Cocktails for the Coast
By Jesse Soule, Restore the Mississippi River Delta Campaign
As the summer officially came to a close, myself and fellow Restore the Mississippi River Delta Campaign staff joined other concerned Louisianans at the Eiffel Society on iconic St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans to learn about the increasingly dyer state of our coast. Cocktails for the Coast, an outreach event hosted by the Restore the Mississippi River Delta Campaign, provided an engaging atmosphere chock-full of knowledgeable advocates, eager citizens and passionate organizations.
One of the highlights of the night included a panel of speakers, who provided first-hand accounts of their unique connections to the coast. Derek Brockbank, Restore the Mississippi River Delta Campaign Director, emphasized the coast’s economic and ecological importance not only to the state of Louisiana, but to the entire nation. In particular, coastal land loss adversely affects local fisheries, wildlife habitats, critical energy infrastructure, commercial trade routes and the livelihood of millions of people. Derek’s investment in coastal restoration, not to mention his commute to New Orleans from Washington, D.C., stands as a testament to the dedication and effort that is critically needed to successfully combat coastal land loss.
Lynda Woolard
We then had the pleasure of listening to Lynda Woolard, a dedicated activist, fundraiser and photographer for a number of the New Orleans’ community organizations. Lynda recounted her experience on a boat tour of the coast which allowed her to truly grasp the severity of our state’s land loss crisis. In particular, Lynda was shocked at the closeness of the New Orleans skyline to the struggling wetlands, bringing forth the realization that the fate of our beloved city is inextricably tied to the fate of the Mississippi River Delta.
Our final speaker was Kelli Walker, the senior governmental affairs director for the New Orleans Metropolitan Association of Realtors. Kelli provided a unique viewpoint, noting the negative impact the receding coastline has had and will continue to have on the housing market, in particular. Notably, rising flood insurance rates are one of the increasingly prevalent issues that realtors and homeowners alike will have to deal with in the future, threatening economic stability in south Louisiana.
Also in attendance were several local restoration organizations offering their support while providing attendees with further information regarding their missions. Organizations in attendance included the Lower 9th Ward Center for Sustainable Engagement & Development, the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana and the National Audubon Society.
If you are interested in directly restoring Louisiana wetlands, sign up to plant cypress trees with the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation on October 10 or 17 in Maurepas, La. Contact Theryn Henkel at (504) 308-3470 or email her at therynhenkel@gmail.com to sign up. The Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana also has opportunities to restore our coast on October 10, 11 or 25. Visit www.crcl.org to sign up.
