the center line and hit Hickerson’s truck head-on The driver of the Dodge Ram was also not wearing a seatbelt and had moderate injuries The driver was transported to a local hospital Officials say that impairment is not suspected standard toxicology samples were taken and submitted for analysis Download the Unfiltered with Kiran app from the Apple App Store and Google Play to stay updated on the latest news across the Capital area.  Support UWK and its mission to deliver The News You Deserve. Unfiltered. Become a monthly patron on Patreon today and website in this browser for the next time I comment Drop us a line and we’ll be happy to follow up Let's ConnectFollow along on your favorite social media platform and get the latest updates directly in your feed Download our app or join our newsletter for instant access to breaking news and in-depth stories from anywhere The Lens the state’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) officially began to reconnect the Mississippi River with the Maurepas Swamp a degraded and submerged swamp forest directly west of Lake Pontchartrain.  Levees built to protect greater New Orleans had cut off the Maurepas Swamp from the fresh water supplied by the Mississippi River and the Pontchartrain Basin the CPRA is poised to reintroduce the river to the dying swamp through a new channel that runs from the river to the swamp The flow of water coming into the swamp will be controlled by a gate across the channel at Garyville.  The new channel is remarkable because it will be the first large diversion carrying river water to a submerging freshwater swamp forest The project also showcases a new partnership between the U.S Army Corps of Engineers and CPRA to jolt Maurepas back to life even as the Corps builds new River Parish levees which will create further separation between the swamp and river To a layperson driving down I-10, the Maurepas Swamp seems green and woody – and may not look like it’s dying. At 220 square miles, it’s still considered one of the Gulf Coast’s largest forested wetlands the forested area of the swamp is disappearing.  “This is a swamp that’s been cut off from fresh water and nutrients from the Mississippi River for more than 100 years,” said Alisha Renfro senior scientist at the National Wildlife Federation “So it’s been dying for a really long time.” Most of the river’s levees were built up during the 1920s and 1930s after record-breaking floods prompted the passage of federal flood-control acts.   “The swamp is still here – there are still trees – they are just really unhealthy,” said Brad Miller CPRA project manager for the river reintroduction Tuesday’s groundbreaking marked the beginning of construction for the freshwater diversion Imagining the complex project took nearly 10 times as long: its planning and design phases lasted almost 30 years The devastated health of the cypress-tupelo forest is best seen from the swamp’s interior with the leaves of the trees blocking sunlight from reaching the bottom But today the tree cover is sparse and sunlight bleeds through the canopy allowing the growth of invasive species to outcompete native plants The loss of native plants has led to a decline in several wildlife populations Restoring the health of the trees would help the rest of the ecosystem recover “We want to see more bald cypress leafrollers director of conservation science for Audubon Delta.  Scientists like Johnson conclude that swampland is suffering when they see dropping numbers of caterpillars and visiting birds as has been the case in Maurepas for decades “We really haven’t seen outbreaks of those caterpillars in about 20 years and corresponding to that we’ve seen a 50% decline in swamp songbird specialists like the prothonotary warbler,” he said the Maurepas Swamp was considered a haven for mallard hunting The understory below the tree canopy still supplied enough food for the ducks to take refuge for the winter blanketed the water in dense mats below trees With Tuesday’s groundbreaking, the construction project is beginning with almost no opposition, a stark contrast to the controversial and now-delayed Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion which has often been touted as the largest coastal restoration project in the country by environmentalists.  With the Barataria project, Governor Jeff Landry has sided with commercial fishermen and other critics who argue that the river reintroduction would change the ecology of the Barataria Basin, devastating people who fish there and Louisiana’s very culture The two projects are very different, though they both divert river water into wetlands and play key roles in Louisiana’s Coastal Master Plan.  the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion is designed to build land through sediment dropped from Mississippi River water that could create up to 26,000 acres of wetlands in Plaquemines Parish.  The Maurepas Swamp River Reintroduction focuses only on moving nutrient-laden fresh water into the swamp to revitalize the health of the cypress-tupelo forest and wetlands The Maurepas diversion also takes far less water from the river – it is predicted to move less than 5% of fresh water entering the Pontchartrain Basin which amounts to less than 0.5% of the average Mississippi River flow The diversion’s maximum flow is 2,000 cubic feet per second and is expected to run less than six months annually This freshwater diversion is designed to mimic seasonal spring flooding which is essential to cypress trees’ life cycle The seedlings require access to fresh water and a dry period to germinate which is currently missing from the swamp but would be brought in through the river reintroduction To track the success of the Maurepas river reintroduction the United States Geological Survey (USGS) established five performance measures the new “conveyance channel” – an artificial channel designed to move water from one place to another –  will mimic the flood and drought conditions of the Mississippi River reduce saltwater intrusion that kills cypress trees and increase soil elevation within the swamp while increasing forest structural integrity and facilitating nutrient uptake by native plants The differences will likely be visible to scientists keeping an eye on Maurepas forests “I expect an increase in canopy cover as the trees put on more leaves and wood,” said Gary P professor of biological sciences at Southeastern Louisiana University.  “Natural seedling regeneration should also occur for the first time in decades so the forests will become denser and their soils will become stronger,” he said.  