Latest Mississippi River Delta News: July 20, 2015

The $50 billion plan to save Louisiana’s wetlands
By Robert Boos, PRI. July 19, 2015
“Louisiana is in trouble. The Mississippi River Delta is disappearing into the Gulf of Mexico at the rate of 16 square miles a year, some of the fastest land loss on the planet. The bayou lands are crucial to the nation’s fisheries, as well as regional oil and gas supplies. Perhaps ironically, activity by the energy industry is helping to destroy its own infrastructure.” (Read More)
 
Mississippi River reaches 15 feet at New Orleans, triggering more Corps levee restrictions
By Mark Schleifstein, The Times-Picayune. July 17, 2015
“The Mississippi River rose to 15 feet at the Carrollton Gage in New Orleans on Friday (July 17), triggering additional “flood fight” procedures to be enforced by the Army Corps of Engineers.” (Read More)

Daily Mississippi River levee inspections have begun now that water level is on the rise, Corps of Engineers reports
The Advocate. July 20, 2015
“Water levels in the Mississippi River have reached a sufficient depth to cause the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to begin daily inspections of the levees from Baton Rouge to Venice. Inspectors will look for any problems on the levees, such as scouring or sand boils. In addition, construction projects within 1,500 feet of the levee system must be shut down, according to a Corps news release.” (Read More)

Funding sought for restoration project along Calcasieu Ship Channel
By Heather Regan-White, Southwest Daily News. July 20, 2015
“The project’s purpose is to reduce the amount of saline water in the channel flowing into adjacent wetlands, protect and restore the ecosystem and mitigate the damage to fish, wildlife and natural resources which rely on freshwater. The plan reports that, “reducing wetland loss will preserve areas of national interest including Cameron Prairie and Sabine National Wildlife Refuges.” (Read More)