Louisiana's coastal and environmental challenges are always at the forefront, but this year proved to be an especially tumultuous one. As we close out 2023, get caught up on the year's biggest environmental stories below:
Salt water in the Mississippi River
Pipes carrying sediment crisscross the Mississippi River where the Army Corps of Engineers is building an underwater sill to slow the flow of salt water upriver toward New Orleans on Sept. 26, 2023.
It wasn't an environmental threat residents of south Louisiana were expecting, but it may be one to add to the list of regular occurrences alongside hurricanes and flooding. Saltwater intrusion in the Mississippi River, thanks to severe drought upstream, set off alarm bells and urgent plans to deal with drinking water contamination. In the end, the New Orleans area was spared, but lower Plaquemines Parish spent months dealing with the problem. Here are some of the key stories:
White House declares emergency, pipeline planned as salt threatens drinking water
Corps knew for decades that dredging the Mississippi would trigger a water crisis
New saltwater forecast could spare most of New Orleans, Jefferson Parish
Here are the options to fix New Orleans saltwater intrusion for good. How much will it cost?
Salt and anger: Water crisis in lower Plaquemines wearies residents
Unprecedented -- and controversial -- coastal restoration project begins
Map of the Mid-Barataria sediment diversion project.
The nearly $3 billion Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion that broke ground this year was long in the works. The unprecedented project aims to turn back the clock in a sense by rebuilding coastal land through the power of the Mississippi River. But support for it is far from unanimous.
$2.9 billion Mississippi River diversion job begins, aims to make 21 square miles of land
Massive Mississippi River diversion project draws strong praise, bitter criticism
Dolphins at risk from Louisiana's biggest ever coastal project. This plan might save some.
In the marsh's muck at a river diversion, Louisiana’s past and future collide
Fishing changes, from specks to pogies
Speckled trout are seen at the outdoor seafood market in front of American Seafood in New Orleans on Thursday, February 9, 2023.
Plummeting numbers for both speckled trout and redfish have troubled the state's fisheries biologists, who have set out plans for new catch limits on both of the highly sought-after species. The first change in recreational limits for trout since the 1980s have now taken effect, but the debate continues for redfish. Meanwhile, the controversial industrial-scale pogy fishing that occurs off the coast may be in line for tighter restrictions.
Speckled trout are in decline. Reversing that has proven to be politically difficult
Speckled trout limits would be reduced for Louisiana anglers under new state plan
Speckled trout limits change today for Louisiana anglers. Here are the new rules
Louisiana may push spill-prone pogy boats farther from the coast
New governor, new approach?
Governor-elect Jeff Landry introduces Aurelia Skipwith Giacometto, who he named to head Louisiana's Department of Environmental Quality, during a press conference Wednesday, November 15, 2023, at Russo Park in Lafayette, La.
Gov. John Bel Edwards managed to nudge Louisiana toward environmental progress throughout his eight years in office, including by creating the Gulf South's first climate action plan. But the Democrat will be replaced by current attorney general Jeff Landry when his term ends in January. While Landry has spoken of the need to address coastal issues, he has also labelled the science surrounding human-caused climate change a "hoax" and raised questions over the transition away from oil and gas.
Louisiana was a climate leader under John Bel Edwards. Will that change under Jeff Landry?
Jeff Landry turns to industry for advice on Louisiana's environmental, coastal threats
Jeff Landry names former Trump wildlife official as Louisiana's top environmental regulator
Pollution and 'cancer alley'
The Denka Performance Elastomer plant on River Road in Reserve is shown Dec. 11, 2019.
The Biden administration has put a big focus on environmental justice issues, including along the industrial corridor between Baton Rouge and New Orleans that activists label "cancer alley." But while that brought some change, a civil rights investigation into permitting was eventually dropped, raising questions over the reasons. Further construction of industrial plants also raised new questions over how resilient such plants will be in the face of storms.
EPA drops civil rights probe of Louisiana state agencies over toxic emissions
EPA asks federal judge to address 'substantial' threat of Denka emissions
EPA head proposes new pollution cuts at chemical plants in Louisiana visit
New analysis shows 740 chemical sites in Louisiana are at risk from storms. Are they ready?
Louisiana 2050: A state of risk
Boats travel down the Mississippi River near Hopedale, flanked by disappearing marshland.
A series of stories this year explored Louisiana's perilous future at a time of rising seas and intensifying storms. Using state data projecting the risks, the stories explored what Louisiana may look like in 2050, just one generation into the future. In short, Louisiana may be the state most at risk from climate change.
Louisiana 2050: Rising seas will upend life. Time is running out to limit the impact.
Down the Mississippi, a historic Black town fears the end. It's a warning for coastal Louisiana.
From the bayous to the suburbs, Louisiana must ‘buy time’ to deal with rising seas
Louisiana 2050: Explore the perilous future of our coast with maps and data
Louisiana 2050: What you need to know about our vanishing coast