A new partnership in mitigation for the Army Corps’ flood protection project Until today, Mississippi River reintroductions have focused on building land within marsh wetlands, which contain fewer trees, relying on grasses like smooth cordgrass, marshhay cordgrass and California bulrush The Maurepas freshwater diversion will be the first to rehabilitate nearly 45,000 acres of degraded and submerged “swamp forest,” where bald cypress water tupelo and red swamp maple create native canopies But that’s not the only unique aspect of the Maurepas Swamp project. For the first time, CPRA has partnered with the Army Corps of Engineers to use the river reintroduction as mitigation for the West Shore Lake Pontchartrain (WSLP) flood protection project.  floodwalls and pumping stations to protect communities along the east bank of the Mississippi River the new levee will meet with the Maurepas Swamp’s new conveyance channel in Garyville The revitalized swamp forest will also help to further protect the River Parishes from storm surge and flooding But to protect the River Parishes, WSLP will build 18.5 miles of new levees, further disconnecting the Mississippi River from the Maurepas Swamp. To protect the surrounding ecosystem, the Army Corps is now required to “mitigate” the impacts of its new construction through the creation of new wetlands or the purchase of credits in a mitigation bank “The West Shore levee is impacting a lot of wetlands,” said Miller of CPRA “And when you impact wetlands you have to mitigate for them.” the Army Corps formalized a partnership with CPRA to use 9,000 acres of the swamp as a mitigation area for the flood protection project by creating the new channel that reconnects the river to the swamp.  The Army Corps will monitor the ecological progress of this swampland to ensure that the river reintroduction works as intended Louisiana will monitor the entire 45,000-acre project area for at least 50 years Bringing the two projects together took a lot of work said Renfro of the National Wildlife Federation construction for both will take place concurrently and she is hopeful that Maurepas Swamp will serve as a proof of concept for future collaborations between the Army Corps and CPRA The Army Corps knew it needed to make up for impacting swamp with its levee project And this part of the Maurepas Swamp happened to fit that bill because it was located in the footprint of the levee project and badly needed a new chance at life.  The Lens aims to engage and empower the residents of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast We provide the information and analysis necessary to advocate for more accountable and just governance Continue to The Lens MAUREPAS — A couple in Maurepas had an unexpected dinner guest on Wednesday night - an alligator Bobby McKenzie said he heard a noise near his screen door but he did not think an alligator entered the patio area of his home.  “I walked up to the screen door and I could see the tail I turned around and went back inside,” McKenzie said.  Bobby and Susan said the nine-foot gator crawled through a small hole in their screen window I got the Livingston Parish Sheriff because we’re not going to go out and touch it,” she said Livingston Parish deputies and a family friend were able to tussle and wrangle the alligator the group was able to successfully tie up the gator and tape its mouth shut the couple said this was the first time an alligator was brave enough to go inside the house.  but never –  they’re usually not that aggressive,” Bobby said The McKenzies said they are glad that nobody was harmed and their dogs are safe They hope they do not have any intruders in the future   This newscast is updated weekdays at 6am An environmental group filed a lawsuit against the state to block the construction of a new carbon dioxide pipeline through Maurepas Swamp The lawsuit is the latest attempt to stop a U.S.-based international chemical company’s contentious proposal to store millions of tons of carbon dioxide beneath Lake Maurepas Air Products wants to build a “blue hydrogen” complex in Ascension Parish The facility would turn natural gas into hydrogen The captured carbon would then be piped about 40 miles before being injected deep underground below the lake Much of the new carbon dioxide pipeline for the project would cut through the Maurepas Swamp which is a wildlife management area protected by the state that spans over 100,000 acres west of New Orleans the Louisiana-based group Healthy Gulf accuses the state’s Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the State Mineral and Energy Board of violating state law by allowing the pipeline to move forward the two Louisiana agencies signed an interagency agreement that would allow the Miner and Energy Board to approve leases and operating agreements for carbon storage projects like Air Products’ The board granted the company the right to build carbon dioxide pipelines through the entirety of the Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management Area in 2021 all of the land included in the wildlife management area was donated to the state The donation agreements for the large tracts required the state to conserve the land and keep it natural Some of the agreements that would be affected by the pipeline’s construction even explicitly barred “industrial development” or any state action that “diminishes” the land’s natural state The lawsuit argues that approving the new pipeline breaches those donation agreements — which is illegal under state law which filed its lawsuit in East Baton Rouge Parish wants a state judge to block the agency from approving any plan to build a pipeline through Maurepas The Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) yesterday joined its partners from the U.S the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council Charles Parishes to break ground on the River Reintroduction into Maurepas Swamp Project (MSP) which provide flood protection to the communities have disconnected the river from the Maurepas Swamp depleting the swamp’s need for freshwater nutrients The MSP is a 2,000 cubic feet per second freshwater diversion located on the East Bank of the Mississippi River in St The project will reconnect the Mississippi River to the Maurepas Swamp and revitalize over 45,000 acres with freshwater sediment and nutrients to nourish one of Louisiana’s largest and last remaining coastal freshwater swamps The project involves constructing a headworks structure consisting of three 10’x10’ box