Archive for People
Christian Marsh – Be a part of Louisiana’s next restoration success story
May 10, 2012 | Posted by Delta Dispatches in Meetings/Events, People, Restoration ProjectsThis was originally posted on the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana's Coast Currents blog.
By Scott Madere, Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana
If it’s one thing we can count on at the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL), it’s the hard work and enthusiasm of our volunteers. Since our Community Based Restoration Program was created in 2000, more than 8,000 volunteers have joined us on the front lines of our coast, directly restoring 3,600 acres of wetlands.
Terraces like this one in Christian Marsh are simple earthen barriers, that, when coordinated, can break up waves that threaten vulnerable areas of coast.
Next week marks a new chapter in CRCL volunteer history as we take on quite possibly our biggest project ever. On May 14, 17, 18 and 19, CRCL volunteers will plant nearly 40,000 plants along newly constructed marsh terraces to help prevent further erosion and to stabilize the soil in these newly-created marsh features.
So what is a marsh terrace? Simply put, marsh terraces are earthen barriers created to reduce the impact of wind and waves on marsh that is under threat of severe erosion. They are often arranged in patterns where the terraces overlap each other to diffuse wave action on the shoreline.
This is Christian Marsh from above. The patterns of terracing are deliberately designed to be as close to natural formation as possible.
For the past year, CRCL, the Rainey Alliance and the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana have been constructing terraces to protect the fragile wetlands of Christian Marsh. All totaled, CRCL and its partners have placed 25,000 linear feet of terraces. That’s 83 football fields of coastal barrier for Christian Marsh! But just like any earth feature, these terraces are themselves vulnerable to wave action and wind erosion.
That’s where you come in.
The planting activities we have scheduled for the week of May 14 are designed to bolster these terraces and hold them in place. We need as many volunteers as we can to set plants into the terraces and strengthen their protective ability.
Like birds? They LOVE Christian Marsh. Help these guys out by volunteering to save their home!
As an added bonus, the terraces and the plants that grow on them will help form additional habitat for an area that is lush with wildlife, particularly migratory waterfowl. If you have never been to Christian Marsh, it is a virtual paradise for ducks, herons, ibises, roseate spoonbill and brown pelicans. Your volunteer day takes place in one of the most beautiful areas of Louisiana marsh. It’s a beautiful place worth saving.
Additional support for this project comes from Cargill Dicing Technology, Coypu, NOAA and Restore America’s Estuaries.
The Rainey Alliance is a restoration partnership comprised of McIlhenny Company, the National Audubon Society, Sagrera Estates and Vermilion Corporation.
No CommentsRestoring the Lower 9th Ward: A resilient vision for New Orleans
May 7, 2012 | Posted by Delta Dispatches in BP Oil Disaster, Clean Water Act, Community Resiliency, Congress, Hurricane Katrina, People, Restoration Projects, RESTORE Gulf Coast States Act, VideosThis post was originally published on the National Wildlife Federation's Wildlife Promise blog.
By Amanda Moore, National Wildlife Federation’s Coastal Louisiana Organizer in New Orleans
What would you do if, in one day, you lost everything? I’m not just talking about your personal possessions; I’m talking about your entire community — your church, your grocery store, your school. The folks you meet in the video below, Warrenetta Banks and John Taylor, have lived out this scenario every day since Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005 and have chosen to respond with passion and dedication to recovery — advocating for smart, green urban planning on one side of the levee and a healthy wetland ecosystem on the other side of the levee.
Warrenetta and John are both lifelong residents of the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans. In the years since the catastrophic flooding, they’ve helped their community recover to be one of the “greenest” in the nation — solar panels, community gardens, and LEED certified homes are typical encounters as you walk down the street. That’s on one side of the levee.
Residents like Warrenetta and John understand all too well that the wetland ecosystem on the other side of the levee is critical to their future and safety. Healthy wetlands serve as a buffer to storm surges and winds and help the levees do their job to protect communities. National Wildlife Federation is one organization working closely with the Lower Ninth Ward Center for Sustainable Engagement and Development (where Warrenetta and John work) to plan and gain funding for restoration of the 400-acre cypress swamp bordering the community (featured in the video) as well as the entire 58,000 acres wetland ecosystem the swamp is connected to, which once buffered much of the Greater New Orleans area from storms and provided important wildlife habitat.
