Latest Mississippi River Delta news: Jan. 19, 2016

Officials and environmentalists lament that water once again is high in the Mississippi but sediment isn’t being diverted to marshes
By Amy Wold, The Advocate. Jan. 16, 2016.
*features John Lopez (LPBF), David Muth and Alisha Renfro (NWF), and Kim Reyher (CRCL)
“After the 2011 flood pushed record amounts of silt-laden water through the Mississippi River valley, coastal activists lamented the fact that no river diversions were in place to capture some of the sediment to help rebuild Louisiana’s marshes…” (read more)

Lafourche, Terrebonne coastal projects supported as state priorities
By Jacob Batte, Houma Courier. Jan. 15, 2016.
*features Simone Maloz, Restore or Retreat
“Restoration projects in Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes are among the top priorities in the state’s Coastal Master Plan, and local officials expressed hope Thursday night that support will continue…” (read more).

Mississippi River crests in Baton Rouge, will inch lower as water leaves the floodplain for the Gulf of Mexico
By Amy Wold, The New Orleans Advocate. Jan. 18, 2016.
“The rising Mississippi River crested Monday in Baton Rouge at a slightly lower than expected level of 43.3 feet, but the high water is expected to stick around for a while…” (read more)

Letters: Ink wasted on climate change doubter
Opinion by Alexander S Kolker, The Advocate. Jan. 18, 2016.
“It was very disappointing to see Cal Thomas’s climate skepticism column printed in The Advocate. Climate change is real, and it is a threat to Louisianan and the nation. Scientists have been able to demonstrate that Earth’s temperature is increasing, as are greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane…” (read more)

Swelling Mississippi River proves challenging, part of doing business on waterway
By Heath Allen, WDSU. Jan. 15, 2016.
“The Mississippi River continues to get a lot of attention in the wake of the collision Thursday that set free six barges near the Crescent City Connection. The Coast Guard is watching river traffic, while the Corps of Engineers manages the level…” (read more).