culverts in the Mississippi River Levee These culverts will connect to a newly built two-mile-long conveyance channel which will flow into the existing Hope Canal the canal will be enhanced with small earthen levees guiding water into the Maurepas Swamp outfall area Daily news and in-depth stories in your inbox Air Products has donated $50,000 through its Lake Maurepas Community Fund to the Recreational Fisheries Research Institute (RFRI) to support the stocking of redfish in the Lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas area RFRI’s redfish stocking operations aims to enhance biodiversity and maintain the overall health of marine ecosystems “Air Products is committed to commercial and recreational fishing on Lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas and the Recreational Fisheries Research Institute will be able to continue its important work of ensuring redfish are plentiful in Louisiana waterways,” said Danna Leblanc Commercial Executive Director of the Louisiana Clean Energy Complex “Already through our Lake Maurepas Community Fund Air Products has supported fish stocking operations in other areas of Lake Maurepas and we are pleased to be able to continue this important work.” "I want to extend our heartfelt thanks to Air Products for their generous donation to the redfish stocking program This contribution plays a crucial role in supporting our efforts to enhance the redfish population and ensure the sustainability of Louisiana's fisheries we can make a lasting impact on marine conservation and engage the community in preserving our natural resources for future generations," said Randy Pausina Air Products has previously supported fish stocking in Lake Maurepas through a $250,000 donation to the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation which can already be found in Lake Maurepas there are no recent results for popular commented articles Have the latest local news delivered every day so you don't miss out on updates Remembering those in our community who have passed on in recent days We'll send breaking news and news alerts to you as they happen Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: PLAQUEMINE —- A 36-year-old lost his life in a two-vehicle crash Wednesday morning on April 30 when trooper responded to La 75 near Mendoza Dr in Iberville Parish for a two-vehicle crash State Police’s investigation so far reveals that Hall was driving a 2008 Pontiac Torrent north on LA 75. At the same time a concrete truck was headed the opposite direction on La 75 crossed over the centerline and crashed with the Mack truck Hall was unbuckled at the time of the crash and died on the scene A juvenile passenger in the Pontiac was properly buckled and was transported to hospital with minor injuries The driver of the Mack truck was properly restrained and was uninjured but routine toxicology samples were taken and submitted for analysis. This crash remains under investigation LAPLACE — Deer hunting is temporarily closed in the Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management Area due to flooding according to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Floodwaters in the area have reached 3 feet The department says deer hunting will be allowed when water levels fall below 2.5 feet To check the current water levels, click here The Maurepas Swamp WMA includes parts of Ascension Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) has awarded the contract for the first construction increment of the River Reintroduction into Maurepas Swamp project (MSP) LLC will complete “Reach 6” of the project and building guide levees through approximately three miles of Hope Canal between U.S The MSP is a 2,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) freshwater diversion located on the East Bank of the Mississippi River in St sediment and nutrients to nourish the area one of the largest and last remaining coastal freshwater swamps in Louisiana The first construction contract is valued at $8.4 million and funded exclusively with state dollars The cost to construct the Maurepas project in its entirety is valued at over $300 million and will utilize $190 million in funds from fines associated with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill as well as other state only funds The remainder of the conveyance channel between Airline Highway and the Mississippi River Both projects are currently scheduled to be completed by the end of 2028 FILE - Palmetto leaves are seen along a bank in the Maurepas Swamp in Ruddock FILE - A Cypress Tree covered in Spanish Moss is seen in the Maurepas Swamp in Ruddock FILE - A kayaker paddles amidst changing foliage in the Maurepas Swamp in Ruddock FILE - Green arrow arum is reflected in the water in the shape of a heart The Maurepas Swamp river reintroduction project is seen prior to a groundbreaking ceremony in Garyville Local officials participate in a groundbreaking ceremony for the Maurepas Swamp river reintroduction project in Garyville Deprived of nutrients from the stanched Mississippi River the swamp’s iconic trees are dying in stagnant water Yet they’re now set to receive a life-saving boost State and federal authorities on Tuesday celebrated breaking ground on an ambitious conservation project intended to replenish the ailing trees by diverting water from the Mississippi back into the swamp “This is about reconnecting a natural system actually fixing it to what it used to be,” said Brad Miller who has shepherded the project for the state’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority since 2006 Miller likened the $330 million river diversion to watering a garden: “The swamp needs river water to be a good swamp.” The River Reintroduction into Maurepas Swamp will allow for a maximum of 2000 cubic feet per second (57 cubic meters per second) to flow out of a gated opening to be built in the levee system and routed along a 5.5 miles (9 kilometers) diversion channel The project expects to revitalize around 45,000 acres (182 square kilometers) of swamp in an area where less than a third of the forest is considered healthy according to the U.S “All of that is completely hindered by not having the Mississippi River attached to it anymore,” Stevens said “You’ve got all this land sinking as a result of just not getting nutrients.” The swamp’s diminishing health has had ripple effects on biodiversity director of conservation science at Audubon Delta an organization focused on bird ecology in the Mississippi River delta Some migratory birds like the yellow throated warbler prothonotary