ENVIRONMENTAL
NEWS
01.23.2008 - CPRA
For Immediate Release: Jan. 23, 2007
Contact: Chris Macaluso
(225) 342-3968
chris.macaluso@la.gov
Governor Bobby Jindal Signs Executive Order to Maximize Efficiency of
State Coastal Restoration and Hurricane Protection Efforts
BATON ROUGE - Today, Governor Bobby Jindal signed an executive order to
maximize the efficiency of Louisiana's coastal restoration and hurricane
protection efforts by requiring all state agencies to comply with the
Comprehensive Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast which lays out coastal
and hurricane protection priorities as recognized by the Coastal
Protection and Restoration Authority, including the Department of
Transportation and Development, the Department of Natural Resources, and
the Governor's Office of Coastal Affairs. The executive order the Governor
signed today requires agencies to adhere to the projects and priorities
enumerated in the Master Plan which was previously authorized by the
Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority.
Governor Bobby Jindal said, "We will work together with our federal
partners over the coming years to commit billions of dollars toward
hurricane protection and coastal restoration efforts in Louisiana. This
executive order sets a clear path toward this future to ensure consistency
in our work and the sustainability of our coastal zone by requiring all
state agencies and their subdivisions to comply with Louisiana's
Comprehensive Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast."
ACTIVITY AND PERMIT CONSISTENCY WITH LOUISIANA'S COMPREHENSIVE MASTER PLAN
FOR A SUSTAINABLE COAST - Executive Order "Highlights"
WHEREAS, Louisiana's coastal master plan, entitled "Integrated Ecosystem
Restoration and Hurricane Protection: Louisiana's Comprehensive Master
Plan for a Sustainable Coast", (hereinafter "Master Plan"), is the state's
conceptual plan for the integration of coastal protection and restoration
based upon the best available science and engineering;
WHEREAS, the Master Plan was approved by the Coastal Protection and
Restoration Authority at its April 12, 2007 meeting and thereafter
unanimously approved by the Louisiana Legislature by passing Senate
Concurrent Resolution No. 11 during the 2007 Regular Session;
WHEREAS, the Master Plan states a goal of integration of flood control
projects and coastal restoration initiatives to help both human and
natural communities survive and thrive over the long-term;
WHEREAS, the Master Plan recommends, among other things, improvements to
land use planning, zoning and permitting to more effectively achieve its
stated goals;
WHEREAS, beginning this year, billions of dollars in efforts to repair and
improve Louisiana's hurricane and coastal protection systems will be
carried out;
WHEREAS, state agencies must function in a manner that recognizes the
vital importance of expediting hurricane and coastal protection and
ensuring sustainable practices in our coastal zone;
WHEREAS, it is critical for all state agencies to work in a cooperative
manner with acute awareness of the recommendations of the Master Plan in
order to ensure the aggressive and orderly implementation of its stated
goals.
WHEREAS, Louisiana Revised Statute 49:213 directs the Governor, through
his executive assistant for coastal activities, to "coordinate and focus
the functions of all state agencies as they relate to coastal protection,
including hurricane protection and wetlands conservation and restoration";
and
WHEREAS, Louisiana Revised Statute 49:213 authorizes the Governor, through
his executive assistant for coastal activities, to "review and modify
proposed coastal use permits prior to issuance to the extent that such
permits would authorize activities which significantly affect hurricane
protection or wetlands conservation and restoration projects or which
significantly diminish the benefits of projects intended to protect,
conserve or enhance coastal areas and to require the issuance of permits
for public or private wetlands enhancement projects or plans.";
NOW THEREFORE, I, Bobby Jindal, Governor of the state of Louisiana, by
virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution and the laws of the
state of Louisiana, do hereby order and direct as follows:
SECTION 1: All state agencies shall administer their regulatory practices,
programs, contracts, grants, and all other functions vested in them in a
manner consistent with the Master Plan and public interest to the maximum
extent possible.
SECTION 2: This Order is effective upon signature and shall remain in
effect until amended, modified, terminated, or rescinded by the governor,
or terminated by operation of law.
