A blog article on USM’s “Sturgeon in the Watershed” curriculum, presented at MDEQ’s Restoration Summit in Biloxi, along with a look at the recently published Biological Opinion on the impacts of the One Lake Project in Jackson, Ms to two protected species living in the Pearl River.
Gulf Sturgeon, Ringed Sawback turtles and two kinds of Jeopardy Read More »
Toxic algae is getting worse in Florida’s waterways, putting people, pets, and wildlife at risk. Now there’s a chance to protect public health and the environment from these dangerous outbreaks. Join with fellow Floridians in demanding that Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) protect environmental and human health by including limits on blue green algae
Help protect people and wildlife from toxic algae blooms Read More »
Healthy Gulf Participated in the “Focus on St. Tammany” forum last Friday night and addressed floodplain and wetland issues on a panel of speakers.
NOAA seeks input before final decision on plan to protect deep seal corals.
Public has the opportunity to weigh in on coral protections Read More »
The first of two community meetings on wetlands and floodplain resiliency was held in Hammond at the old train depot. Wetland fill permit data from the past 5 years for St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Livingston, East Baton Rouge, St. John and St. James Parishes was presented in a series of maps showing where impacts have been most intense. We also looked at available mitigation banks to offset those fill permits. Possible restoration of sand and gravel mines was also presented as a way to stabilize river floodplains and restore riverine wetlands above population centers along the Interstate 12 Corridor along the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain.
Floodplain Resilience Presentation Debut in Hammond, La. Read More »
A spoil bank is the pile of soil and debris left behind by the excavation and dredging machines that dig a trench through the swamp. In coastal Louisiana, all of the pipelines are buried or submerged (as opposed to being built above ground). The method for burying the pipe, then, is to dig an enormous trench. The material from the trench is then dumped right next to the new channel, and suddenly a wall is created that cuts off water and organisms from each other that were connected before. Companies are required by law, according to their permits, to return these spoil banks to their natural state once constructions is complete. However, very few companies comply with this stipulation in their permit leading to a basin filled with spoil banks, limited access to bayous and less productive crawfishing harvests.
Bayou Bridge Pipeline: Field Notes Read More »
Bald eagles, Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whales, and Louisiana black bears are just some of the species that have been protected by the Endangered Species Act. Unfortunately, the Trump Administration is rolling back key protections under the Act to satisfy industry even as we are facing an extinction crisis. Take action to tell your members
Endangered species under attack by Trump Administration Read More »
MDEQ should protect people, and not wedge projects into communities that already have plenty of health and environmental problems to deal with. The August 13th Permit Board meeting was another example of why the MDEQ Environmental Permit Process needs to be examined by the Legislature soon, and made more responsive to the citizens whose health and property are meant to be protected by the agency.
North Gulfport citizens address MDEQ Permit Board on inland rail port Read More »
The July meeting of the La. Oyster Task Force looked at post flood damage assessments to oyster stocks in southeast Louisiana and discussed how oyster growers can be compensated when the U.S. Dept of Commerce designates the 2019 flood aftermath as a fishery disaster. Everyone urged patience with the process.
La. Oyster Task Force takes on post-flood recovery with D.C. fly-in Read More »
This is a guest blog from Cameron Bertron, a summer legal extern with Healthy Gulf. Cameron, a 3L at Tulane University Law School, is a Gulf Coast native and enjoyer of all things wetlands except mosquitoes. The Gulf of Mexico is the ninth-largest body of water in the world, and it is in part bordered
Wetlands at the ballot box Read More »