warbler and the northern parula have had their populations plummet by nearly 50% in the past two decades These birds rely on caterpillars who are dependent on water tupelo and bald cypress foliage When there’s less healthy leaves for the caterpillars to gorge on “That’s driving a really rapid decline in these bird populations that depend on this one forest,” Johnson said Scientists say they expect to start seeing an increase in canopy cover and new tree growth within a few years of the project’s anticipated completion in 2028 The Maurepas project benefits from an innovative partnership with the U.S which is building an adjacent 18.5 miles (30 kilometers) levee system to protect several southeast Louisiana parishes The Corps will count 9,000 acres (36 square kilometers) of Maurepas Swamp restoration towards offsetting environmental damage caused by the new levee construction meaning it can direct additional federal funds towards the diversion program they have more to invest” in other coastal restoration projects director of policy and environmental compliance with Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council “You’re going to have a healthier ecosystem on the outside of that levee which means you’re going to have a better buffer for storm surge and it’s going to allow the levees to be more effective,” said Amanda Moore National Wildlife Federation’s Gulf Program senior director “This is how we need to be thinking at large about what’s possible and how we can how we can do more effective conservation by working with nature.” Driving Forces Lawsuit filed to halt carbon capture pipeline in Maurepas swamp Photo courtesy Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority’s Facebook A surprise amendment to an insurance bill causes a rift among Louisiana Republicans but advances Gov Nationwide AmeriCorps cuts impact disaster recovery The Fed keeps rates unchanged as inflation cools despite pressure from Trump and scrutiny over its spending a[...] Aurelia Skipwith Giacometto is leaving Louisiana’s environmental agency to join a Washington Hundreds rallied in New Orleans on May Day Trump’s 2026 budget cuts $163B from domestic programs Get our free New Orleans e-alerts & breaking news notifications A surprise amendment to an insurance bill causes a rift among Louisiana Republicans but advances Gov Landry’s reform agend[...] Here's how the city spent it—and the opportunities critics say were missed Nationwide AmeriCorps cuts impact disaster recovery leaving nonprofits struggling to f[...] Seventeen states sue Donald Trump over his executive order halting wind energy projects citing economic and environmental ri[...] The Fed keeps rates unchanged as inflation cools despite pressure from Trump and scrutiny over its spending and independence[...] Homebuyers now need $114K income to afford a median-priced home as mortgage rates rise and[...] New Orleans CityBusiness is the industry’s #1 trusted resource for 45 years on authoritative local industry news Get our free NOCB e-alerts & breaking news notifications Subscribe for access to the latest digital and special editions the conservation of Maurepas Swamp using the restorative power of the Mississippi River may prove to be one of the wisest investments of oil spill penalties especially given the long-term benefits to hunters Allowing the swamp to continue to degrade would jeopardize the cultural value of fishing and hunting in the area and leave numerous towns in Southeast Louisiana more vulnerable to future hurricanes This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access. LDWF to host Freshwater Commercial Fisheries Listening Session for Atchafalaya Basin ©2025 Louisiana Sportsman, Inc., All Rights Reserved. Employee Information Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application (83) departed this life into God's presence on Saturday He was a very hard-working man even up to the days before his passing Gilbert served as police officer in Sorrento for approximately 6 years and then he and his siblings bought Val’s Marina He was a major staple in Val’s Marina for 28 years and served as constable for our Maurepas community for 12 years He is preceded in death by his parents James and Lillie Delatte in addition to his great-grandson Grady Moran  Left to forever cherish Gilbert’s memory are his loving wife of 63 years Mary Simoneaux (Lloyd Sr) and James Delatte; ten grandchildren and Karsten Delatte; four great-grandchildren Graham Moran and Stetson Delatte; his brothers Edward Delatte and Wilbert Delatte Family and friends are invited to attend a celebration of life on October 6 2024; an open house for those who would like to pay their respects will start at 10am at the home of Martha and Gilbert This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Most of this region was deforested decades ago The new Mississippi River diversion is expected to revitalize this area near Gramercy (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate) Maurepas Swamp revitalization plans: The state is planning to reconnect the Maurepas Swamp west of New Orleans to the Mississippi River through a diversion channel with the dual aim of improving storm defenses and revitalizing the ecosystem This map shows the path of the 2,000 cubic feet per second "River Reintroduction into Maurepas Swamp" project and the West Shore Lake Pontchartrain hurricane levee with the part of the levee that is adacent to the diversion in yellow The darker green area is the part of Maurepas Swamp that is expected to be improved by the freshwater sediment and nutrients flowing from the river (Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority)  Artist's rendering of the water collection structure that will be built along the Mississippi River near Garyville for the "River Reintroduction into Maurepas Swamp" project (Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority) An $8.4 million construction contract was awarded Wednesday to Thibodaux-based Phylway Construction LLC for clearing excavation and construction of guide levees along the green line portion of the "River Reintroduction into Maurepas Swamp" project Artist's rendition of the first segment of the River Reintroduction into Maurepas Swamp project near Garyville which will funnel 2,000 cubic feet per second of river water A remote monitoring device that sends real-time updates on the water quality in the Maurepas Swamp on Friday Researchers and scientists look in the water in Maurepas Swamp near the remains of an old-growth cypress tree on Friday passes through the Maurepas