Executive Order BJ 2008-7
For a copy of the original document, please click here.
For more information about the CPRA or the State's Comprehensive Coastal
Master Plan, please contact Chris Macaluso in the Governor's Office of
Coastal Activities at (225) 342-3968 or by email at chris.macaluso@la.gov.
Please note: This release was reprinted from the following website
http://www.gov.state.la.us/
01.23.2008
LSU
The Daily Reveille
Online Edition
NOAA administrator wants coastal issues in public eye Leader says levees
not only problem
J.J. Alcantara
Issue date: 1/23/08 Section: News
Media Credit: Grant Gutierrez
Louisiana coastal issues were brought to light to the University community
Tuesday by the head of the nation's oceanic administration.
Vice Adm. Conrad Lautenbacher Jr., retired U.S. Navy, the leader of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, spoke to University
students, faculty and staff about programs that NOAA is working on to
further restore the nation's coast.
Lautenbacher, who is also the NOAA undersecretary of commerce for oceans
and atmosphere, said one of NOAA's missions is to manage coastal resources
to meet the nation's economic, social and environmental needs.
Coastal population in the United States has increased since 2003.
In 2003, 153 million people lived on or near the coast, while NOAA
projects that in 2008, the population will increase to 160 million.
Lautenbacher said finding ways to rebuild and restore coastlines around
America will decrease the risk to life, property and coastal habitats.
One program Lautenbacher spoke about was the Gulf of Mexico Alliance. The
alliance includes all five Gulf coast states - Texas, Louisiana,
Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.
These five states have agreed to create a joint ocean policy and mission
for recovery and conservation.
Lautenbacher said NOAA also works to improve the Hurricane Forecasting
Improvement Project.
The project's goal is to reduce prediction errors to help residents of
hurricane-prone areas evacuate.
"It's not understood well enough in the nation," Lautenbacher said. "If
you don't understand the topography where you are, you will have a very
difficult time creating models and forecasting the future for almost
anything."
NOAA is also working on restoring Louisiana's habitats.
"After Katrina, people focused immediately on problems of rebuilding the
levees," Lautenbacher said. "We need to deal with the whole system. We
need to deal with the barrier islands, the wetlands."
Lautenbacher said fisheries are important to the Gulf, which has been
negatively affected by hurricanes.
Hypoxia is another issue Lautenbacher spoke about. Hypoxic zones are areas
in the Gulf where oxygen has been completely depleted, causing the death
of several aquatic organisms.
Hypoxia occurs because excess nutrients are dumped into the Mississippi
River and then flow into the Gulf.
"Now we have a law that tells us we have to have more ethanol,"
Lautenbacher said. "So what are we doing? We are dumping more stock into
the Mississippi."
Lautenbacher said he hopes to get these issues widely known and visible to
the public.
"I think there is an opportunity with the change in [presidential]
administration to get these issues out in the open," Lautenbacher said.
01.23.2008
National Science Foundation
Press Release 08-010
Agriculture Changing Chemistry of Mississippi River
River outflow altering Gulf of Mexico waters
Farming practices have changed the chemistry of the Mississippi River and
the Gulf of Mexico.
Midwestern farming, and increased water flowing into the Mississippi River
as a result, have injected the equivalent of five Connecticut Rivers'
worth of carbon dioxide into the Mississippi each year over the last 50
years, according to a study published this week in the journal Nature.
The research is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF).
"It's like the discovery of a new large river being piped out of the corn
belt," said Peter Raymond, lead author of the study and an ecologist at
Yale University. "Agricultural practices have significantly changed the
hydrology and chemistry of the Mississippi."
The research team analyzed Mississippi River data as much as 100 years
old. The data had been warehoused at two New Orleans water treatment
plants.
"This impressive effort has led to important conclusions about the
influence of land-use practices on carbon dioxide in the environment,"
said Martyn Caldwell, program director in NSF's division of environmental
biology. "The implications for other materials being transported into
river systems are significant."
