Spring is in full effect and so is the Louisiana legislative session, which means we'll be at the State Capitol on May 12th for Coastal Day. Louisiana’s coastal program has always successfully prioritized science and the public good over politics, but recent actions by the Landry Administration and the Coastal Restoration and Protection Authority seek to undermine the public trust. Restore the Mississippi River Delta will be at Coastal Day this year to tell lawmakers we cannot afford to play political games with the future of Louisiana.
I’m Darryl Jefferson, the new Engagement Manager for National Audubon Society's Delta region. I’m also a member of the outreach committee here at Restore the Mississippi River Delta. I was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia but am now residing in New Orleans. It’s been an exciting year of firsts! I have enjoyed exploring the city and immersing myself in its culture and history. I’m honored to be here and to be working with amazing people who are doing what they can to restore and protect the Mississippi River Delta.
See you at the Capitol!
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Darryl Jefferson
Engagement Manager
National Audubon Society
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Coastal Day at the Capitol
May 12th is an important day for us and our fellow coastal advocates. We’re heading back to Baton Rouge to advocate for the importance of science and transparency in our Coastal Program. It is vital that projects like the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion and other critical restoration work continue as outlined in the Coastal Master Plan and Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Plan. 2026’s Annual Plan outlines $1.98 billion for the restoration and protection of Louisiana's coast . However, the cornerstone project of this plan, the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion, is in jeopardy as its progress is being stalled.
Coastal Day is an opportunity to talk to legislators about the importance of supporting this critical project that 83% of Louisianans support. If you can’t make it to the Capitol on May 12th, we encourage you and anyone else in your network to show your support for the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project with a simple sign-on pledge. Every supporter counts, and you can help show our legislators that we as a community care about our coast and want to see this project completed. Make sure you are following us on Instagram @restoredelta and Facebook @MississippiRiverDelta to get our latest updates.
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Conservation On Tap
Mark your calendars, Thibodaux! Conservation on Tap is coming up on Wednesday, May 14th. Join Vanishing Paradise, Ducks Unlimited, Restore or Retreat, and Restore the Mississippi River Delta at Grady V's for an evening of coastal conservation, local restoration updates, and good conversation. You'll hear from our partners about the critical work being done to protect our coast and wildlife and fisheries habitat.
More details can be found here. RSVP to [email protected] or by marking yourself "Attending" on the Facebook event.
Hope to see you there!
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STEM at Jazz Fest
Going to Jazz Fest this year? Look for Pontchartrain Conservancy in the kids' area! They will have multiple engaging science activities to teach kids about the important work they do, as well as an information table. Come out to see Carlos Santana but stick around for the underwater robots!
To learn more about our partners at Pontchartrain Conservancy and the work they do, visit their website here. |
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Beyond the Horizon
As we celebrate all that the coast has to offer, we must also remember the disaster that changed life in the Gulf as we know it. April 20th marked the 15th anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The spill released 4.19 million barrels of oil into the Gulf, making it the largest marine oil spill and one of the worst environmental disasters in US history. The effects are still being felt today. Much of Louisiana's coastal restoration work is directly tied to the spill and funded by the $20+ billion settlement BP was ordered to pay. So much work has been done over the past 15 years and there’s still more to do. We must continue to work towards a healthier Gulf as we remember the lessons we learned from this disaster. You can read more about lessons learned and ongoing recovery efforts in this three-part blog series from the National Wildlife Federation. |
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Recipe Spotlight: Thai Speckled Trout
The birds and the bees are out and about, and so are the trout! April is a great time of the year to catch a few. Get your appetite and fishing gear ready. Yvette Jemison's Thai Speckled Trout is a light and nutritious dish that’s perfect for the hot spring and summer days ahead of us.
Have a Gulf Coast recipe you want to share? Submit it to our cookbook project at the link below! |
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