Latest Mississippi River Delta News: July 10, 2015

1970 study shows impact of MRGO on salinity in part of Lake Pontchartrain Basin
*features John Lopez, LPBF
By Todd Masson, The Times-Picayune. July 9, 2015
“A Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries study released in 1970 shows how profoundly the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet impacted salinity levels in a significant portion of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin.” (Read More)
 
New Orleans accepts $45 million settlement offer on BP oil spill
WWL. July 9, 2015
“Mayor Mitch Landrieu on Thursday announced that the City of New Orleans has accepted a $45 million settlement offer for the alleged economic damages that resulted from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that devastated the region’s coastal wetlands.” (Read More)
 
BP settlement offer rejected by Jean Lafitte, its levee board
By Andrea Shaw, The Times-Picayune. July 9, 2015
“Coastal communities, including Jean Lafitte and Grand Isle, were hit particularly hard during the massive spill that flooded the Gulf of Mexico with more than 3 million barrels of oil over three months. The disaster, which killed 11 workers, shut down the fishing industry and disrupted the livelihoods of local residents, officials have said.” (Read More)
 
Elevated river level adds new layer to hurricane planning (video)
By John Snell, WVUE. July 9, 2015
“The unusually high Mississippi River level this summer theoretically could force the opening of the Bonnet Carre Spillway in the event of a hurricane.” (Read More)
 
Opinion: BP settlement: Tens of millions for lawyers, not nearly enough for the coast
By Lt. Gen. Russel Honore, The Lens. July 9, 2015
“In court, the prospect of a heavy fine was an opportunity to fix the system and make clear that no oil company should gamble with Louisiana lives and our coast. We rely on government officials to protect us by ensuring that real disincentives to dangerous behavior exist.” (Read More)