Swamp on Friday The state has signed a construction contract for an initial phase of the work at the swamp which sits between New Orleans and Baton Rouge The initial contract involves a three-mile segment of the plan, which will funnel Mississippi River water and sediment into the swamp just northeast of Garyville. The authority awarded the $8.4 million contract to Thibodaux-based Phylway Construction LLC for clearing excavation and construction of guide levees along a portion of the Hope Canal between Airline Highway (U.S The "River Reintroduction into Maurepas Swamp" project will eventually include a path to and along the Hope Canal in St John the Baptist Parish from the river to that first expanded canal segment It will have the capacity of delivering up to 2,000 cubic feet per second of freshwater sediment and nutrients to freshen a nearly 45,000-acre section of the swamp The swamp and its tangle of cypress and tupelo trees have been cut off from revitalizing river water for decades due to the levees keeping the Mississippi in place The diversion will help address that as well as counteract subsidence and the effects of salt water into the swamp from the Gulf of Mexico and through Lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas But the revitalization effort will also have benefits beyond resuscitating the swamp which had been a favorite spot for hunting and fishing in an earlier era The Army Corps of Engineers has agreed to use 9,000 acres of the revitalized wetlands as mitigation for damage to swampland resulting from construction of the nearby 18.5-mile long West Shore Lake Pontchartrain hurricane levee A portion of the diversion's cost equivalent to those acres will count toward the state's financial contribution to the construction of the levee Corps officials said the diversion could represent as much as $125 million of the mitigation costs associated with what is now expected to be a $3.7 billion levee project The river diversion project is expected to cost more than $300 million with the state utilizing a variety of sources including $190 million from natural resource damage fines associated with the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill "We're funding this first reach with state-only dollars," coastal authority executive director Glenn Ledet Jr told the authority's board at a meeting at the state Capitol on Wednesday "This is really the start of what we hope to become really precedent-setting work both on the federal partnership with the Corps as well as mitigation work for these areas." “The financial efficiency in implementing (West Shore Lake Pontchartrain) and Maurepas together and maintaining overall flood risk reduction for this area is a tremendous achievement,” said Monica Salins Gorman executive director of the Pontchartrain Levee District which will operate the levee when it is completed The start of construction coincides with work already underway by the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana and other community groups to address problems within the Maurepas Swamp we are kicking off a three-year series of tree plantings in the swamp this fall that we expect to coincide with the start of work on the diversion," said spokesperson James Karst "Cypress and other trees have struggled there for decades .. because of the salinity changes associated with cutting off the swamp from the rivewr as well as the MR-GO." The Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet was a 72-mile shipping short-cut channel from the Gulf of Mexico to the Industrial Canal in New Orleans that increased the flow of salt water into Lake Pontchartrain until it was formally deauthorized as a navigation channel after Hurricane Katrina A dam across the channel in Plaquemines Parish has reduced the flow of salt water into the Industrial Canal The coalition also received a small grant that will pay to send 30 students and community members by kayak into the swamp to plant five cypress trees each Note: this story was updated on Wednesday afternoon with information about efforts made by the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana to restore the Maurepas Swamp Email Mark Schleifstein at mschleifstein@theadvocate.com or follow him on Twitter His work is supported with a grant funded by the Walton Family Foundation and administered by the Society of Environmental Journalists This story is only for subscribers like you${formattedName Email notifications are only sent once a day News Tips:nolanewstips@theadvocate.com Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com commercial executive director of Air Products’ Louisiana Clean Energy Complex joins representatives of Recreational Fisheries Research Institute to present $50,000 to support redfish stocking Fisherman will soon see more redfish in Lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas area thanks to a $50,000 donation from Air Products Air Products announced the donation to the Recreational Fisheries Research Institute on March 3 commercial executive director of the Louisiana Clean Energy Complex saying the contribution "plays a crucial role in supporting our efforts to enhance the redfish population and ensure the sustainability of Louisiana's fisheries." the company launched the Air Products Lake Maurepas Community Fund which plans to contribute $1 million per year to community projects that meet its intended mission for the duration of the operation of the Louisiana Clean Energy Complex The Fund assists organizations in the parishes bordering Lake Maurepas by supporting needed educational News Tips:newstips@theadvocate.com brother,great-grandfather and friend who enjoyed spending time with his family and friends and having a good time His trades were Iron worker and Crane Operator He enjoyed riding motorcycles and loved to spend time with family Gidget Gregoire; 16 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchild; Aunts Wallace Leggion; numerous nephews and nieces Doris McFerrin and countless other family members Visitation will be held at Harleyville Chapel of Maurepas on June 10th from 12:00 pm until service time at 2:00 pm Interment will follow at Richardson Cemetery of Saint Amant The family would like to give a special thanks to Kenneth’s nurses and aides with Hospice of Baton Rouge especially his case manager Candice for taking such good care of him Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text MAUREPAS - One of the region's biggest boat parades is kicking off Saturday with a familiar face as the Grand Marshal The Krewe of Diversion will set sail on Feb 22 and registration will cost $35 per boat starting Friday at Manny's in Maurepas.  