Latest Mississippi River Delta News: May 2, 2013
Mud Wrestling: Skeptics question plans for rebuilding coastal Louisiana
By John Snell, Fox 8 Live. May 1, 2013.
“Breton Sound, La. — George Ricks yanks a clump of Spartina grass from a dying marsh in St. Bernard Parish…” (Read more)
Coastal restoration bill easily passes Louisiana House
By Lauren McGaughey, The Times-Picayune (New Orleans). May 1, 2013.
“Any money Louisiana receives from Deepwater-Horizon-BP oil spill cleanwater fines would be used solely for coastal protection and restoration programs under a bill approved by the state’s lower chamber Wednesday. The constitutional amendment passed easily by a vote of 98-0 and will head to the Senate for further debate…” (Read more)
Exposure to BP oil-contaminated sediment causes defects in killifish, study says
By Mark Schleifstein, The Times-Picayune. May 1, 2013.
“Exposure of embryos of a tiny Gulf of Mexico fish to sediment from Louisiana wetlands contaminated with oil from the BP Deepwater Horizon spill causes defects to the growing fish’s heart and cardiovascular system, delays hatching, and reduces overall hatching success, according to a new study co-authored by two Louisiana State University scientists…” (Read more)
Federal fisheries officials say ‘honeymoon over’ – six red snapper violations issued
By Benjamin Alexander-Bloch, The Times-Picayune. May 1, 2013.
“In an ongoing fisheries fight between Louisiana and federal officials, the acting special agent in charge of southeast federal fisheries enforcement said on Wednesday that “the honeymoon period, the education period, is over.” Otha Easly was referring to six red snapper citations issued off the Louisiana coast over the weekend – the first citations issued in the disagreement over where the federal and state water line really rests…” (Read more)
Gov. Scott Announces $58 Million for Restoration Projects
By Kevin McVay, WMBB-TV (Panama City, Fla.). May 2, 2013.
“Today, Governor Rick Scott announced that the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustees have proposed $58 million in early restoration projects for Florida. To date, Phases I and II of early restoration projects for Florida have totaled $11.4 million…” (Read more)
Stop stripping funds from artificial reef development
Editorial, The Daily Advertiser (Lafayette, La.). May 1, 2013.
“With the Louisiana legislative session in full swing, dollars get added and dollars get stripped from both good and bad funds. One good fund that is facing having its funds stripped is the Artificial Reef Development Fund, founded some 25 years ago…” (Read more)