The researchers tracked changes in the levels of water and bicarbonate,
which forms when carbon dioxide in water in soil dissolves minerals.
Bicarbonate plays an important, long-term role in absorbing atmospheric
carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. Oceans then absorb carbon dioxide but
become more acidic in the process.
"Ocean acidification makes it difficult, for example, for certain
organisms to form hard shells," said Eugene Turner, a co-author of the
paper and a marine ecologist at Louisiana State University.
The researchers concluded that liming and farming practices, such as
changes in drainage and crop type and rotation, are likely responsible for
the majority of the increase in water and carbon in the Mississippi.
The researchers believe that increased nutrients in the Mississippi also
are altering the chemistry of the Gulf of Mexico, into which the
Mississippi flows.
In addition to Raymond and Turner, co-authors of the paper,
"Anthropogenically Enhanced Fluxes of Water and Carbon from the
Mississippi River," are Neung-Hwan Oh of Yale and Whitney Broussard of
Louisiana State University.
Media Contacts
Cheryl Dybas, NSF (703) 292-7734 cdybas@nsf.gov
Related Websites
NSF Directorate for Geosciences: http://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=GEO
NSF Directorate for Biological Sciences:
http://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=BIO
02.28.06 Popular Science: 5 Bold
Ideas For A Hurricane-Proof New Orleans Why just rebuild the Crescent
City when we can reinvent it? Here,
the complete plan for riding out a category-5 storm By Michael Behar |
February 2006
10.10.05 Louisiana
Sea Grant Launces Hurricane Web Site
BATON ROUGE - Responding to the need for information in the aftermath
of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Louisiana Sea Grant College Program
has launched a recovery resources Web site at http://www.laseagrant.org/hurricane/index.htm.
The Louisiana Hurricane Recovery Resources site offers visitors information
on topics such as wetlands, seafood and water quality to ports, economic
impacts and rebuilding concerns. Through a question and answer format
with experts from a variety of fields, residents, business owners and
community leaders can find the information they need to make decisions
about their immediate future. The experts provide the best current
information,
and updates are made as new data become available.
The hurricane recovery site launch coincides with the unveiling of a
more user-friendly redesign of the Louisiana Sea Grant College Program
Web site, http://www.laseagrant.org.
The new design incorporates easier navigation, more seamless connections
to other Louisiana Sea Grant sites and also offers visitors a search engine
function. The revised anchor site is the first step in a project to redesign
several Louisiana Sea Grant Web sites. Other Louisiana Sea Grant sites
provide information on fish species, aquaculture, commercial and recreational
fishing regulations, relevant legal information, data on state tourism
industry trends and resources for science and marine educators.
Since its establishment in 1968, Louisiana Sea Grant has worked to promote
stewardship of the state's coastal resources through a combination of
research, education and outreach programs critical to the cultural, economic
and environmental health of Louisiana's coastal zone. Louisiana Sea Grant,
based at Louisiana State University, is part of the National Sea Grant
Program, a network of 30 programs in each of the U.S. coastal and Great
Lakes states and Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands.
9.10.05 Environmental Impacts of Hurricane Katrina Web Site -
A Service of Louisiana State University
The purpose of the site is to provide information and data on currently
underway research operations, and continue discussions of research ideas,
provide opportunities, help foster collaborations between researchers,
and also discuss how LSU faculty can use their expertise to assist in
the recovery.
The home page for the web site is http://www.katrina.eng.lsu.edu/index.htm
The web site also includes a four-page publication with basic information
for Gulf Coast residents in dealing with the aftermath of hurricanes.