WBRZ's own Abigail Whitam will serve as the Grand Marshal for the parade Be sure to tell her hello if you see her out on the water The focus has been on youth hunting since 2021-22 Boys and girls can hunt the Main Delta the first two weeks of October with either a shotgun loaded with buckshot or bow and arrow the Main Delta is closed to all other hunters Big Island is closed to all hunting other than youth deer hunting Oct 1 through the last day of the youth deer seasons aromatic spices from across the globe.[…] Former commissioner Joe McPherson charged LWF commissioners to ask Department of Agriculture officials about CWD-contaminated deer pens.[…] Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commissioners passed a Notice of Intent expanding the Chronic Wasting Disease control area once again.[…] Louisiana to Brenda Lee Lindsey Bair and Grady Denzil Bair and was raised in French Settlement as well as a host of other relatives and friends  Chad had a great love for all things fishing and hunting   He always had a fishing rod and tackle with him wherever he went so as not to miss that “chance” of catching a great fish or a great many fishes Air Products, a global hydrogen manufacturing company, is proposing to build a $4.5 billion “Clean Energy Complex” to manufacture blue hydrogen and an accompanying carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) project that would be operational by 2026.   Fossil fuel industry giants the Biden administration along with bipartisan support and major financial institutions describe projects like Air Products’ proposed development as “clean” and the technology it will utilize to capture and sequester carbon dioxide emissions as safe and playing a critical role in solving the climate crisis.  But opponents fighting to stop the company’s project led by a group of not-in-my-backyard (NIMBY) locals have had no trouble finding a wealth of information to the contrary.  But the voices of NIMBY locals could prove more difficult dismiss since few of them identify as environmentalists and most are supportive of industry Air Products plans to build a manufacturing complex near Burnside that will transform the methane in natural gas into ammonia and blue hydrogen while using technology to capture up to 95 percent of the CO2 emissions created in the process The captured carbon dioxide will be liquified then transported east via an approximately 35-mile pipeline to Air Products’ proposed CCS hub under Lake Maurepas an ecologically sensitive habit and productive estuary abundant with wildlife The project involves drilling multiple wellheads running pipelines through wetlands and underneath the lake The hub will have as many as 14 wells in which the captured CO2 will be injected under high pressure approximately a mile underground where it will presumably be sequestered forever.  Local leaders in Livingston and Tangipahoa parishes both conservative strongholds where support is strong for the oil and gas industry learned by happenstance about the company’s intention to use land under Lake Maurepas six months after the operating agreement was signed a local fisherman crossed paths with someone working on the project who explained the company’s plans; the fisherman shared this information with others igniting the pushback against the project.  The community’s widely shared belief that no amount of money is worth putting at risk this prized ecosystem has led to an alliance with environmental advocates who they might otherwise butt heads with.  Coates told me she found it unfathomable that the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) felt it appropriate to lease the bottom of the lake for a such a large project without reaching out to any of the parish representatives directly On October 4, 2021, a few weeks after Hurricane Ida hit — one of the most damaging storms to impact the state — the agency held a public hearing for the proposed operating agreement via Zoom But even if some community members had known about the hearing it would have been difficult to participate because many were still without power Expecting public participation under those circumstance seems disingenuous to Coates a sentiment shared by other council members and residents who see the initial permission from the state for this project as a backdoor deal it would have delayed the company’s efforts to gather data to confirm that the geology beneath Lake Maurepas is suitable for CO2 sequestration a necessary step before it can apply for a permit for a Class VI injection well the kind needed for underground CO2 sequestration.  Despite the growing calls from the community for Air Products to choose an alternative location to store its captured CO2 and the chosen location for the facility is less than a mile from a majority Black school The public will get a chance to comment before a permit is issued Greg Langley But the agency hasn’t decided whether it will hold a public hearing.  Meanwhile, Air Products began its seismic survey last year in Tangipahoa Parish. The survey is expected to take six months and the company is also pushing forward with plans to drill two Class V injection test wells if the results indicate the geology meets the EPA’s standards the company will seek a Class VI permit required for sequestering CO2 underground At a public hearing regarding DNR’s request in July 2021 opponents expressed concerns over CCS projects in general and the potential for the network of pipelines used to supply the CO2 to interfere with the state’s coastal restoration projects.  Retired Lt. General Russel Honoré testified against the state’s application on behalf of the Green Army, a coalition of environmental groups and concerned citizens fighting against pollution. Honoré pointed out if CCS projects in Louisiana are developed other states whose geography isn’t suitable for carbon sequestration will end up transporting their CO2 pollution to the state Air Products began making efforts to quell concerns after news of its CCS project under the lake spread. It seems that those efforts are backfiring Opponents have compared the company’s public relations tactics to BP’s notable missteps following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010 recalling how BP’s CEO Tony Hayward let his frustration with locals slip when he said “There’s no one who wants this over more than I do. I’d like my life back.” Tension was palpable at the public meetings I attended related to Air Products’ project community meeting organized by Councilwoman Coates approximately 200 people filled Ponchatoula’s Lions Club in Tangipahoa Parish where representatives from Air Products and the state fielded questions it was clear to me that battle lines were drawn an Air Products’ executive, asserted that neither the geologic tests nor the proposed CCS project itself would present a danger to the environment or interfere with communities’ use of the lake He also stated that if the geography proves to be suitable for the project its CCS component would be operated safely was among those not convinced by Connolly’s assurances His statement that he didn’t want to give Air Products a chance to turn the lake into a “hazardous waste dump” was representative of the ferocity of opposition to the project.  