Latest Mississippi River Delta News: Oct. 11, 2013

Floating ‘islands’ to aid wetland restoration efforts in lake
By Jeff Adelson, The Advocate (Baton Rouge). Oct. 4, 2013.
John Lopez quoted
““If you can put these islands in a water body without building a column, then you can cover a lot of acres,” Lopez said…” (read more)

Review: MRGOing, Going, Gone?
By Ken Korman, Gambit Weekly (New Orleans). Oct. 9, 2013.
“Made over a period of ten years by New Orleans filmmaker Kevin McCaffrey and Robert A. Thomas, Director of Loyola’s Center For Environmental Communication, this hour-long documentary does an excellent job of condensing the complex 60-year history of the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO)…” (read more)

Corps award contract for new pump station near Port Sulphur, part of storm surge defense system
By The Times-Picayune (New Orleans). Oct. 10, 2013.
“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded a $23.6 million contract to build a new pump station near Port Sulphur, part of an effort to reduce the risk of flooding in southern Plaquemines Parish…” (read more)

New Orleans proposes radical urban water plan
By Justin McGar, Sourceable News. Oct. 11, 2013.
“The Urban Water Plan, developed by local firm Waggoner and Ball in collaboration with a team of international water management experts, addresses groundwater and stormwater as critical factors in shaping a safe, livable, and beautiful city…” (read more)

Utilities commissioner calls for state Dems to back flood protection authority suit
By The Advocate (Baton Rouge). Oct. 8, 2013.
“The battle over the East Bank levee board’s coastal erosion lawsuit against almost 100 oil and gas companies has already seen its share of political wrangling…” (read more)

Parishes could get huge oil spill settlements
By Xerxes Wilson, The Daily Comet (Lafourche, La.). Oct. 10, 2013.
“Millions of dollars are on the line for Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes as BP and federal government attorneys argue over how much oil spewed in 2010 from the Macondo well into the Gulf of Mexico…” (read more)

Judge won’t throw out indictment of ex-BP engineer charged with deleting texts after oil spill
By Associated Press. Oct. 10, 2013.
“A federal judge Thursday refused to dismiss indictments against a former BP engineer charged with deleting text messages and voicemails about the company’s response to its 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico…” (read more)