Direct links for "Basic Information for Gulf Coast Residents In Dealing
with the Aftermath of Hurricanes", compiled and being disseminated
by the Hazardous Substance Research Center S/SW community outreach program
at LSU and Georgia Tech, are:
http://www.katrina.eng.lsu.edu/pdf_research/HSRC_update19.pdf
and http://www.hsrc-ssw.org/update19.pdf
Also of particular interest to coastal wetland researchers is the LSU's
proposed "Coastal Restoration Data Grid". Information is available
at http://www.katrina.eng.lsu.edu/data.htm
and http://www.katrina.eng.lsu.edu/pdf_research/Kosar%20-%20Katrina.pdf
08.15.05 Louisiana Comprehensive
Wildlife Conservation Strategy - Draft available for review
We are pleased to announce that the draft CWCS is now available online
for your review at the following link:
http://www.wlf.state.la.us/apps/netgear/index.asp?cn=lawlf&pid=13
30
In order to address your comments in time to meet the deadline to submit
the plan to the national team for its review, please provide your input
on or before August 28, 2005.
To provide comments or for more information, please contact:
Gary Lester, Coordinator
Louisiana Natural Heritage Program
Dept. Wildlife and Fisheries
PO Box 98000
Baton Rouge, LA 70898-9000
225.765.2823
glester@wlf.louisiana.gov
07.15.05 NOAA
CAPTURES AERIAL IMAGES OF DESTRUCTION CAUSED BY HURRICANE DENNIS
July 12, 2005 - NOAA today posted online more than 600 aerial
images of the USA Gulf Coast regions struck by Hurricane Dennis last Sunday.
The Florida Panhandle regions photographed range from Pensacola to Panama City.
The aerial photograph missions were conducted by the NOAA Remote Sensing Division
the day after Hurricane Dennis made landfall at 3:25 p.m. EDT on Santa Rosa
Island between Navarre Beach and Pensacola Beach, Fla., packing winds between115
mph to 120 mph. NOAA will conduct more aerial flights of the affected regions.
The NOAA imagery was acquired to support the agency's national
security and emergency response requirements. In addition, the imagery will
be used for ongoing research efforts for testing and developing standards for
airborne digital imagery.
NOAA used an Emerge/Applanix Digital Sensor System, or DSS,
to acquire the images from an altitude of 7,500 feet. NOAA used a mix of private
sector and NOAA assets to complete the mission.
NOAA, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is dedicated
to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and
research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental
stewardship
of the nation's coastal and marine resources.
For images and more information see:
http://alt.ngs.noaa.gov/dennis/ and
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2005/s2473.htm
Media Contact:
Greg Hernandez, NOAA, (202) 482-3091
07.08.05 USDA
and Army Sign Partnership Agreement
WASHINGTON, July 7, 2005—During a ceremony today at
the U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS) and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil
Works) (OASA-CW) signed a partnership agreement to improve management of the
nation’s water and related natural resources. NRCS Chief Bruce Knight
and George S. Dunlop, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, signed
the agreement.
“This partnership reaffirms the commitment of USDA and
the Department of the Army to work together to support cooperative conservation
activities that impact wetlands and water resources and protect the nation’s
watersheds,” said Knight.
The partnership agreement will enable NRCS and OASA-CW, through
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Civil Works mission, to work
together in areas of mutual interest including wetlands conservation compliance
and regulation; wetland creation, restoration and enhancement; natural disaster
recovery; and watershed planning and implementation.
The two agencies established the following partnership goals:
• To express mutual commitment to comprehensive water and related natural
resources management and conservation in support of Executive Order 13352 on
“Facilitation of Cooperative Conservation.”
• To create and support three national teams to review existing authorities
and programs, identify areas of concern and need for increased collaboration,
and support implementation of actions identified for:
watershed planning and implementation; wetland creation, restoration, and
enhancement;
and natural disaster recovery.
• To coordinate other programs and activities including Wetland Conservation
Compliance and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.
• To support and encourage the establishment of six to ten field
implementation
teams to serve as pilot activities for implementing innovations, removing
impediments
to the NRCS/USACE partnership, and engaging and supporting local leadership
in solving water and related natural resources problems.
Additional information on NRCS is available at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov
and on USACE at http://www.usace.army.mil.
07.08.05 Coastal Sustainability
Program for the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Announced
The Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation announces the establishment
of a Coastal Sustainability Program for the Lake Pontchartrain Basin. This new
program will be implementing a Comprehensive Habitat Management Plan now being
developed. According to Executive Director, Carlton Dufrechou, “Much of
our coast has been lost and our best efforts have fallen short. We must find
a better ways to sustain our coast and secure our future.”
The Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation's Coastal Sustainability Program (CSP)
will be similar to its Water Quality Program, which is now well established.
The CSP will rely heavily on parish, state, and federal agencies; plus
non-governmental
organizations, public and private partnerships to achieve its goals. The Foundation
recognizes the tremendous expertise of these various resource agencies and the
need to work with local residents.
By August, the Foundation hopes to finalize the Comprehensive
Habitat Management Plan following public meetings. By year-end an inventory
of all completed or authorized projects in the Lake Pontchartrain Basin will
be compared against the recommendations in the CHMP to identify project gaps.
These gaps will be the basis to seek authorizations and funding for additional
projects in 2006.
Visit the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation Web site
at www.saveourlake.org
to learn more.
For additional information regarding the Coastal Sustainability Program contact
Dr. John A. Lopez at (985) 847-1889 or email johnlopez@pobox.com
07.07.05 New
Report on Louisiana Subsidence and Land Loss Released - The most recent
U.S. Geological Survey report on subsidence and wetland loss in south Louisiana
is available at the USGS subsidence project Web site (http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/gc-subsidence/)
under publications. The report is written by Robert A. Morton, Julie C. Bernier,
John A. Barras, and Nicholas F. Ferina and titled "Rapid Subsidence and
Historical Wetland Loss in the Mississippi Delta Plain: Likely Causes and Future
Implications" (USGS Open File Report 2005-1216).
Five representative areas of the Mississippi River delta plain
were investigated using remote images, marsh elevations, water depths, sediment
cores, and radiocarbon dates. This data was used to estimate the timing,
magnitudes,
and relative rates of marsh erosion and land subsidence at geological and
historical
time scales. The 124-page report demonstrates that historical interior wetland
loss south of Houma and west of Bayou Lafourche resulted from rapid subsidence,
mostly between the late 1960s and the late 1970s.
To view the report visit the Web at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1216/
Note: You will need to have the free Adobe Acrobat® Reader (v3.0 or
higher) installed on your computer to view and print this publication.
03.11.05 The Louisiana Department
of Natural Resources is pleased to announce the completion of the Coastal
Restoration
Annual Project Reviews, December 2004. The purpose of this document is to provide
interested parties with easily accessible information about all coastal restoration
projects in Louisiana, as well as an overview of the current efforts to protect,
conserve, restore, and enhance the state's coastal wetlands. The report is
subdivided
into four primary sections which correspond with the Coast 2050 planning regions.
The document includes information on restoration project location, status,
features,
acres benefited, cost, and funding source.
The Louisiana Department of Natural Resources hopes that you will find this
review informative. Should you have any questions and/or comments or need hard
copies of this report, please contact Mark Stead of the Coastal Restoration
Division’s Restoration Technology Section at 225-342-9430 or marks@dnr.state.la.us.
This document can also be downloaded in Adobe® PDF format from the Louisiana
Department of Natural Resources' Web site at http://www.dnr.state.la.us/crm/D%20R%20S%20Reports/Annual/2004%20CRD%
20Project%20Reviews.pdf
03.04.05 Plaquemine Lock
State Historic Site To Host Spring Speaker Series In March
PLAQUEMINE - Plaquemine Lock State Historic Site will host
a spring speaker series on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Wednesdays
of March at 7 p.m. each night.
The series kicks off on March 9 with Stan Richardson, Interpretive
Ranger at Plaquemine Lock SHS. Richardson will discuss the history of the lock
from ground breaking to present day including construction, operation and its'
current role.
South Louisiana's Coastal Erosion problem will be at the forefront on the 16th
with Gabrielle Boudreaux Bodin from the Louisiana Coastal Wetlands Conservation
and Restoration Task Force (Breaux Act). Bodin will explain how much of the
state’s coastline has been lost, why has it been lost and what is being
done to combat future loss.
