Unfortunately, letter writer James Bean’s comments on sediment diversion are beside the point. Of course, the river’s sediment load at the head of passes (or Neptune Pass) dwarfs that which will be diverted at Mid-Barataria, but unfortunately there is no way to capture that sediment and transport it upriver to where it is needed. Mid-Barataria and similar diversions are the only tools we have — short of diverting the entire river and ending New Orleans' role as a port. The more important question is: Will any feasible diversion do any good in the long run? Sea level rise and subsidence could reach two meters during the 21st century, swamping any coastal restoration efforts, if we don’t adequately respond to global warming on a planet-wide scale.
So Mid-Barataria is a kind of “Hail Mary,” betting that we will phase out fossil energy quickly (by 2050), in which case the modest efforts we can take now to stave off the disappearance of our coastal marshes might pay off.
Finally, as to whether $60 per cubic yard is too expensive, consider the alternative. And as an aside, I just spent nearly $80 a cubic yard to have sand from the river pumped under my house.
ROBERT PURRINGTON?
Metairie