The Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO) Ecosystem Restoration Project is one of the largest and most ambitious restoration initiatives in coastal Louisiana, representing a significant federal-state partnership to restore habitats and improve resilience across the MRGO ecosystem. Originally outlined in the 2012 MRGO Ecosystem Restoration Plan, the project is a multi-billion dollar effort that includes largescale marsh creation and shoreline protection features designed to enhance natural storm buffers and rebuild critical wetlands lost over decades to erosion and saltwater intrusion.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will provide federal funding for project construction, with CPRA serving as the non-federal sponsor. CPRA is currently advancing preliminary efforts to support project readiness, including data collection, engineering and design, and early work on Tier 1 shoreline protection features. These efforts will help refine project components and prepare for full-scale construction once funding is appropriated.

The MRGO closure and the 2012 feasibility study laid the foundation for this comprehensive restoration effort. As CPRA continues coordination with USACE, the agency is also working to secure credit for completed projects that contribute toward MRGO restoration objectives and to ensure efficient alignment of ongoing coastal protection work.

The 29,000-acre Central Wetlands Unit is a key part of the MRGO ecosystem, which has been heavily degraded by saltwater intrusion and altered hydrology. CPRA and USACE are restoring natural water flow by breaching spoil banks and creating new wetlands, benefitting more than 57,000 acres of planned MRGO area restoration. These efforts will strengthen ecosystem health and storm surge protection for Greater New Orleans.

The MRGO Ecosystem Restoration Plan will deliver one of the most significant habitat restoration and storm protection investments in Louisiana’s history, supporting long-term ecosystem recovery and community resilience across the region.