you can’t bring back destroyed wetlands,” he said He rejected the company’s claims that its project would be financially beneficial “There is no amount of money that would make us understand this and accept it Coates told me that any company that wants to develop its project in an estuary while calling itself “green and clean” is a red flag to her Claims like the ones Connolly made at that meeting — that this major industrial project doesn’t put the environment at risk — sets off her “greenwashing radar.” Informed by her previous standoffs with other developers she learns everything she can to enable her to identify any risks proposed projects will create like she started doing after hearing about Air Products’ plans last year and the public only sees one side of it,” she said “I want make sure the public has all the information on any type of project so they can see it from all angles.”  Coates was irked by local media reports that refer to the project as “clean” without questioning what “clean” means She thinks reporting like that makes it seem like the community is against creating clean energy jobs and helping the state bring down CO2 emissions It didn’t take her long to figure out that claims that this project will help lower the state’s CO2 emissions in order to achieve net-zero emissions are not accurate.  The project will add CO2 emissions not cut them even if it is only the 5 percent of CO2 the company will miss when it captures the other 95 percent — plus you have to factor in the associated methane emissions Labeling blue hydrogen as clean is an example of greenwashing, she told me. She referenced a 2021 peer-reviewed study by Robert W Jacobson that found that when you factor in fugitive methane emissions from the entire natural gas lifecycle — from drilling to transportation to use — and the methane needed to power the CCS technology, hydrogen is far from the climate-friendly solution its backers purport the greenhouse gas footprint of blue hydrogen is more than 20% greater than burning natural gas or coal for heat,” the study says.  Hydrogen is the most available element on the planet but to use it as fuel it must be converted from another energy source first — be it natural gas or water and renewable energy when hydrogen fuel is used its only byproduct is water which makes it an attractive energy source The colors used to describe different types of hydrogen — including brown and green — refer to what process is used to produce it.  Currently, the hydrogen fuel market is small The only color that isn’t produced using fossil fuels is green hydrogen It makes up a tiny part of the hydrogen fuel market because it is too expensive and impractical to produce at present Proponents of building a market for hydrogen fuel assert that while the industry works to make green hydrogen more affordable blue hydrogen projects are needed to build a market for the fuel broadly Opponents fear that this will end up being little more than a lifeline to the fossil fuels industry The gamble that hydrogen fuel can replace fossil fuels is illustrated in a 2021 video about “clean hydrogen” from the U.S After describing green hydrogen (without labeling it as such) and saying that clean hydrogen has zero carbon emissions Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm says that “hydrogen can also be carbon neutral when it’s produced from natural gas resources that use carbon capture and storage technologies and address methane leaks avoiding harmful greenhouse gas emissions in the process.”  setting new standard for methane has proven to be a long drawn out process.  a research fellow for New Consensus and frequent DeSmog contributor pointed out that due to a lack of success to capture high rates of carbon, companies utilizing CCS “always talk about how much CO2 they capture not the actual rate. It is a scam,” he told me in an email.  When asked what happens if Air Products’ planned plant fails to capture the 95 percent of emissions the company projects will capture more than 5 million tons of carbon each year based on our engineering and experience,” he said.  “Aspirational is probably a good way to describe it,” said DNR spokesperson Patrick Courreges when I asked him how he defines “clean” hydrogen and how the state distinguishes it from not-so-clean hydrogen.  neither the production NOR consumer infrastructure are in place,” he said via email “Things like the federal hydrogen hub funding are intended to accelerate that build out but the potential is certainly there to create and harness hydrogen.” shows that acting on that potential and embracing hydrogen is just as dangerous a path for the climate as replacing coal with natural gas was.  A few days after the meeting in Ponchatoula Air Products representatives addressed the concerns of St another of the parishes that share the lake’s shore.  Connolly reiterated the company’s commitment “to being a safe, transparent and responsible community partner “ and that carbon dioxide sequestration is a well-proven technology,” before stressing the company already received approval from the state — a fact that continues to be sore spot with the local officials.  He went on to compare the dangers of the CO2 Air Products will capture to the CO2 in soft drinks And the company’s pipeline assurance manager tried to dismiss concerns over the risks of CO2 escaping from the pipelines built for the project “I will put my name on the line and guarantee the safety of that pipeline because I trust my team and my abilities.”  none of us can guarantee anything,” Councilman At-Large Division A Lennix Madere Jr. said “And so we stop using the word ‘guaranteed’ because you can’t guarantee anything.” Madere also objected to the notion that the CO2 would stay underground forever pointing out that most carbon captured by CCS has in fact been injected underground in order to extract more oil from old wells.  