Latest Mississippi River Delta news: Jan. 4, 2016
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Happy New Year! Welcome to 2016 By Editorial Board Staff, Houma Courier. Jan. 1, 2016. “We saw a year in 2015 that saw some real momentum for coastal restoration and flood protection. News that the Gulf states and BP reached a settlement in the federal lawsuit over the oil giant’s 2010 oil spill meant that the coastal cause in Louisiana will get a dedicated stream of money…” (read more). Mississippi River continues rising in Louisiana as Red River falls By …
Latest Mississippi River Delta news: Dec. 31, 2015
State of emergency issued as water levels rise in the Mississippi, Red, Atchafalaya rivers By Amy Wold, The Advocate. Dec. 30, 2015. “Gov. Bobby Jindal issued a state of emergency Wednesday, a first step in applying for possible future aid should the state experience flood damage once water levels rise in the Mississippi, Red and Atchafalaya rivers…” (read more). Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Impacted Sea Turtles Globally By James Crugnale, The Weather Channel. Dec. 30, 2015. “The oil spill in …
Latest Mississippi River Delta news: Dec. 30, 2015
General News: How Markets Can Restore Louisiana’s Marshes By Quin Hillyer, Wall Street Journal, Dec. 25, 2015. “Louisiana loses at least 25 square miles of coastal wetlands each year—a grievous destruction of ecologically crucial habitat and of natural buffers against catastrophic storm flooding. But a bold new project ought to teach environmentalists that the profit motive can work more efficiently to protect wetlands than punitive regulations and burdensome bureaucracies. In just six weeks this fall, a private company rebuilt about a …
Latest Mississippi River Delta news: Dec. 24, 2015
Climate Change Threatens Louisiana’s Isle de Jean Charles, But Doesn’t Dampen Holiday Cheer By Julie Dermansky, DESMOG Blog, Dec. 24, 2015. “Members of the Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw tribe who live on Isle de Jean Charles in southern Louisiana are destined to become some of the first climate change refugees in the United States. But that doesn’t stop a lifelong resident Chris Burnet from enjoying every day he has left. The island’s population has dropped from its peak of about 350 to about 70. Only 25 homes on the island are full-time residences. The …
Latest Mississippi River Delta News: Dec. 23, 2015
New Technology Tested Along A Battle Line for Saltwater Intrusion By Nick Janzen, WWNO, Dec. 23, 2015. “An innovative partnership led by the America’s Wetland Foundation is fighting on two fronts: against saltwater intruding up from the Gulf of Mexico threatening the Intracoastal, and against the Intracoastal itself eroding the surrounding marsh. The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway has a levee like most in Louisiana—mud, piled high, with grass growing on it. America’s Wetland Foundation partnered with private landowners, non-profits and local businesses …
Latest Mississippi River Delta news: Dec. 22, 2015
Storm Surge Models Warn of Massive Flooding Scenarios By Wynton Yates, WWLTV, Dec. 21, 2015. “It’s a horrifying scenario for Louisiana: 3 to 9 feet of flooding from the coast all the way even into Baton Rouge. That’s what could happen if a Category-3 hurricane hit, according to newly released models. Researchers with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Hurricane Center along with the Army Corps of Engineers developed these maps to determine the potential storm surge risk each parish …
Latest Mississippi River Delta News: Dec. 21, 2015
Louisiana Birdwatchers Count Birds, Along with Blessings, During Holiday Season Features Erik Johnson, National Audubon Society By Amy Wold, The Advocate, Dec. 19, 2015. “Learn to watch birds with your eyes and ears and not your binoculars,” Johnson offered as a good tip for beginners. Observing the behavior of different bird species is part of the enjoyment of bird watching, he said.” (Read more). Report Highlights Cost of Continued Land Loss By Tegan Wendland, WWNO, Dec. 19, 2015. “A new …
Latest Mississippi River Delta News: Dec. 18, 2015
Environmentalists Say Spending Proposal Could Help Save LA Coast Features MRD Statement By Meredith Burns, Houma Today, Dec. 17, 2015. “Environmental groups are showing support for a spending bill moving through Congress that includes more than $10 million for efforts to sustain Louisiana’s eroding coast.” (Read more). Federal Spending Bill Includes Money for Coast features Jessie Ritter, NWF By Tegan Wendland, WWNO, Dec. 17, 2015. “It’s part of the state’s $50 billion coastal master plan, says policy specialist with National …
