Blog Archives

From Casablanca to Cocodrie: Coastal Resilience with Dr. Alex Kolker

From Casablanca to Cocodrie: Coastal Resilience with Dr. Alex Kolker

On this week’s show, Simone and Jacques welcome back a favorite guest, Dr. Alex Kolker, Associate Professor with The Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON). Dr. Kolker is recently back from a Fulbright Scholarship in Morocco for his research “Understanding How Sea-Level Dynamics Influence Coastal Processes Along The Moroccan Coast.” Simone and Jacques talk to him about the experience, what challenges are facing the coast of Morocco and highlight any parallels to Louisiana’s coast. They also get Alex’s take on his …

Delta Dispatches: Rivers of the World

On today’s episode, Simone and Jacques recognize the 10th anniversary of the Gulf Oil Disaster and highlight what people are saying about progress and ongoing challenges in the Gulf a decade later. Learn more here. They then bring on Laurence C. Smith, the John Atwater and Diana Nelson University Professor of Environmental Studies and Professor of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences at Brown University, to discuss his new book: RIVERS OF POWER: How a Natural Force Raised Kingdoms, Destroyed Civilizations, …

Earth Day Care Package

In these unprecedented times, many of us are searching for connection and a way to feel grounded. On the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, here are a few tools to help connect with our incredible planet and reflect on the natural beauty that surrounds us. Did you miss our first Coastal Care Package? Be sure to catch up on all the great coastal content here! Exploring the Coast | Discover A New Podcast | Get Outside | For the Kids …

Delta Dispatches: A Decade After Disaster

Ten years after the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, restoring the Mississippi River Delta and its surrounding coastline isn’t just about recovering the wildlife and habitats harmed from the 2010 oil spill; it is ultimately about the opportunity to envision a more sustainable and resilient delta for future generations. On today’s show, Simone and Jacques discuss where we are ten years later and highlight progress made on restoration since the spill and opportunities to build on this progress in the years …

Gulf Oil Spill Anniversary A Reminder of Urgent Need to Restore Ecosystems

Conservation experts urge further action to make communities and ecosystems more resilient to land loss and sea level rise NEW ORLEANS — Next week marks 10 years since the Deepwater Horizon explosion killed 11 men, released 134 million gallons of oil into open waters and devastated the Gulf Coast, destroying habitats and livelihoods. A decade after the disaster, as advocates continue to address the impacts of the spill and help make communities resilient to rising sea levels resulting from climate …

Delta Dispatches: Last Call for the Bayou

Thanks for listening to the latest episode of Delta Dispatches. This week we replay a recent episode with the filmmakers Dom and Nadia Gil with Encompass Films to discuss “Last Call for the Bayou” their 5 short documentaries about Louisiana’s land loss crisis. Their documentary series is now available to watch free online on Smithsonian Channel Plus.   Listen Now:

Delta Dispatches: A Coastal Care Package

On today’s show, Simone and Jacques chat with several guests who provide recommendations on coastal resources and content that people can access during this time of quarantine and self-isolation. First, they interview Chris Cook, lighthouse director with Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, who highlights educational tools parents can use to occupy kids who are at home. Then, Helen Rose Patterson, senior outreach coordinator with the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), unveils the coalition’s new Coastal Care Package, full of recommendations for books, …

Coastal Care Package

Louisiana boasts a beautiful landscape unique to our home. From the cypress trees (and knees!) of the marsh to towering live oaks in our parks, we have a state worth exploring — and protecting. We hope this care package can provide a much-needed break and allows you to dive into our roots no matter where you are. Skip to a section Exploring the Coast | Curl Up with a New Read | Quick Reads | Watch Coastal Films and Chill …

Delta Dispatches: Interview with CPRA Chairman of the Board Chip Kline

Thanks for listening to the latest episode of Delta Dispatches. In an interview recorded last week, Jacques and Simone sit down with Chip Kline, Executive Assistant to the Governor for Coastal Activities and Chairman of the CPRA Board. They talk about the CPRA’s 2020 goals, the Governor’s recent Coastal Priorities speech, sediment diversions, the Bonnet Carre Spillway, river management, hypoxia and more.   Listen Now:

Coalition Unveils Recommendations for Continued Recovery 10 Years After Gulf Oil Spill

Strategies focus on funding, restoration project implementation and building community resilience NEW ORLEANS (March 11, 2020) — As the 10th anniversary of the Gulf oil spill approaches on April 20, Restore the Mississippi River Delta released a report today with nine recommended strategies for advancing critical ecosystem restoration in the delta, maximizing the investment opportunities of the oil spill settlement and engaging local communities for a more resilient future.   The recommendations, titled “A Decade After Disaster,” were compiled by …

American Shoreline Podcast Network and Previewing State of the Coast

Welcome to Delta Dispatches with Jacques Hebert & Simone Maloz! This week on the show, they talk with Tyler Buckingham, one of the co-hosts of the American Shoreline podcast! Delta Dispatches is a proud part of the American Shoreline Podcast Network, which is focused on preserving coastlines around the world. We also check in with James Karst, Director of Communications and Marketing at the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana. James talks about crawfish dipping, potato salad in (or out of) …

114 community leaders ask the Corps to make a win-win decision for a threatened swamp

More than 100 business, parish and community leaders mobilized over the past few weeks, signing their entities onto a request for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to contribute to the state’s River Reintroduction into Maurepas Swamp project to balance what will be lost in the construction of the West Shore Lake Pontchartrain levee.  The widely-supported Maurepas Swamp project aims to deliver sediment and fresh water from the Mississippi River to 45,000 acres existing wetlands and forests in the East …

Delta Dispatches: Eco-tours of Louisiana’s Coast

Thanks for listening to the latest episode of Delta Dispatches. This week Jacques talks to the owners of two eco-tourism companies. First, he speaks with Barbara Johnson, founder of the Great Delta Tours. Barbara has been a respected practitioner, civic leader and consultant in New Orleans for more than 30 years. Tours by the Great Delta Tours cover coastal restoration and bird and wildlife viewing. Next on the show is Marie Gould, founder of Lost Lands Tours. Mary has spent …

Governor Edwards’ Speech Seen as Paving the Way for a More Resilient Louisiana Coast

Second-term priorities integrate state agencies into coastal plan and begin to limit worst effects of sea level rise (BATON ROUGE, La. – February 20, 2020) Today, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards outlined his second-term priorities for Louisiana’s coast and how his administration aims to protect people, wildlife and jobs in the face of the state’s ongoing land loss and climate crises. Restore the Mississippi River Delta – a coalition of national and local conservation organizations committed to coastal restoration in Louisiana …

Oyster Biology and Habitat Suitability Analysis

Louisiana’s oyster industry has contributed to over 20% of the nation’s catch in pounds for 75% of years since 1950. It has long been a lucrative industry, rooted in culture, and supporting local families and businesses. The ongoing losses to Louisiana’s coastline necessitate manmade interventions that come in a variety of forms; diversions, dredging, shoreline armoring and reef building to name a few. These changes also affect the aquatic creatures that live in our estuary. The ones that can swim …