Latest Mississippi River Delta news: Dec. 10, 2015
Move quickly to restore the coast
By Editorial Page Staff, The Courier (Houma, La.). Dec. 9, 2015.
*features Simone Maloz, Restore or Retreat
“Spend coastal restoration money quickly and use it wisely. Even if we start now, scientists say it may be too late to do a great deal of good for the Louisiana coast. But, moving on the problem late and doing something is better than not moving at all…” (read more).
Louisiana projects allocated $52 million on Wednesday to improve Louisiana coastline
By Amy Wold, The Advocate. Dec. 9, 2015.
*features Restore the Mississippi River Delta Coalition statement
“Some coastal restoration projects that have languished in the planning books because of a lack of money got a shot in the arm Wednesday when the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council approved $52 million in Deepwater Horizon project money for the work…” (read more).
Louisiana wins $52.2 million in Restore Act projects, loses some future funding
By Mark Schleifstein, The Times-Picayune. Dec. 9, 2015.
“Louisiana was a winner and a loser during a Wednesday (Dec. 9) meeting of the federal-state Restore Act council, gaining approval of $52.2 million for six coastal restoration projects and a study of the lower Mississippi River in Louisiana, but seeing its share of a “bucket” containing 30 percent of Restore Act Task Force money shrink to just under 35 percent. The state contended it should have received a greater share of that “bucket” of Clean Water Act fine money because it had the most and most intense oiling of its shoreline during the BP oil spill…” (read more).
$52.2 million OK’d for Louisiana coastal projects
By Mark Schleifstein, The Times-Picayune. Dec. 9, 2015.
“The federal-state Restore Act council approved $52.2 million for six coastal restoration projects and a study of the lower Mississippi River in Louisiana on Wednesday (Dec. 9). The money comes from Clean Water Act fines paid by Transocean, the owner of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig that exploded during the BP oil spill disaster in 2010…” (read more).
Shrimp Task Force fears damage to fisheries from proposed Mississippi River diversions
By Sean Ellis, The Daily Comet. Dec. 9, 2015.
“The Louisiana Shrimp Task Force voiced its opposition to the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority’s recommendation that two Mississippi River diversions be built in the Barataria and Breton basins…” (read more).
Dularge project included in coastal priorities list
By Jacob Batte, The Daily Comet. Dec. 9, 2015.
“A project that would protect Dularge from storm surge and saltwater intrusion will get a $5.2 million boost. The Bayou Dularge Ridge, Marsh and Hydrologic Restoration Project was one of seven proposals prioritized by the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council today…” (read more).
Committee to decide on big coastal restoration project Thursday
By KATC (Lafayette, La.). Dec. 9, 2015.
“The clearinghouse responsible for wetlands projects in Louisiana is set to vote tomorrow on a plan to stabilize the shoreline at the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge in Grand Chenier…” (read more).
New Orleans’ Urban Water Plan: A search for success and money
By Richard Rainey, The Times-Picayune. Dec. 9, 2015.
“‘Are they really going to do this, or are they going to go back to the way they were?’ That question about New Orleans’ commitment to look at water differently for years worried Dale Morris, a Dutch economist and adviser to New Orleans on exploring innovative ways to handle its stormwater after Hurricane Katrina. It nagged him for months, until long strategy sessions gave rise in 2013 to what is now known as the Greater New Orleans Urban Water Plan…” (read more).