Latest Mississippi River Delta news: Dec. 17, 2015
Coastal erosion, hurricane could cost Louisiana $133 billion By Kevin Litten, The Times-Picayune. Dec. 16, 2015. “Coastal land loss could cost Louisiana more than $133 billion in economic damage if a Hurricane Katrina-like storm hits again in the next 50 years. That’s according to the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, which commissioned a two-year study on the economic effects of land loss in Louisiana…” (read more). Study calculates the costs of not stopping land loss in Louisiana in the billions …
Funding for Louisiana Coastal Area Program Included in Omnibus Spending Bill
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Emily Guidry Schatzel, National Wildlife Federation, 225.253.9781, schatzele@nwf.org Jacques Hebert, National Audubon Society, 504.264.6849, jhebert@audubon.org Elizabeth Van Cleve, Environmental Defense Fund, 202.553.2543, evancleve@edf.org Jimmy Frederick, Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, 225.317.2046, jimmy.frederick@crcl.org John Lopez, Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, 504.421.7348, jlopez@saveourlake.org Funding for Louisiana Coastal Area Program Included in Omnibus Spending Bill Money Will Help Advance Critical Coastal Restoration Projects (WASHINGTON—Dec. 17, 2015) Yesterday, the U.S. Congress unveiled a year-end spending bill that includes more than $10 …
Latest Mississippi River Delta news: Dec. 16, 2015
Parish prepares for Christmas tree recycling project By WVUE (New Orleans). Dec. 15, 2015. “JEFFERSON PARISH, LA (WVUE) – Some people haven’t even bought their Christmas trees yet, but Jefferson Parish is already planning on how to use them to help restore the coast…” (read more). U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, levee officials keep eye on rising Mississippi River By Kweilyn Murphy, WDSU (New Orleans). Dec. 15, 2015. “On your walk or run along the levee this week, you may …
Latest Mississippi River Delta news: Dec. 15, 2015
Nearly $55M for 2 coastal projects in SW Louisiana: refuge breakwater, marsh restoration By Associated Press. Dec. 14, 2015. “BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) – Two coastal restoration projects totaling nearly $55 million in southwest Louisiana are seeing progress, state and federal agencies said…” (read more). Rising Mississippi River prompts levee inspections By Mark Schleifstein, The Times-Picayune. Dec. 14, 2015. “With the Mississippi River rising beyond 12 1/4 feet above sea level at the Carrollton gauge in New Orleans on Monday …
$52.2 million in oil spill funds approved for Louisiana coastal restoration
Last week, the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration (RESTORE) Council approved its first Funded Priorities List (FPL) of projects and programs to fund with civil penalties available from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill Transocean settlement. This is an important step forward for the entire Gulf Coast that is still recovering from the spill. In particular for the Mississippi River Delta, the FPL demonstrates both the state of Louisiana’s commitment to funding Coastal Master Plan projects with RESTORE dollars and progress in …
Latest Mississippi River Delta news: Dec. 14, 2015
Reconsider the Oyster By Arielle Milkman, The Morning News. Dec. 14, 2015. *features the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana “Tracking a single oyster from the Gulf to Bourbon Street, to a 13,000-ton pile of shells, provides a tour through Louisiana’s precarious coastal economy…” (read more). Committee recommends coastal restoration projects in Lafourche By Meredith Burns, The Daily Comet. Dec. 13, 2015. *features Simone Maloz, Restore or Retreat “Two proposed coastal restoration projects in south Lafourche have moved a step closer …
Help Count Birds for Science during Audubon’s Annual Christmas Bird Count
The National Audubon Society invites birdwatchers to participate in the longest-running citizen science survey, the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC). From December 14 through January 5, birders and nature enthusiasts in Louisiana will take part in this tradition, many rising before dawn to participate. “Louisiana is home to millions of birds each winter, including waterfowl, shorebirds, and songbirds. Understanding how the populations of these birds are changing is revealed through CBC efforts, which is critical for knowing how to …