Latest Mississippi River Delta News: August 3, 2015

Our Views: ‘The battle over preserving GOMESA is even more vital for those with a long-term commitment to Louisiana’s coastline’
The Advocate. August 2, 2015
“Diversions of Mississippi River water and sediments — the way the Louisiana delta was formed in past ages — have been since the 1920s identified as the way to rebuild significant amounts of coastal marshes, Kline told the Press Club of Baton Rouge. “It is important that the river be a restoration tool as well as a transportation tool,” Kline said.” (Read More)
 
Is New Orleans Safe?
By John M. Barry, New York Times. August 1, 2015
“The same natural forces that created the coast could preserve enough of it to give Louisiana’s coastal areas a chance at a sustainable future. Little of what is gone can be rebuilt, and more land will still disappear, but even in the face of sea level rise, if given enough sediment and fresh water, land can be built in strategic places to protect populations.” (Read More)
 
New Orleans makes small sustainability gains since Katrina, Data Center says
By Richard A. Webster, The Times-Picayune. July 31, 2015
“Looking forward, Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. that has a master plan for stemming the loss of coastal wetlands. The plan aims to invest $50 billion to restore wetlands, utilizing new and emerging science and techniques. The success of this effort is vital as the future of the metro New Orleans area, its livelihood and economic survival depend on the preservation of its coastal wetlands, according to the Data Center.” (Read More)
 
The True Value of BP’s $18.7 Billion Settlement
By Michael Conathan, American Progress. July 30, 2015
“Restoration of the Gulf’s rapidly degrading wetlands should be a priority for RESTORE Act funding. For decades, the oil and gas industry has contributed to the landscape-scale loss of marshes and wetlands throughout the region. This industrial activity, combined with sea level rise due to climate change, results in 75 square kilometers of Louisiana wetlands eroding into the Gulf of Mexico annually. Lost along with this acreage are the social and economic benefits they provide to society, including buffering storm surge, filtering pollution, and serving as nursery habitats for fisheries.” (Read More)