Hello ghosts, ghouls and gators, my name is Alex Jiles, and I work in outreach to spread the word about coastal restoration efforts in communities around New Orleans. I am a native Louisianan, and I love talking about the history and culture we are lucky enough to live everyday here in the delta and how important saving the coast is to preserving that culture. This Halloween, I’ll be on the lookout for my favorite Louisiana wildlife, the Honey Island Swamp Monster.
The Army Corps of Engineers released the Final Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion last month. This is a monumental moment in coastal restoration history, as we are one giant leap closer to reconnecting the river to the wetlands. We are also joining CPRA in a series of Coastal Master Plan Community Meetings through the end of the year to invite the public into conversations about the planning process for coastal projects. More details can be found below.
Keep reading to find out what kind of noise annoys an oyster!
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- Alex Jiles
Senior Outreach Coordinator
National Wildlife Federation
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Spotlight: CRCL - Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana
Oyster season is upon us! The season typically runs from Labor Day until about April, so if you’re in the mood for some delicious bivalves, you have to check out these restaurants who participate in Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana’s Oyster Shell Recycling Program. Whether it’s charbroiled oysters at Deanie's or the steak tartare with oyster aioli at Peche, the oysters you eat in these restaurant are recycled by CRCL and returned to the coast to build reef that contributes directly to coastal restoration. If you’re having oysters at a restaurant not on the list, you can even tell your server that you’d love to see them participate in the program.
And since Thanksgiving is coming up, check out the Coastal Community Cookbook on our blog for Uncle Frank’s Oyster Dressing recipe!
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Volunteer Opportunities
CRCL has opportunities for volunteers to bag recycled shell or plant native trees and grasses. You can see upcoming volunteer events below and sign up here.
- Oyster Shell Recycling Volunteer Event - 11.4.22
- Grass Planting @ Rutherford Beach - 11.18.22
- Grass Planting @ Rutherford Beach- 11.19.22
- Oyster Shell Recycling Volunteer Event - 12.2.22
- Tree Nursery Planting & Oyster Shell Recycling Volunteer Event - 12.10.22
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The Rougarou
Our outreach team was in Houma last weekend for Rougarou Fest, an event whose proceeds go to the South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center, a nonprofit organization that teaches about Louisiana’s disappearing coast. Fest-goers of all ages stopped by the table to learn about the coastal restoration efforts happening in the delta and to grab coloring books, decorate candy ghosts, and paint oyster shells for building reefs!
This Halloween, if you want to protect yourself from the rougarou trying to turn you into a rougarou too, as legend goes, you should lay 13 objects at your front door to confuse the beast.
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2023 Coastal Master Plan Community Meetings
Restore the Mississippi River Delta, along with the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) and several local partners, will host a series of community conversations ahead of the 2023 Coastal Master Plan’s official release in early January 2023.
The meetings in November and December will be an opportunity for communities across the coast to engage directly with the Coastal Master Plan team. Topics to be discussed include:
- Discussion on how CPRA is addressing challenges facing specific regions
- Near-term regional projects considered for the Draft 2023 Coastal Master Plan
- What a future without action looks like across the coast and in specific region
- Review of draft 2023 plan regional and coastwide maps
- Demonstration of the new 2023 Coastal Master Plan viewer (interactive)
Complimentary dinner will be served at all meetings. Please register via Eventbrite for a meeting near you.
Please see our list of upcoming meetings below and stay tuned for more dates. We hope to see you there!
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Lagniappe
Delta Teaser - A noisy noise annoys an oyster (say that out loud 5 times fast and you’ll annoy your neighbor!)
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