Hello! April has been a busy month for us at Restore the Mississippi River Delta as pandemic restrictions ease and public events are ramping back up. This month, we’re celebrating projects like the New Orleans East Landbridge reaching major milestones and are planning for new engagement opportunities as we enter into spring.
 
My name is Emma Butler, and I am a Tulane alumni from northern Mississippi who first became interested in coastal restoration during my coursework in college. I completed two years of AmeriCorps service in New Orleans focusing on green infrastructure and urban stormwater management following graduation. Before joining Restore the Mississippi River Delta and Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, I worked with a local engineering firm that focused on municipal stormwater infrastructure projects. These experiences led me back to my initial interest in coastal restoration because my ultimate career goal is to help create a sustainable future for the state of Louisiana. As a new member of Restore the Mississippi River Delta, April has been a great introduction to coastal restoration issues with so many events and opportunities to learn more about the coast.

River Reintroduction to Maurepas Swamp

The public comment period for this project has been extended until May 30th, so you still have time to show your support!
 

Maurepas Swamp is one of the largest forested wetlands in the nation, but due to several stressors, the health of the swamp is rapidly declining. The River Reintroduction into Maurepas Swamp project will benefit the swamp by reconnecting it with the river. This widely supported diversion project will benefit more than 45,000 acres of wetlands and forests, nearly one third of the swamp, and reduce habitat loss over the next several decades.

Restore the Mississippi River Delta is writing a support letter on behalf of coastal communities and restoration advocates. You can learn more about the project here. If your business, organization, institution, community group, club or krewe is interested in showing your support, please email Emma at [email protected]. 

Volunteer Opportunities

Our friends and partners at Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana are organizing two volunteer days between Jazz Fest weekends for those who want to give back to the city between festivities. The volunteer days are May 3rd and 4th, where volunteers will help bag oyster shells that were procured through CRCL’s city-wide Oyster Shell Recycling Program. The program has resulted in 10 million pounds of recycled oyster shells that would have otherwise ended up in landfills since 2014, and you can help contribute to that number! The bagged shell will be used to create reefs along Louisiana’s coastline. You can learn more about the program and register to volunteer here. 

If you’re interested in volunteering after Jazz Fest, CRCL has these oyster shell bagging days scheduled throughout the month of May:
 

May 3rd  |  May 4th  |  May 14th   |   May 20th   |   May 21st

Louisiana is Constructing More Coastal Restoration Projects than Ever

Louisiana has been full steam ahead when it comes to restoration planning and prioritization as over 100 active projects move forward across the state. Right now, there is an unprecedented amount of restoration work happening along the coast. Ridge restoration, shoreline protection, marsh creation, and river diversion projects are all part of the solution to our land loss crisis. Our most powerful restoration tool, the Mississippi River, is being put to work in key areas like Maurepas Swamp and the Barataria Basin, where restoration projects are projected to create and sustain tens of thousands of acres of critical wetlands.
 

Learn more and get updates on these restoration projects.

8th Annual HBCU Climate Change Conference

Restore the Mississippi River Delta, along with other local and national conservationist groups, post-graduate environmental programs, and scientific research groups sponsored the 8th Annual HBCU Climate Conference earlier this month, which was organized by the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice and the HBCU Consortium.

The conference sessions included topics such as grassroots organizing challenges and successes, shifting the petrochemical industry to renewables, expanding the definition of Civil Rights Laws, among other important topics. The sessions sparked meaningful conversations about the intersection of environmental justice work and coastal restoration, whether that be for advocating against harmful industry practices, holding elected officials accountable to their constituents, or providing resources to coastal communities so that they have agency and ownership in their future amidst a changing climate. 

You can learn more about the conference, the session topics, and the speakers in the resources listed below. 

• Deep South Center for Environmental Justice
• HBCU Climate Conference Program 
• Justice 40 Initiative
• The White House’s Path to Achieving Justice 40 
• Dumping in Dixie: Race, Class, and Environmental Quality by Dr. Robert Bullard
• The Wrong Complexion for Protection: How the Government Response to Disaster Endangers African American Communities by Dr. Robert Bullard and Dr. Beverly Wright

Upcoming Event

May 12th – 26th Annual Coastal Stewardship Awards: Each year the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana recognizes volunteers, students, researchers, sportsmen, governmental and business leaders, and sometimes simply coastal residents who care enough about the future of our state to take action. Join CRCL as they honor those most committed to restoring our coast. 

May 28th – Storm Aware and Prepare: As we approach hurricane season, Pontchartrain Conservancy is making storm prep fun! Join them at the New Canal Lighthouse to learn more about hurricane preparedness, get some storm prep supplies, and enjoy activities for children and adults around the importance of preparation. They’ll even have snowballs to cool off from summer temperatures. 

May 30th – Comment Period for the River Re-Introduction to Maurepas Swamp Closes: You can support this critical marsh creation project by signing on to a support letter on behalf of coastal communities and restoration advocates. This re-introduction is projected to create 45,000 acres of wetlands in degraded areas, and you still have time to show your support!

Job Opportunities

Sportsmen Outreach Coordinator at National Wildlife Federation, works with Vanishing Paradise and Restore the Mississippi River Delta

Development Director at Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, leads fundraising and works with event planning team