The series wraps up on March 24th with Captain Jason Brown
of the New Orleans-Baton Rouge Steamship Pilots Association, who pilots tankers,
up and down the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Captain
Brown will share his experience piloting tankers on the Mississippi.
Call 1-877-987-7158 toll free or 687-7158 in the Plaquemine area for more
information.
Plaquemine Lock SHS is a five-acre complex, which includes the historic lock
that operated from 1909-1961. The lock was designed by Colonel George W. Goethals,
who later designed the Panama Canal. The site is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5
p.m., and after hours for special programs. Admission is $2 for adults. Children
(12 and under) and seniors (62 and older) are admitted free. The site is located
off La. 1 in downtown Plaquemine, 13 miles south of Baton Rouge.
More information can be obtained through the Office
of State Parks' Web site at www.lastateparks.com.
03.03.05 The Louisiana
Department of Natural Resources, Coastal Management Division, under the direction
of Dave Fruge' has recently published its winter 2004-2005 edition of
"Louisiana
Coastlines". This season's issue includes information on recent surveys
related to Louisiana wetlands restoration efforts, the Timbalier Island Dune
and Marsh Restoration Project, PACE, outreach and education, information on
LCA and other related activities.
To become an E-subscriber, send an email addressed to info@dnr.state.la.us.
In the message box, type your full name and telephone number.
For additional information contact either Charity Glaser
at charityg@dnr.state.la.us
or (225) 342-0556 or Cynthia Poland at cynthiap@dnr.state.la.us
or (225) 342-0557
02.09.05 The USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service- Golden Meadow Plant Materials
Center (PMC) in Galliano, LA has completed their 2004 Annual Report of Activities.
The Golden Meadow PMC selects conservation plants and develops innovative planting
technology to solve the nation's most important resource concerns. Their mission
is to develop, test, and transfer effective state-of-the art plant science
technology
to meet customer and resource needs including coastal wetland remediation,
restoration,
and enhancement with vegetation.
To learn more or view the report
visit the Web at http://lacoast.gov/news/press/2005-01-19/Annual%20Report%20of%20Activ
ities.pdf
For additional information contact
Scott Edwards, Plant Materials Specialist, at scott.edwards@la.usda.gov
07.12.04 The New Orleans District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Louisiana
Department
of Natural Resources announce the availability of the draft Louisiana Coastal
Area (LCA), Louisiana-Ecosystem Restoration Study report and Draft Programmatic
Environmental Impact Statement (DPEIS) for public review and comment. The DPEIS
and draft report are located at www.lca.gov. They are also available, on CD
or hard copy, on request to Dr. William P. Klein Jr., 504-862-2540.
The comment period is open for 45
days, from July 9 through August 23, 2004. Comments
should be mailed, postmarked no later than August 23, 2004:
On the DPEIS to
Dr. William P. Klein, Jr.
CEMVN-PM-RS
P.O. Box 60267
New Orleans, La. 70160-0267
Questions: 504-862-2540.
On the LCA Study Report to
Tim Axtman
CEMVN-PM-C
P.O. Box 60267
New Orleans, LA 70160-0267
Questions: 504-862-1921.
06.15.04 The USDA
- Natural Resources Conservation Service Golden Meadow Plant Materials Center
(PMC) is pleased to announce the publication of the newsletter "Plant
Press"
from the Louisiana Plant Materials Program. The newsletter includes updates
on field evaluation plantings across the state, a new plant release from the
Golden Meadow PMC which is used in coastal restoration activities, and information
about the Louisiana Natives local seed increase program. To download a copy
of "Plant Press" visit the Web at http://lacoast.gov/news/press/2004-06-15/2004%20Summer%20Newlsetter.pdf
To learn more about
plant solutions for conservation needs visit the Web at http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/
For additional information
contact Scott Edwards at (318) 473-7761 or scott.edwards@la.usda.gov
05.14.04 MEDIA ADVISORY - Friday, May 21, 2004; 11:30 a.m.,
Registration begins at 11:00 a.m. at Fort Jackson Historical Park in Buras,
Louisiana. The Breaux Act Task Force (CWPPRA), the Louisiana Department of Natural
Resources (DNR), and Plaquemines and St. Bernard Parishes will hold a dedication
ceremony to present six coastal restoration projects in the southeast Louisiana
region. The projects include: West Bay Sediment Diversion, MR-03 (USACE), Delta
Wide Crevasses, MR-09 (NMFS), Hopedale Hydrologic Restoration, PO-24 (NMFS),
Chandeleur Islands Marsh Restoration, PO-27 (NMFS), Channel Armor Gap Crevasse,
MR-06 (USACE), Dustpan Maintenance Dredging Operations for Marsh Creation in
the Mississippi River Delta Demonstration, MR-10 (USACE).
