BAYOU LAFOURCHE PUMP STATION (BA-0221)

The Mississippi River Reintroduction into Bayou Lafourche (MRRBL) Project is restoring a critical connection that once naturally linked the Mississippi River to Bayou Lafourche. For more than a century, this connection has been restricted by levee construction and reduced river flow, limiting the amount of freshwater entering the bayou. Without this input, the saltwater has moved farther inland, degrading wetlands, reducing water quality, and threatening drinking water supplies for nearby communities. The project aims to benefit the coastal environment by reducing saltwater intrusion, improving water quality, and replenishing the surrounding wetlands. Additionally, the restored flow will provide a reliable freshwater supply for more than 300,000 residents and regional industry across Ascension, Assumption, Lafourche, and Terrebonne Parishes. The construction of a new pump station in Donaldsonville is a key step toward achieving the goal of reintroducing an increased flow of freshwater from the Mississippi River into Bayou Lafourche. The new infrastructure, including intake pipes, pumps, discharge piping, and an outfall structure, is designed to deliver up to 1,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) of freshwater. The new pump station, in conjunction with an existing pump station, will have the capacity to pump up to 1,500 cfs of freshwater to meet environmental and community needs. The increased flow will enhance both ecological resilience and community sustainability, ensuring that Bayou Lafourche continues to serve as a vital source of reliable freshwater for the region. Construction under this phase is anticipated to reach substantial completion by December 2026.

MRRBL DREDGING (BA-0304)

CPRA has also coordinated with the Bayou Lafourche Freshwater District to to dredge the upper areas of Bayou Lafourche to increase hydrologic flow, resulting in increased effectiveness of the MRRBL pump station component.