Delta Dispatches: Trustees take first step towards Gulf restoration in release of draft early restoration plan

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January 3, 2012

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Trustees take first step towards Gulf restoration in release of draft early restoration plan

Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Draft Phase I Early Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment

By Whit Remer, Environmental Defense Fund

On Wednesday (Dec. 14), the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) Trustees released a draft restoration plan laying out the first phase of early projects funded under BP’s $1 billion dollar down payment to restore the Gulf. The draft plan (known as DERP/EA or “Draft Early Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment) includes a total of eight projects that will be built across four states: Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. The public will have 60 days to review and comment on the DERP/EA, and a series of meetings for public input are scheduled in January and February.

Louisiana has negotiated two projects that total just under $30 million of their initial $100 million allotment from the down payment. The first project will create 104 acres of brackish marsh in Plaquemines Parish, La. The project, known as the Lake Hermitage Marsh Creation project, was originally developed and funded under the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA)–Louisiana’s state and federally funded restoration program–but was scaled back due to funding restraints. ...

Continue reading about the Trustees' draft restoration plan here>>

Scientists suggest evaluating ecosystem services to better understand Gulf oil spill impacts

Dr. Brian Stacy, NOAA veterinarian, prepares to clean an oiled Kemp’s Ridley turtle. Credit: NOAA and Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

By Alisha Renfro, Ph.D., National Wildlife Federation

On April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon platform exploded, resulting in a spill of 200 million gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). Under the U.S. Oil Pollution Act of 1990, this oil spill triggered the Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) process, which determines the extent and severity of the injury to natural resources. The complexity of the GoM ecosystem—coupled with the scale of the event—poses a serious challenge to NRDA, which historically has been applied to smaller, shallow-water events.

In recognition of these challenges, members of the U.S. Congress requested a study by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to assess oil spill’s impacts on Gulf natural resources and to provide advice to federal agencies during preparation of the NRDA.

Recently, the 16-member committee released an interim report on their findings, “Approaches for Ecosystem Services Valuation for the Gulf of Mexico After the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill,” and a final report will be delivered in spring 2013. The interim report focuses on three key questions: ...

Find out more about NAS's oil spill report here>>

Grand Isle Christmas Bird Count keeps watchful eye on bird populations

Shorebirds in flight - Erik I. Johnson/Audubon

Below is an excerpt from an account of the Grand Isle Christmas Bird Count, which took place Dec. 21, 2011. Audubon's Christmas Bird Count is the longest-running citizen science effort of its kind in the world. Nearly 30 counts occur in Louisiana each season. Read the full account on the Audubon magazine blog.

"Grand Isle: the only inhabited barrier island in Louisiana. A narrow wisp of sand marking the gulf-most extent of an old and withered Mississippi River Delta lobe. The setting for some of Kate Chopin's most memorable scenes, the site of many horrors during BP's oil disaster, and a stage for all the life in between. And today, the hub of the Grand Isle Christmas Bird Count." …

Continue reading about the Grand Isle Christmas bird count here>>

Teen group hosts first annual nutria rodeo

Credit: Louisiana Office of Coastal Protection & Restoration

By Chris Pulaski, National Wildlife Federation

On December 3, a group of Lafourche Parish high school students staged the first ever nutria rodeo in Golden Meadow, La. Sassafras Louisiana is a coastal advocacy non-profit organization founded by Lafourche-area teens after the BP oil disaster. The rodeo may be considered folly by some, but it addresses the serious threat that invasive species have on coastal marshes and estuary habitat. Nutria, Asian carp and feral swine impact native species and destroy plant material, and their numbers have been steadily increasing despite state and local efforts. Coyotes—also invasive to Louisiana—prowl local communities, reportedly killing pets and livestock. ...

State of the Coast 2012 — Save the date and call for abstracts

Save the Date – June 25-27, 2012 in New Orleans!

The Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL) and Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana (CPRA) are proud to announce that the State of the Coast 2012 conference will be held June 25-27, 2012 at the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.

State of the Coast 2012 will gather hundreds of scientists, business leaders, federal and state agency personnel, elected officials, land owners and interested citizens for the largest forum of its kind, focused entirely on Louisiana’s coastal restoration challenges and solutions.

For more information on State of the Coast 2012, visit www.stateofthecoast.org or call (888) LA-COAST. Registration for the conference is open on the site.

Call for Abstracts

State of the Coast encourages all individuals interested in Louisiana’s coastal restoration and protection activities to submit an abstract for oral or poster presentation at our June 2012 conference in New Orleans. For more information on submitting your abstract, click here.

Deadline for Abstract Submittal: February 10, 2012

CRCL now accepting nominations for coastal stewardship awards

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.

Meet Elizabeth Skree

Elizabeth Skree

Liz Skree is the communications manager for the Mississippi River Delta Restoration project at Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). Working as part of the broader Restore the Mississippi River Delta Campaign, Liz manages Delta Dispatches, the campaign’s blog and e-newsletter publication about national and local efforts to restore the Mississippi River Delta. Liz also manages EDF’s Restoration and Resilience blog, social media strategy and web presence. She is based in Washington, DC. ...