When it comes to unbelievably complex and transformative projects within the state of Louisiana, very few in recent years have been to the scale of the $2.92 billion Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion Project.
The largest ecosystem restoration project in not only Louisianan but in American history, the Mid-Barataria project broke ground Aug. 10, 2023 with a goal to divert fresh water and sediment from the Mississippi River and use it to rebuild coastal wetlands. It is projected that over 50 years, the sediment carried by the project will restore over 17,000 acres of wetland habitat, which will reduce the impact of storms on nearby communities and support healthier habitat for wildlife and fish.
Leading the construction is the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA), and leading CPRA as both the organization’s executive director since 2019 and chair of its board since last July — both positions appointed by Gov. John Bel Edwards — is Bren Haase.
Haase has been on the staff of CPRA since its development following Hurricane Katrina. For more than 25 years he has worked in coastal wetlands ecology, restoration and regulation in the private sector, along with federal and state governments. Among his past accomplishments was playing a key role in developing and advocating for Louisiana’s $50 million Coastal Master Plan in 2017, for which he was honored with the Governor’s Award for Conservationist of the Year.
Haase also assisted CPRA this past year in leading the “Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Plan.” This plan encompasses the next three years of budgets, expenditures and revenues, and details projects that will be undertaken by the state and its partners. The $1.62 billion plan is by far the largest in CPRA history.
Haase said he attributes much of his success to “following through on commitments, building solid working relationships even with those that don’t agree with me, and surrounding myself with quality people.”
A native Louisianan, he said that his parents and grandparents helped him to foster his love for Louisiana’s natural environment.
“Continuing to share those experiences with my wife and sons is motivation to restore our habitats and ecosystems and protect its unique communities from natural and man-made disasters alike,” he added.
Haase looks forward to continuing the significant progress that has already been made in the coastal program by dreaming of even larger projects to protect Louisiana’s coastline. He also seeks to develop the Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Plan and muster support for funding bills such as the RISE and BREEZE Acts to ensure a better tomorrow for Louisiana as a whole.