The Master of Ceremonies will be
U. S. Senator John Breaux.
The event will be held outdoors. Casual dress is appropriate.
For additional information please contact the DNR Public Information Office
at 225-342-8955 or Gabrielle Bodin at 337-266-8623 or gabrielle_bodin@usgs.gov
04.17.04
A CBS crew from New York has been working with CC Lockwood and Rhea Gary for
two days filming a feature story both at their houseboat in the wetlands and
in the studio. The "CBS News Sunday Morning" show which begins at
8 AM Central Standard Time will air the story on Sunday,
April 25, 2004 (baring any last minute changes) . The hour long segment
will highlight Lockwood and Gary's Marsh Mission project. To learn more about
the Marsh Mission visit the Web at http://www.marshmission.com/
For additional information contact Rhea Gary at rhea@rheagary.com
02.25.04
It's new, newsworthy, educational, and soon to be broadcast in your area.
"Disappearing
Wetlands of Louisiana," a Turner South film production, is set to be shown
throughout the state on LBP, on Tuesday, March 2 at 9 p.m. The 30-minute
documentary
takes a close-up view of coastal Louisiana and the people working to save a
crippled yet valuable ecosystem.
According to Department
of Natural Resources (DNR) Deputy Secretary Randy Hanchey, the film was produced
in the fall of last year and has already aired on the TBS network's The Natural
South show. He said DNR was contacted by a Georgia production company last summer,
and agreed to collaborate with the production of the show. "The department
obtained rights to rebroadcast the show and with the support of the state's
Public Broadcast System, viewing of the film in Louisiana has been made
possible,"
Hanchey said. Seven television stations will broadcast the show but outreach
efforts will go further than that, he said. All public school Superintendents
in the state are also being sent a free copy of the video and asked to share
it with science teachers and library resource staff. Teachers can use the video
in the classroom as a way of making this environmental issue both topical and
understandable for the students.
DNR's public information office will be responsible for handling and distributing
the video. Further distribution of the video is limited but inquires can be
made to 225/342-0556 or e-mail inquiries to info@dnr.state.la.us.
The Louisiana Public Broadcast (LPB) television stations scheduled to air the
Disappearing Wetlands of Louisiana documentary are listed here: WLPB-TV 27 in
Baton Rouge, KLTM-TV 13 in Monroe, KLTL-TV 18 in Lake Charles, KLPB-TV 24 in
Lafayette, KLTS-TV 24 in Shreveport, KLPA-TV 25 in Alexandria, WLAE-TV 32 in
New Orleans. For more information on this topic, call DNR Public Information
Office at 225-342-8955.
02.25.04 The Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has released two reports
this month from its Office of Coastal Restoration and Management. Both hardback
reports have been distributed by mail to key government officials and others
involved in coastal protection and restoration work in the state.
"Working to
save coastal Louisiana" has been a battle cry for those tasked with the
responsibility of directing Breaux Act projects since 1990. The phrase is an
underlying message in each report. According to DNR Deputy Secretary Randy Hanchey,
"close to 400 projects already developed and built over this span of time
tell us a great deal about an important part of our past, present and future
history."
He said that since the 1930's Louisiana has lost over 1,900 square miles of
land and we are entrenched now in this struggle to protect and recover this
valuable and productive land.
*The Coastal Restoration Annual Project Reviews report gives an overview and
status of coastal projects.
