A Happy New Year Indeed!
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Welcome to the Delta Dispatches newsletter! We hope that this new monthly resource will become a helpful addition to your inbox, keeping you up-to-date on all things coastal Louisiana and coastal restoration. We will also be introducing you to our coalition’s staff as we go, starting with me!
My name is Samantha (Sam) Carter
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2021 is going to be a big year for coastal restoration in Louisiana with some major milestones heading our way. Most notable, the long-awaited Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion
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Also coming up is the 4th annual Cook-Off for the Coast
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Happy Cooking!
- Sam Carter
Outreach Manager, Mississippi River Delta Restoration, National Wildlife Federation
Priority Project Highlight
This is a big year for one of Louisiana’s cornerstone coastal restoration projects: the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion. This project will be releasing its Draft Environmental Impact Study (EIS), a long-awaited milestone towards construction of this restoration project in early March. Learn more about this project on our website
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Be sure to also check out this blog post
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Journey to the End of the World
If you’re not in a hurry to get to the End of the World, it’s an enjoyable trip to make by bicycle.
A 65-mile round trip from New Orleans is a marina in Delacroix Island nicknamed “End of the World.” St. Bernard Parish is a great place not far from New Orleans to experience coastal cultures and wildlife. Exploring the coast on a bike allows you to get an up-close experience of Louisiana’s coastline, which is rapidly disappearing due to a number of factors including saltwater intrusion, subsidence and sea level rise.
Read more about it in the story by Sara Sneath.
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Cook-Off for the Coast
The fourth annual (Virtual) Cook-off for the Coast
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Of course, it wouldn’t be a cook-off without a little healthy competition, and this year there are two ways to win: submit a recipe that highlights the bounty of Southern Louisiana or submit a piece of original artwork that celebrates our coast. Recipes will be judged in four categories: Swim, Fly, Crawl and Student. (Sorry, no professional cooks allowed!) Prizes for two-dimensional works of art will be awarded in three age divisions: ages 12 and under, 13-17, and 18 and up.
You can find additional details on the event, including information on the prizes and instructions on how to enter, here
[link removed]. All entries are due February 15th.
All Life is Interrelated
“It really boils down to this: that all life is interrelated. We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied into a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” - Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 1967
In honor of Martin Luther King Day, we invite you to explore the environmental justice legacy of the civil right leader, including his influence over landmark environmental legislation like the Clean Air Act of 1963, the Clean Water Act of 1972 and the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
Check out this blog
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More Upcoming Events!
Shell-A-Bration
CRCL will host the very first virtual Shell-A-Bration event on Friday, February 5, 2021. Shell-A-Bration is a community event dedicated towards raising awareness and engagement for the organization’s Oyster Shell Recycling Program. Find more info here
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Scout Week Kickoff with The National WWII Museum
On January 23rd, the National WWII Museum and Pontchartrain Conservancy will team up to host Scout Week 2021. The participants will use the day’s session to explore the Southern Louisiana landscape through a virtual lab exploring flora and fauna from 1 to 2 pm. To register, click here
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