Without healthy wetlands, coastal communities like the Lower Ninth Ward remain very vulnerable to disasters. Urgent funding is needed for restoration. The RESTORE Act, legislation now making its way through the U.S. Congress, will use a portion of Clean Water Act penalties from the BP disaster to fund projects that will restore Gulf Coast ecosystems, including wetlands that protect communities and provide critical habitat for gulf wildlife. Right now, you can make a difference in the future of the Gulf Coast. Learn more about the RESTORE Act and share your voice!
No CommentsJob opening: Stakeholder Engagement Coordinator, Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana
April 23, 2012 | Posted by Elizabeth Skree in Job openings, People
Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL) is a non-profit advocacy organization established in 1988 to unite business interests, scientists, landowners, national and local conservation groups, local governments, hunters, anglers and a broad spectrum of concerned citizens in a shared mission of restoring and protecting a sustainable coastal Louisiana.
CRCL seeks to hire a Stakeholder Engagement Coordinator to coordinate three distinct stakeholder engagement initiatives designed to build support for comprehensive restoration of the Mississippi River Delta region. The Stakeholder Engagement Coordinator will work closely with staff at the Environmental Defense Fund and National Wildlife Federation to establish relationships with key stakeholders, share scientific and technical information with targeted stakeholders and integrate stakeholder needs and concerns into the planning and implementation of coastal restoration projects.
Duties:
- Prepare and plan CRCL stakeholder meetings
- Coordinate three pilot stakeholder engagement initiatives between collaborating organizations with the ability to identify and leverage synergies
- Develop stakeholder relationships, trust and issue knowledge in targeted areas
- Integrate stakeholder engagement project results into state and federal restoration project development
- Create and track project metrics for progress reporting
- Compile lessons learned from pilot initiatives to create successful models for future engagement
Qualifications:
- Undergraduate degree or equivalent experience is required. A background in social sciences or communication is preferred
- In depth knowledge of stakeholders and constituencies in coastal Louisiana is required. Technical knowledge of coastal dynamics is preferred
- Proven ability to manage, organize and coordinate efforts internally and across multiple organizations
- Exceptional interpersonal skills, including conflict resolution and consensus building.
- Ability to work collaboratively as well as independently
- Effective and clear communication skills with the specific ability to explain complex information in simple terms
Salary: $40,000.00 to $50,000.00 depending on experience. Health and retirement benefits provided.
Term: 2 years
How to Apply: Interested candidates should submit a cover letter detailing your interest in the position, plus a resume, brief writing sample and two references. Materials should be sent by email or post to Amy Tyrrell at amyt@crcl.org or 6160 Perkins Rd., Suite 225, Baton Rouge, La. 70808 no later than May 6, 2012.
No CommentsVoices of the Delta: Captain Troy Frady
February 24, 2012 | Posted by Kevin Chandler in BP Oil Disaster, Clean Water Act, Hunting and Fishing, RESTORE Gulf Coast States Act, Voices of the DeltaNext in our Voices of the Delta series, you will meet Captain Troy Frady: Alabama native, owner of Distraction Charters in Orange Beach, Ala. and Gulf Coast restoration advocate.
Name: Captain Troy Frady
Occupation: Owner/Operator at Distraction Charters in Orange Beach, Alabama
What does the Gulf Coast mean to you?
My earliest memories of coastal Alabama date back to the early 1970s. There were not many people on the water back then around Orange Beach, Fort Morgan and Dauphin Island. The fish were abundant and our estuaries were teeming with life. Over the past 40 years, I have seen things change from what I remember as a child. I have seen our coastal wetlands drained or filled, environmental pollution, overfishing of our marine resources, and residential and commercial development. All have contributed to the decline of what was once a pristine coastal environment.
After 21 years of working in the corporate world of banking and logistics, I decided to fulfill a childhood dream of making my living on the water. I took off my tie and hung up my coat and purchased a 41’ Hatteras and began charter fishing in 2002.
After entering the charter fishing fleet, I noticed that there were a lot of anglers who were overharvesting reef fish simply because they could. I wanted to be different and develop my niche. I began educating my customers about conservation and why it is important to release some of your catch. I had already seen what overfishing had done to the resources since childhood, so I decided to be part of the solution instead of being part of the problem. I began marketing “Keep the Best, Release the Rest,” to help manage fish populations.
The effects of the BP oil spill have complicated our fishery rebuilding process. It may be years before we know the full effects of what the oil and dispersants did to our reef fishery and the deep water marine ecosystem.
Why is it important to move quickly to restore all coastal wetlands and estuaries?
Over the years, our pristine coastal areas have been depleted and are in jeopardy of being gone for good. With natural events like hurricanes and manmade events like the BP oil spill, it is extremely important that we all do our part and build buffers around and restore our marine resources. The lessons I have learned in 40 years are valuable, and I don’t want to see future generations witness what we had a chance to correct.