*Breaking New Ground in Louisiana (2003) is an evaluation report sent to all
members of the United States Congress as required by law under the Coastal Wetlands
Planning, Protection and Restoration Act (Breaux Act). This report is required
every three years and is produced in collaboration with the Governor's Office
and all designated CWPPRA agencies to document the effectiveness of the state's
coastal wetland projects. Breaux Act member agencies include the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers, U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S.
Department of Commerce, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Governor
of Louisiana.
DNR's Coastal Restoration Technology section is responsible for preparation
and distribution of the reports. Project managers have also made the reports
available online at www.dnr.state.la.us in downloadable format. For inquires
and copies, please contact 225-342-4123 (Annual Report) or 225-342-9429
(Congressional
Report).
For more information on this topic, contact the DNR Public Information Office
at 225-342-8955 or visit the web at www.dnr.state.la.us
02.18.04 The Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program (BTNEP) and Environmental
Concern announce a workshop for POW! The Planning of Wetlands. Participants
will learn the step-by step design, construction, and monitoring of a schoolyard
wetland in this weekend workshop at the USDA Plant Materials Center in Golden
Meadow, LA. The workshop will be held March 26-28th. Workshop and meals are
free, each participant takes home the POW activity guide and BTNEP materials.
Travel reimbursement is available for teachers at the state rate. Formal and
non-formal educators are encouraged to develop partnerships in creating a
schoolyard
or other wetland outdoor classroom. Workshop is limited to 20 participants.
First priority will be given to teachers in the BTNEP Program area (the area
between the Mississippi and Atchafalya Rivers). To learn more about the
Barataria-Terrebonne
National Estuary Program visit the Web at www.btnep.org
For additional information contact Deborah Schultz at (985) 447-0868 or (800)
259-0869 or email deborah@btnep.org
12.04.03 Maurepas Swamp and Elmer's Island Reports Released
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Update On Ecological
Health of the Maurepas Swamp: Feasibility and Projected Benefits of a Freshwater
Diversion
Dr. Gary Shaffer and his colleagues at Southeastern Louisiana University and
LSU have completed an update of their multi-year research into the health of
the Maurepas Swamp. The detailed report entitled Ecosystems Health of the Maurepas
Swamp: Feasibility and Projected Benefits of a Freshwater Diversion, updates
and confirms previous findings, including the fact that the swamp is converting
to open water and fresh marsh. The report indicates that a freshwater diversion
from the Mississippi River would help reverse the trend. To learn more visit:
http://www.lacoast.gov/reports/fsr/PO-29%20Final%20EPA%20Report%202003%20final%20version.pdf
For more information contact Beverly Ethridge at (225) 389-0737 or Ethridge.Beverly@.epa.gov
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CNREP Report Says Public Favors State Acquisition of Elmer's Island
The votes have been tallied, and the public has spoken - or at least they've
responded to a survey to say the state of Louisiana should buy Elmer's Island
and keep it relatively primitive. That's the gist of a report released Tuesday
(Dec. 2) by two LSU AgCenter researchers who conducted Internet and in-person
surveys to find out what people would like to see done with Elmer's Island,
a 1,700-acre parcel of land directly across from the bridge to Grand Isle in
Jefferson Parish. The land, which is one of only three Louisiana beachfronts
accessible by car, is on the market.
Dr. Rex Caffey and Dr. Krishna Paudel of the LSU Center for Natural Resource
Economics and Policy used a grant from the Louisiana Sea Grant College Program
to measure public attitudes regarding Elmer's Island. "We saw 96 percent
in favor of state purchase - both online and in intercept surveys," Caffey
said. "It's really amazing. It indicates strong, strong public support."
To read the full press
release, click below:
http://www.seagrantfish.lsu.edu/news/2003/elmerresults.htm
For more information contact Rex H. Caffey at (225) 578-2266 or rcaffey@agcenter.lsu.edu
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8.13.02 Mission
Statement for LWRRI
7.1.02 Welcome to our NEW Director: Dr. John Pardue.
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