Latest Mississippi River Delta news: Feb. 2, 2016

7 Louisiana coastal restoration projects gain new approvals
By Mark Schleifstein, The Times-Picayune. Feb. 1, 2016.
“A federal-state coastal restoration task force has ordered design work to begin on five new restoration projects and a restoration demonstration. It also OK’d the start of construction on two existing projects…” (read more)

Final bays on Bonnet Carre Spillway closed Monday as Mississippi River level slowly falls
By Amy Wold, The Advocate. Feb. 1, 2016.
“The last 24 bays at the Bonnet Carre Spillway were closed Monday, ending the flow of Mississippi River water into Lake Pontchartrain, but south Louisiana could see more rising river water in the spring…” (read more)

Engineering will start on two coastal restoration projects in south Lafourche after a state-federal task force approved paying their design costs
By Associated Press. Feb. 2, 2016.
“THIBODAUX, Louisiana — Engineering will start on two coastal restoration projects in south Lafourche after a state-federal task force approved paying their design costs…” (read more)

Deepwater Horizon restoration projects need accountability
By Larry McKinney, TribTalk. Feb. 1, 2016.
“After years of assessment, litigation and negotiation, BP has agreed to pay more than $20 billion in penalties to settle claims in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill that devastated the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. In October, the Natural Resource Trustees released an eye-popping overview of their plans to put that money to use restoring the environment…” (read more)

Nearly 1,000 scientists in Tampa for conference on BP oil spill
By Keith Morelli, The Tampa Tribune. Feb. 1, 2016.
“TAMPA — Nearly 1,000 scientists, researchers and environmental experts from all over the globe are in downtown Tampa this week for the four-day Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference…” (read more)