How does the RESTORE Act fit into this process?
For the first time in our nation’s history, we have an opportunity to divert Clean Water Act fines, without using taxpayer dollars, toward projects that will protect our estuaries and marine resources from natural or manmade disasters. The RESTORE Act gives hope to all of us who make our living by educating and being good stewards of such a great national resource. It may be years before we know the full effects of what the BP oil spill did to our marine environment. Only through a robust research and monitoring program will we be able to detect delayed or subtle impacts, track the recovery of the injured species and implement appropriate restoration strategies.
One thing’s for sure — the seafood industry and recreational fishing are pillars of our coastal economy. Neither can prosper without the natural resources that support them. In the gulf, environmental restoration is vital to economic restoration. What we do today will have an effect on what happens tomorrow. Your children and grandchildren will love you more because of it. Restoration is the right thing to do.
No CommentsVoices of the Delta: Keith Blomstrom
February 14, 2012 | Posted by Kevin Chandler in BP Oil Disaster, Hunting and Fishing, Hurricane Katrina, RESTORE Gulf Coast States Act, Voices of the Delta
"The Minnesota state bird, the Common Loon, spends two to three years maturing in the gulf. To Minnesotans, this bird represents wilderness, and it also links us to the Mississippi River Delta." - Keith Blomstrom
This is the second post of our Voices of the Delta series.
Name: Keith Blomstrom
Occupation: President of the Minnesota Conservation Federation
Why are the Mississippi River Delta and Gulf Coast important to Minnesota?
Minnesota is linked to the gulf in many ways. The Mississippi River starts in Minnesota — its headwaters are located in Itasca State Park, near Bemidji, Minn. — so the river itself means a great deal to us. Some of the beneficial sediment that travels to the delta comes from Minnesota, but at the same time, our farms and cities are responsible for pollution traveling downriver as well. As an acknowledgment of our commitment to the river, the state of Minnesota and the Environmental Protection Agency have recently partnered with farmers and others to clean up water draining into the gulf.
Additionally, our waterfowl winter in the gulf — all total, 75 percent of our continent’s waterfowl pass through the region. The Minnesota state bird, the Common Loon, spends two to three years maturing in the gulf. To Minnesotans, this bird represents wilderness, and it also links us to the Mississippi River Delta.
What does the RESTORE Act mean to you personally?
After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, I visited a fish camp owned by some friends in Montegut, La., and I saw firsthand the devastation and problems caused by the loss of wetlands. The place we stayed was on 10-foot poles. During the storms, the tidal surge there was 8 feet. Anything that wasn’t higher than that was destroyed. We were 6 miles from the gulf, but the canal was still full of saltwater with bull sharks, stingrays and other saltwater creatures swimming everywhere.
The oil spill further devastated the area, killing the plants that hold together the soil, killing wildlife and hurting the fishing industry. It will take many years for the ecosystem to recover. But with the RESTORE Act, we have the chance to make a down payment on restoration, to help build a better future for the Gulf Coast and for our country.
No CommentsVoices of the Delta: Chris Macaluso
February 9, 2012 | Posted by Delta Dispatches in Hunting and Fishing, People, RESTORE Gulf Coast States Act, Voices of the Delta
"I have spent my life fishing and hunting in the rich marshes, barrier islands and swamps along Louisiana’s coast." - Chris Macaluso
This is the first in our “Voices of the Delta” blog series, where we’ll be interviewing coastal Louisiana restoration advocates from across the country. From Louisiana to Florida to Minnesota, these spokesmen and women have come to Washington to tell Congress that the Mississippi River Delta is a vital natural resource and that we need to pass the RESTORE Act now and send oil spill fines back to the Gulf States that deserve them. Check back over the coming days to read more of their stories!
Name: Chris Macaluso
Occupation: Coastal Outreach Coordinator, Louisiana Wildlife Federation
What does coastal Louisiana mean to you?
I have spent my life fishing and hunting in the rich marshes, barrier islands and swamps along Louisiana’s coast. My earliest memories of fishing with my dad are filled with images of vast areas of marsh grasses, scattered coastal ponds and bayous teeming with fish and waterfowl. Endless meadows of golden marsh grass stretched through the wetlands in some of our favorite fishing destinations, like Buras, Grand Isle, Cocodrie and Dulac.
