Latest news: September 2, 2011

Tropical Depression Stalls in Gulf of Mexico on Path to Louisiana’s Coast

By Lynn Doan, Bloomberg. September 2, 2011.

“A tropical depression in the Gulf of Mexico that has shut almost 6 percent of the region’s oil production was “nearly stationary” in the south of Louisiana, according to the National Hurricane Center…”

Gulf braces for rain from tropical depression

By Janet McConnaughey, Associated Press. September 2, 2011.

“NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A slow-moving tropical depression was slogging toward the Gulf coast Friday, packing walloping rains that could drench the region with up to 20 inches.

Louisiana’s governor declared a state of emergency Thursday because of the threat of flash flooding…”

Plodding, erratic Gulf of Mexico storm puts Louisiana on alert

By Mark Schleifstein, The New Orleans Times-Picayune. September 1, 2011.

“Gov. Bobby Jindal declared a state of emergency Thursday night as Tropical Depression 13 formed in the central Gulf of Mexico, 240 miles south-southwest of New Orleans, and the National Hurricane Center posted a tropical storm warning for the entire coast of Louisiana, including Lake Pontchartrain. Forecasters predict the depression will grow into Tropical Storm Lee by this morning as it moves slowly toward a 1 p.m. Saturday landfall with winds of 60 mph just west of Morgan City. The storm will continue on a very slow northwest path, entering Mississippi to the north of Baton Rouge on Sunday afternoon, but forecasters warned it might still be too early to accurately predict its path or intensity over the coming days…”

LWF Commission Sets 2011-2012 Louisiana Oyster Season

Press Release, September 1, 2011.

“Today, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission set the 2011/2012 oyster seasons based on oyster stock assessments provided by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries biologists and comments received from members of the public, including the oyster industry…”

Estimating Climate Change’s Effects On Gulf Wetlands

By Kathleen O’Neil, Chemical & Engineering News. September 1, 2011.

“Coastal wetlands store nutrients such as organic carbon and nitrogen that feed the surrounding ecosystems. As the climate changes and sea levels rise, scientists expect these coastal wetlands will slowly disappear, washing away important nutrients. Now researchers estimate how much organic carbon and nitrogen Louisiana’s wetlands could lose by 2050…”

Five local groups get grants from Environmental Protection Agency

By Mark Schleifstein, The New Orleans Times-Picayune. September 1, 2011.

“Five local environmental organizations have been awarded $487,500 in grants by the federal Environmental Protection Agency for environmental justice, job training and education programs, EPA Dallas Regional Administrator Al Armendariz announced Wednesday…”