Latest news: September 9, 2011
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Wax Lake Delta: Accidental Eden in the Atchafalaya by Hal Herring, The Conservationist blog (Field & Stream). September 7, 2011. “Wax Lake, Atchafalaya Basin, Louisiana — A six foot gator slipped off the mudbank and lay still in the water, watching us. I stood on the bow of the big flatbottom while Ben Weber poled the boat from his homemade platform – this is a former working boat, converted by Ben to a shallow water redfish predator. We’re after different …
Latest news: September 8, 2011
Officials: Home-raisings prevented Lee flooding WBRZ News (Baton Rouge, La.). September 7, 2011. “HOUMA- Terrebonne Parish officials say an aggressive effort by parish government to use federal grant programs for elevation of homes is a likely reason why so few homes flooded in Terrebonne as a result of Tropical Storm Lee…” BP’s $100 million rig worker fund expands to other oil spill recovery efforts By David Hammer, The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, La.). September 7, 2011. “Rig workers and other offshore …
Meet Amanda Moore
Amanda is the Senior Coastal Louisiana Organizer for the National Wildlife Federation (NWF). Amanda works with community leaders, coastal scientists and government officials to raise awareness about coastal land loss and build support to move forward large-scale, comprehensive restoration projects. Amanda brings eight years of experience to her advocacy work in the Greater New Orleans area and also serves as the coordinator for the MRGO Must Go Coalition. Before joining NWF, Amanda was a planner for an environmental consulting firm …
Latest news: September 7, 2011
Group wants millions from BP fines to stay in Gulf states Sun Herald (Biloxi, Gulfport and South Mississippi). September 3, 2011. “A coalition of national environmental groups and local business leaders is lobbying Congress and drumming up public support for passage of Senate Bill 1400, the “Restore the Gulf Coast Act.” The bill, which supporters hope to get moving in committee this month, would direct to Gulf Coast states 80 percent of the fines and penalties BP will be forced …
Faces of the Delta: Reverend Tyronne Edwards
Next in our Faces of the Delta series, you will meet Reverend Tyronne Edwards: 5th generation resident of Phoenix, La., community leader and organizer and coastal restoration advocate. By Amanda Moore, National Wildlife Federation Name: Reverend Tyronne Edwards Location: Phoenix, Louisiana (Plaquemines Parish) Occupation: Founding executive director of Zion Travelers Cooperative Center and facility director for the YMCA of Greater New Orleans What is your connection to the Mississippi River Delta? I’m a 5th generation resident of Phoenix, Louisiana, which is the very southeast end of Louisiana …
Latest news: September 6, 2011
Mississippi River tried changing course during flooding, leaving huge bill By Tom Charlier, The Memphis Commercial Appeal. September 6, 2011. “James Parker steps onto a sandy ledge to get a clearer view of where the Mississippi River almost cut Presidents Island in two, tearing out a half-mile-wide chunk of land and leaving water and flocks of geese on a place where cotton formerly grew…” More trouble for oyster industry? By Nikki Buskey, Daily Comet (Lafourche Parish, La.). September 6, 2011. …
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 …
Waterfowl finding new homes in thriving Mississippi River wetlands restoration project
This piece was originally posted on National Wildlife Federation’s Wildlife Promise blog. By Maura Wood, National Wildlife Federation Coastal Louisiana Senior Outreach Coordinator Our boat left the canal, rounded a small spit of land, and emerged into the outfall area of the Caernarvon freshwater diversion, known as Big Mar – Big Sea. Situated in the last big bend of the Mississippi River about a half an hour drive south of New Orleans, this failed agricultural enterprise of the past shows up …
Latest news: September 1, 2011
New land in eroding La. wetlands: Cause for hope By Cain Burdeau, Associated Press. August 31, 2011. “WEST BAY, La. — In 2003, the Army Corps of Engineers cut a hole in the bank of the Mississippi River, miles from where the wending river ends its 2,320-mile journey to the Gulf of Mexico. The idea was simple: let the river run wild through the gap, and silt-laden waters would naturally do what they’ve done for thousands of years: build up …
USGS video dramatically depicts massive coastal Louisiana land loss
This piece was originally posted on lacoast.gov. On Monday (August 29), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Wetlands Research Center announced the release of a new Louisiana coastal land loss video, dramatically detailing key findings portrayed in its new coastal map. The video can be found in the USGS Multimedia Gallery at: http://gallery.usgs.gov/videos/433 or on YouTube.com at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNkCml_VRcE. This new video illustrates findings from the new Coastal Louisiana Land Area Change Map. The map will enable scientists and stakeholders alike to better understand the timing …
Latest news: August 31, 2011
LUMCON researchers get oil spill grant Houma Today (Terrebonne Parish, La.). August 30, 2011. “Local researchers in Cocodrie will delve into a comprehensive study of the Gulf oil spill’s impacts on the local environment with a $11.7 million grant from an independent research program paid for by BP…” Gulf task force holds “listening session” in Biloxi By Steve Phillips, WLOX News (South Mississippi). August 30, 2011. “BILOXI, MS (WLOX) -The group created by the President to help restore the Gulf …
Audubon announces job opportunities to join Mississippi River Delta team
The National Audubon Society is looking for two smart, passionate people to join the Mississippi River Delta restoration team. Open positions include Louisiana Vice President and State Director and Communications Coordinator for the Mississippi River Delta Restoration Campaign. The Vice President position would be located in Baton Rouge, La., and the Communications Coordinator would be located in either Baton Rouge or Washington, DC. Vice President and State Director, Louisiana Position summary (more information can be found on Audubon’s website): Audubon …
Latest news: August 30, 2011
New Orleans area is still at risk from storms: An editorial By Editorial page staff, The New Orleans Times-Picayune. August 30, 2011. “The New Orleans area is going through its first hurricane season with 100-year storm protection, a promise that cost $10 billion to fulfill–but when it comes to much stronger storms, those defenses are not expected to be enough…” Poll finds national support for wetlands Written by Mike Hasten, The News Star (Monroe, La.). August 30, 2011. “BATON ROUGE …
Latest news: August 29, 2011
New Orleans levees get a near-failing grade in new corps rating system By Mark Schleifstein, The New Orleans Times-Picayune. August 29, 2011. “A new Army Corps of Engineers rating system for the nation’s levees is about to deliver a near-failing grade to New Orleans area dikes, despite the internationally acclaimed $10 billion effort to rebuild the system in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, corps officials have confirmed…” The agenda pending for our recovery from Hurricane Katrina: An editorial By Editorial page staff, The New …
Latest news: August 26, 2011
Mississippi River flooding gives birth to tiny island in West Bay By Mark Schleifstein, The Times-Picayune. August 25, 2011. “In a demonstration of the Mississippi River’s formidable land-building power, a new, 5-acre island has sprouted up near the river’s mouth, where this year’s record Mississippi River floodwaters poured through the West Bay freshwater diversion…” Coast Guard, BP investigating reports of oil at Deepwater Horizon site By Mark Schleifstein, The Times-Picayune. August 25, 2011. “The U.S. Coast Guard sent a cutter and an helicopter to …