Yet in the 30 years since those first memories were made, most of that habitat has washed away, leaving behind vast areas of open water. Mississippi River levees built to protect communities from river flooding have separated the marshes from their essential sediment and freshwater source. These levees have also made those same communities fatally vulnerable to storm surges from the Gulf of Mexico. Jetties and dredging meant to keep the river open for navigation have directed the land-building sediment into the gulf’s deep waters, and manmade navigation channels have carved up swamps and marshes, allowing saltwater to penetrate as much as 40 miles inland.
Chris Macaluso, Louisiana Wildlife Federation
Why is it important that we move quickly to restore the Mississippi River Delta?
Simply put, my coast is dying. Louisiana’s coast is losing land at the fastest rate in the world, with more than 1,900 square miles washing away in the last 80 years. There is the possibility of almost that much more vanishing in the next 50 years unless projects are soon built to curb and hopefully reverse that loss.
Many of those projects have already been approved by Congress. A host of freshwater and sediment diversions as well as marsh and barrier island restoration projects meant to fix Louisiana have been listed in federal Water Resources Development Acts over the last 40 years. The state of Louisiana recently released a draft of a comprehensive coastal restoration and hurricane protection plan that optimistically demonstrates coastal land loss can turn into land gains if those projects are implemented.
Sadly though, most of the approved projects languish in wait for funding while tied up in lengthy federal bureaucracies.
Where does the RESTORE Act fit in this process?
The RESTORE Act is an absolutely essential piece of legislation for my home state of Louisiana. If we are to have any hope of making significant headway in reversing the devastating coastal land loss that has plagued the state for nearly a century, Congress must pass this bill.
Passage of the RESTORE Act can provide the money needed to move some projects to construction while helping Louisiana address the environmental damage caused by the devastating oil spill of 2010. More than that, it can give hope that the wetland loss threatening to completely wipe out one of the world’s great hunting and fishing destinations — and the communities and culture that go with it — can be reversed and that Louisiana’s coastal habitats can be sustained for generations to come.
No CommentsCRCL volunteers plant more than 700 cypress trees at Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
January 4, 2012 | Posted by Delta Dispatches in People, Restoration ProjectsThis story was originally posted on the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana's Coast Currents blog.
Following Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve’s western border is the long, narrow Bayou Segnette Waterway, an unnaturally-straight man-made canal with an equally unnatural problem: invasion from the Chinese tallow tree.
Chinese tallow is considered a pest in the Louisiana wild.
Chinese tallow is a beautiful ornamental tree that actually has many uses. Originally brought to the United States in the 1700’s as a resource for soap making and other cottage industries, the tree is valued in small numbers. Unfortunately, many areas of Louisiana just have too many of these trees. Jean Lafitte National Park is no exception. Because Chinese tallow spreads so quickly, it is threatening to squeeze out native species like cypress, oak and hickory from the park’s borders. Once-diverse stretches of forest would be dominated by one species… unless something is done about it.
On December 9 and 10, 2011, more than 50 Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL) volunteers teamed up with the staff of Jean Lafitte National Park to take the fight to the Chinese tallow, and help restore sections of native cypress forest along the spoil banks of the Bayou Segnette Waterway. With shovels in hand, these volunteers combined to plant more than 700 bald cypress trees in a two-day period.
Kristina Tomko (l.) and Lily Zhou plant a cypress tree along the Bayou Segnette Waterway.
It is hoped that the newly-installed cypress trees will grow and establish a canopy under which the Chinese tallow cannot grow. Prior to the cypress planting, park rangers from Jean Lafitte individually poisoned many mature and growing Chinese tallow trees, allowing the new cypress the opportunity to overtake their territory.
Cypress trees are, of course, valued in Louisiana not only for their cultural worth (it’s the state tree of Louisiana), but for their ability to hold sediment within their extensive and mighty root systems. These new trees will grip the soil along the banks of the Bayou Segnette waterway and not let go. This will strengthen the integrity of the canal and give it a better chance to survive storm surge and erosion.
All new cypress trees were tagged for later research.
Volunteers also installed degradable plastic protection devices around the trunks of the newly planted trees. These plastic barriers prevent nutria, wild hogs and other herbivores from destroying the young cypress. The newly planted cypress were also tagged and measured, so that data could be kept on their rate of growth and survivability. In time, this two day project could leave a centuries-long mark on the landscape of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park.
CRCL would like to thank Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Shell, Entergy Corporation, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana, Restore America’s Estuaries and the dozens of volunteers who made this project a great success.
Day two of planting drew 40 volunteers to the project.
CRCL Now Accepting Nominations for Coastal Stewardship Awards
December 16, 2011 | Posted by Delta Dispatches in Meetings/Events, People
The Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL) will host the 17th annual Coastal Stewardship Awards Program on Friday, April 13, 2012 at the Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center.
