New Sea Level Rise Report Provides “Urgent Call for Action to Protect Louisiana’s Coast and Communities”
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Media Statement of Restore the Mississippi River Delta Leaders (New Orleans, LA.- February 15, 2022) Today, NOAA’s National Ocean Service and interagency partners released an updated Sea Level Rise Technical Report that delivers sea level rise projections by decade for the next 100 years and beyond. The report indicates that seas will rise by up to a foot nationally by 2050, and potentially by up to two feet by 2100 depending on rates of emissions. In response, Restore the Mississippi …
Louisiana’s Coast Will Receive Largest Single-Year Funding in State History
Late this January, the State released their largest Coastal Annual Plan ever, outlining nearly $1.3 billion dollars of spending over a one-year period for protection and restoration projects across the coast. With many communities still rebuilding from the devastating hurricanes of the last two years, this investment is more important and urgent than ever to rebuild wetlands and protect communities made vulnerable by land loss and sea level rise. The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) is required to produce …
Delta Dispatches: Louisiana Embarks on ‘Year of the Dredge’ to Restore its Coast
In the first episode of 2022, Simone and Jacques welcome back Gregory Grandy, Deputy Executive Director Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana, who discusses how 2022 will be one of the most significant years for Louisiana’s coast with some of the largest, most ambitious restoration projects ever to move forward. These projects include marsh creation, or “dredging” projects as well as projects to reconnect the Mississippi River to wetlands to sustain them into the future. Listen Now:
New Orleans Region On Track for Top 5 Wettest Year On Record
How Climate Change is Delivering More Water Than Ever and Freshening Our Estuaries Louisiana and Mississippi residents are already experiencing the impacts of climate change, including more intense rainfall, stronger hurricanes and warmer temperatures. Since 1970, according to data from the National Weather Service and Climate Central, the summer months have been trending much wetter. This trend has many more implications to our communities, basins and ecosystems than just costly inland flooding. A long-term wetter climate along the Gulf Coast …
Delta Dispatches: A Conversation with U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy
A Conversation with U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy On today’s episode, Simone and Jacques are joined by U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) who provides insight into the recently-signed bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and what this significant legislation means for Louisiana’s coast and communities. Senator Cassidy highlights the funding coming to Louisiana for coastal restoration and resilience as a result of the infrastructure package, discusses other funding opportunities such as the RISEE Act, and shares his favorite Louisiana Christmas tradition …
Hurricane Ida and Flotant Marsh: An Initial Look at the Storm’s Impacts to Louisiana’s Wetlands
Hurricane Ida made landfall August 29, 2021, near Port Fourchon, bringing maximum sustained winds of 159 miles per hour and destruction to many coastal communities in south Louisiana, including Ironton, Pointe-au-Chien, Grand Bayou Village and Houma. Hurricanes have always threatened coastal residents, but the rapid loss of Louisiana’s wetlands over the past century have left these communities more and more vulnerable with each passing year. Coastal wetlands can act as a buffer as storm surge from hurricanes moves inland, but …
What will the future look like for Bald Eagles in coastal Louisiana?
With its large dark brown body, snowy-white head and fearsome yellow talons and bill, the Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is one of the most recognizable raptors in the United States. Selected as the national bird for its representation of strength and courage, the Bald Eagle also plays a non-figurative role in nature as an indicator of ecosystem health. The eagle’s preference for forested wetlands makes it representative of healthy upper estuary habitat and its role as an apex predator has …
Restore the Coast, Protect the Gator
In Louisiana, alligators are thriving, but coastal land loss may threaten their future. In the mid-20th century, the future of the American alligator was anything but certain. Due to unchecked hunting and loss of habitat, this giant reptile was federally listed as an endangered species in 1967. Thanks to the enactment of state, federal and international wildlife protections, the American alligator’s population rebounded and is now considered “one of the first endangered species success stories”. Louisiana and Florida claim the …
The Bayou City of Houma, Louisiana Needs Your Help
YOU CAN HELP THIS COASTAL LOUISIANA TOWN SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED BY HURRICANE IDA Many small coastal communities across southeast and south-central Louisiana are relying on support from neighbors and strangers as they recover from the devastation from Hurricane Ida. Restore the Mississippi River Delta is working to highlight some of those communities, and the opportunities to help them as they recover and rebuild in the wake of this storm. About sixty miles southwest of New Orleans lies Houma, Louisiana, the most …
Building a More Resilient New Orleans
Katie Donahue – City of NOLA, Office of Resilience and Sustainability With Ida recovery ongoing, we are all intensely aware that New Orleans has a lot on the line when it comes to restoring coastlines and protecting communities from land loss and climate change impacts. They city’s very existence is at stake. Strategic, collaborative, and innovative solutions are essential to our continued progress. In 2018, Tulane University and the National Wildlife Federation released recommendations for the City of New Orleans’ …
Grand Bayou Village Needs Your Help
YOU CAN HELP THIS LOUISIANA TRIBAL COMMUNITY SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED BY HURRICANE IDA Many small coastal communities across southeast and south-central Louisiana are relying on support from neighbors and strangers as they recover from the devastation from Hurricane Ida. Restore the Mississippi River Delta is working to highlight some of those communities and the opportunities to help them as they recover and rebuild in the wake of this storm. Grand Bayou Indian Village, in a remote corner of Plaquemines Parish accessible …
Delta Dispatches: Water Quality Updates with Pontchartrain Conservancy
As impacts from Hurricane Ida continue to be assessed, Pontchartrain Conservancy’s Water Quality Program Director Brady Skaggs discusses how the storm affected water quality across the region and what actions you can take to improve water quality in nearby waterways. Skaggs also highlights the newly-launched Lake and Coast App that puts water quality data at your fingertips. As a reminder, you can find ways to help those impacted by Hurricane Ida here, and don’t forget to check out our newly-launched …
The Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribe Needs Your Help
YOU CAN HELP THIS LOUISIANA TRIBAL COMMUNITY SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED BY HURRICANE IDA Many small coastal communities across southeast and south-central Louisiana are relying on support from neighbors and strangers as they recover from the devastation from Hurricane Ida. Restore the Mississippi River Delta is working to highlight some of those communities, and the opportunities to help them as they recover and rebuild in the wake of this storm. Seventy miles below New Orleans in coastal Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes, in …
Delta Dispatches: Nature’s Role in Climate Adaptation with SCAPE’s Kate Orff
This week on Delta Dispatches, we’re excited to welcome Kate Orff, Founding Principal of SCAPE. Jacques and Simone talk with her about the role nature can play in adapting to climate change, how she is reimaging landscape architecture through her studio, as well as on-the-ground restoration opportunities from Louisiana to New York. SCAPE’s recent work includes OurFutureCoast.org (https://www.ourfuturecoast.org/) and Kate was featured in the New Yorker in the story “The Seas Are Rising. Could Oysters Help” (https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/08/09/the-seas-are-rising-could-oysters-protect-us). Listen Now:
Knowledge is Power: Introducing a New Guide to Coastal Restoration!
Restore the Mississippi River Delta is proud to present our “Community Guide to Coastal Restoration.” This is a quick reference guide to help you -whether you are new to coastal restoration or very familiar with it – better understand and navigate the web of entities, decision-makers, and funding sources involved in the restoration of our coast. It is available both online, and as a physical booklet. Many in Louisiana are familiar with the land loss crisis the state is facing. We often …