Councilwoman Tyra Duhe-Griffin pointed out that they all known CO2 can be found in beverages but asked Connolly if he was aware CO2 can be deadly “And at low levels as well — as low as 30 percent it can kill you instantly,” Duhe-Griffin added Griffin told him she found it disturbing that he is telling residents that the CO2 that will be injected is safe by comparing what is in beverages to what the company will inject under the lake.  Councilmembers also dismissed the financial benefits Connolly suggested the project will have saying they only see a benefit for the company They told Connolly the company wasn’t welcome and suggested Air Products should choose a more suitable location Continued public concern over the project was also evident at a December 20 DNR public hearing for one of the Class V injection well permits Air Products needs Fifty people showed up despite the hearing being a few days before Christmas “The project is in accordance with the state and federal climate objectives which seek to drastically reduce emissions to help protect the environment and people especially those who live near heavy industry,” Connolly said at the start of the hearing also reiterating the company’s policy of being transparent largely against the permit application.  “The lack of transparency by Air Products is just unbelievable,” said Kinion Bankston “That a Fortune 500 company can come into a community and just steamroll us and run over the local government is really heart breaking.”   He expressed outrage at being met by a man in an unmarked boat wearing full tactical gear and brandishing an “AK” when he and others attended a December 5 demonstration held by Air Products so they could view an example of one of the 17,000 charges it is using to complete its seismic survey.  The armed security guard turned out to be an off-duty sheriff paid $85 an hour to provide safety services for the company While he understands the company is required to have security where it is doing the seismic testing he questioned the need for those who came to watch a blast go off to be met by a guard with a long gun.  “They’re taking those guns and pointing them at people who are worried about protecting the water and the ecosystem in their parish,” Honoré said while commenting against the permit on behalf of the Green Army “That’s a crying damn shame to have that happen.” Livingston Parish business owner John Albanese lamented that the state agreed to protect the area’s drinking water and environment around the lake years back which gave him and others a false sense of security that the area was safe from development He asked the agency to halt the project before it is too late He also made it known that he has been in the industry for 43 years and sees the company’s choice to set up shop under that lake as regrettable “This is making it hard for the other companies to do business,” he said adding that “it’s bringing scrutiny on the industry” that it doesn’t want.  Air Products’ proposed project is catching attention outside of the region, as well. Yvette Arellano and Shiv Srivastava, Gulf Coast organizers with Fenceline Watch a nonprofit environmental advocacy organization that monitors fossil fuel industry sites along the Houston shipping channel are keeping an eye on the situation in Louisiana because a growing number of similar projects have been proposed in Texas They find it alarming that the expansion of both blue and green hydrogen is being hailed as a climate solution. On a recent call with me, they pointed out that Exxon is planning its own CCS project along the Houston Shipping Channel and that in December Air Products announced it plans to build the largest green hydrogen project to date in Texas While many currently consider green hydrogen in a positive light they were quick to point out such projects require vast quantities of water to operate; with persistent drought already straining the public’s access to water in Texas they are concerned Air Products’ proposed project in Texas will make water more scarce than ever for some communities.  see bipartisan support for such projects as a warning sign that this latest greenwashing campaign by the fossil fuel industry is working Along with other environmental advocacy groups they assert that these projects will increase our reliance on fossils fuels and set back those working to find real climate solutions alderman for the town of Springfield in Livingston Parish took me on his boat to see the coffin under the “Save Lake Maurepas” protest sign in early February it was the kind of foggy day that opponents of the project worry could cause boaters to hit the injection well sites if they are realized Starkey informed me that community members like him are already digging for a long battle Like the other founding members of Lake Maurepas Preservation Society, a group created to stop Air Products’ project he isn’t against industry; his objective is to protect the lake But that isn’t stopping them from welcoming support from environmental advocates that have already been working to oppose the project “There are some things money can’t buy,” he told me Stay up to date with DeSmog news and alerts Even as the mood at Edmonton’s annual expo turned cautious industry still bet on public dollars to keep its net zero dream alive private equity firm KKR contributed to the president’s swearing-in ceremony Despite widespread public support for clean energy and climate action Nigel Farage’s party is running on an aggressively anti-net zero ticket Newsletter Website by SeriousOtters Subscribe Donate Southeastern Louisiana University set up buoys on Lake Maurepas that would collect data about the lake’s health due to the nearby carbon capture work by Air Products.  The project was announced in late 2022 with the intention of providing independent scientific monitoring of the Lake Maurepas ecosystem The data from the buoys on Lake Maurepas is now available to the public and is updated regularly, every 30 minutes, and can be viewed freely on the university’s website Relevant: Southeastern Louisiana University Will Conduct Independent Monitoring On Lake Maurepas Users can find information regarding the water’s quality readings Another buoy is placed near the  Blind River and it gathers information related to rain totals and intensity Read more: Air Products To Go Ahead With $7 Billion Hydrogen Project In Louisiana With Carbon Capture Included