Latest Mississippi River Delta News: April 15, 2015

Is Gulf Oil Spill’s Damage Over or Still Unfolding?
*features Doug Meffert, NAS & Natalie Peyronnin, EDF
By Craig Welch, National Geographic. April 14, 2015
“Five years after the worst oil spill in U.S. history, early reports from this and other research suggest that the ecological damage lingered in unexpected ways. But scientists say cataloging what that means for the Gulf’s future grows more complex with time.” (Read More)

5 Years after the Gulf oil spill: What we do (and don’t) know
By Drew Griffin, Nelli Black & Curt Devine, CNN. April 14, 2015
“But perhaps the greatest unknown is what, if anything, millions of gallons of oil on the deep seafloor are doing to the overall environment of the Gulf itself.” (Read More)

Opinion: Why we can’t forget the Gulf
By Philippe Cousteau Jr., CNN. April 14, 2015
“First, it’s important to understand that the principle “out of sight, out of mind” doesn’t apply in the communities of Gulf Coast states. The BP oil spill’s legacy continues to haunt this region like a recurring cancer.” (Read More)
 
Louisiana House committee approves $725 million budget for 2015 coastal plan, over protests from St. Bernard, Plaquemines
By Mark Schleifstein, The Times- Picayune, April 14, 2015
“A Louisiana legislative committee Monday approved $725 million for a fiscal year 2015 coastal plan that includes $477 million for constructions of levees and coastal restoration projects.” (Read More)

Heart of Louisiana: Grand Isle birds
*features Erik Johnson, NAS
By Dave McNamara, WVUE, April 14, 2015
“In the peak of bird migration, which is about late April, about 2.5 million birds a day are passing through South Louisiana on the way to their breeding grounds,” said Erik Johnson with the Louisiana Audubon Society.” (Read More)