Coastal Stewardship Awards recognize the contributions of individuals and groups who demonstrate outstanding commitment to preserving and restoring Louisiana’s coastal wetlands. CRCL is proud to honor these leaders in coastal restoration, who share our vision of a sustainable coast for future generations.
Nominations are now being accepted for the Lifetime Achievement Award, Distinguished Achievement Award and the Coastal Stewardship Award. Please consider nominating an individual or group who has made an exceptional contribution to protecting and restoring Louisiana’s wetlands.
To nominate a person or organization for a Coastal Stewardship Award, visit www.CRCL.org. For more information, contact CRCL at 1-888-LACOAST (1-888-522-6278).
All nominations must be received by February 3, 2012.
No CommentsNutria Festival Showcases New Uses for Louisiana’s Most-Infamous Rodent
November 21, 2011 | Posted by Elizabeth Skree in Meetings/Events, PeopleBy Amanda Moore, National Wildlife Federation
A woman models a nutria fur hat and dress at Nutria-palooza on the Bayou. (Photo credit: Amanda Moore, NWF)
Nutria. Marsh-muncher. Coypu. Swamp rat. “That critter with the big orange teeth.” Call it what you want, but this invasive, semi-aquatic rodent has been dining on Louisiana's precious wetlands since the 1930s. And although the State of Louisiana pays a bounty of five dollars per tail, nutria still managed to destroy over 6,000 acres of Louisiana wetlands last year alone.
So on November 5th, Righteous Fur celebrated its 3rd annual "Nutria-Palooza! on the Bayou” in Lafayette, where fun-loving folks dined on nutria and stocked their closets with furry wear. A main purpose of the event—besides helping to control an invasive species—is to raise awareness about the need to restore Louisiana’s coast.
Michael Massimi of the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program (the organization receives a portion of all proceeds from the sale of Righteous Fur) gave an opening presentation on the swamp rat, and then we let the good times roll with local musicians—including MC Sweet Tea—and the highlight of the night: a nutria fur fashion show!
Eighteen designers dazzled the crowd of 100 with numerous one-of-a-kind furry ensembles. A silent auction closed out the night, at which National Wildlife Federation’s Alisha Renfro added a fur hat to her wardrobe, and Coalition the Restore Coastal Louisiana’s Morgan Crutcher bought a nutria-trimmed dress that will win any Mardi Gras costume contest.
Models show off nutria fur creations at Nutria-palooza.
"If you can't eat 'em, wear 'em!” said Crutcher. “Since we began measuring in 1998, the number of observed acreage damaged or destroyed by nutria peaked in 1999 at 27,356, or 43 square miles. That's just the observed figure—these little guys can do a lot of damage!"
To see more photos from the fashion show and to find out how you, too, can wear nutria fur and help save Louisiana’s wetlands, check out www.RighteousFur.com!
1 CommentMeet Jim Wyerman
November 7, 2011 | Posted by Elizabeth Skree in People, Staff Profiles
Jim Wyerman joined the Mississippi River Delta Restoration Campaign in April as Director of Strategic Partnerships and Communications for Environmental Defense Fund. His role is to provide strategic direction in developing communications plans, engaging high-influence individuals to support the RESTORE Act and building long-term support for coastal restoration from key business sectors. He is currently leading a project to inform and engage the navigation sector in long-term solutions.
Jim brings 25 years experience in senior leadership at national conservation organizations, where he has led campaigns and managed multi-disciplinary teams. Most recently, he was Chief Program Officer at Carbonfund.org and VP of Communications for the American Forest Foundation. Previously, he directed development and communications for the Land Trust Alliance and was VP of Programs at Defenders of Wildlife. He also served as Executive Director of Maryland PIRG and the grassroots group 2020 Vision.
"What attracted me to Environmental Defense Fund was their reputation for achieving large-scale structural change through market-driven solutions," said Jim. "While grassroots, communications and policy advocacy are all essential parts of a successful campaign, the missing piece is often the economic one: How do we shape the conservation goal as a smart business goal?" That is what the Partnerships Committee of the Campaign is working to do. "We want to make it a little easier for businesses to do the right thing for the wetlands and communities that depend on a healthy Gulf ecosystem."
Since he first went to New Orleans for Mardi Gras 30 years ago, Jim says he fell in love with the culture, food, music and people of Southern Louisiana. If he's in town on a Thursday night, look for Jim at Rock 'n' Bowl for a zydeco dance.
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