Delta Dispatches

In this episode of Delta Dispatches, hosts Jacques Hebert and Simone Maloz chat with two experts from the Audubon Society. First we talk with frequent guest Erik Johnson, Director of Bird Conservation for Audubon Louisiana. He looks back at the Louisiana’s first named storm of 2020 – Tropical Storm Cristobal. The storm impacted coastal birds across Louisiana and Mississippi’s coast including the newly completed nesting site at Queen Bess Island. In the second half the show, we chat with Charles Allen, Community Engagement Director for the Gulf Coast for the National Audubon Society. He talks about his extensive background working in public health and environmental issues in Louisiana. Charles also reflects on race and racial inequities coming to light in this moment in our nation's history and highlights the importance of uplifting the principles of equity, justice, diversity and inclusion in all the work we do, particularly on efforts to restore and protect Louisiana's coast for all communities.

On today’s episode, Jacques and Simone talk with their friends and colleagues about being storm ready by Getting a Game Plan (https://www.getagameplan.org/). First, they talk Katie Gruzd with the Restore the Mississippi River Delta, who’s talents extend far beyond running a highly efficient and effective campaign, including developing and illustrating a children’s resource (http://mississippiriverdelta.org/hurricane-season-has-started-this-coloring-book-can-help-your-family-prepare/) to living with water in New Orleans! We are then joined by the wonderful Rubby Douglass from the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security who will help you and your family prepare physically and mentally for severe weather, including hurricanes and beyond.

On today’s episode, Jacques and Simone talk with Emily Vuxton, who is the Policy Director for the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana’s (CRCL). Emily talks with Simone and Jacques about the legislation that could impact coastal restoration from the Louisiana Legislature’s 2020 regular session. They also catch up with their oldest and most frequent guest, Dr. Alisha Renfro, staff scientist also with NWF. Alisha reviews a recent Tulane study on the future of coastal land loss in Louisiana.

On today’s episode, Jacques and Simone chat with Charles Sutcliffe, Louisiana’s first-ever Chief Resilience Officer and member of the Governor’s Office of Coastal Activities. Charles recently participated in an information exchange convened by Environmental Defense Fund with resilience officers from across the country to discuss strategies that help protect communities, businesses and ecosystems in the face of sea level rise and climate change. Charles discusses the work his team has done to build resilience in Louisiana and highlights some lessons learned from other coastal states. In the second half of the show, Simone chats with Jeannette Dubinin, Director of Coastal Programs for Center for Planning Excellence (CPEX) to discuss work her organization has done to help communities build resilience to Louisiana’s changing coast and climate.

On this week's episode, Simone and Jacques chat with Dr. Robert Twilley, Executive Director of Louisiana SeaGrant and professor of LSU College of the Coast & Environment, about the latest news from SeaGrant and resources available to the public through their website. They then bring on first-time guest Thomas Hymel, marine extension agent with both the LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Sea Grant, to discuss the Louisiana Fisheries Forward program and Louisiana Seafood Direct, where consumers can get their fresh, delicious Gulf seafood directly from fishers.

On this week’s show, Simone and Jacques welcome back a favorite guest, Dr. Alex Kolker, Associate Professor with The Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON). Dr. Kolker is recently back from a Fulbright Scholarship in Morocco for his research “Understanding How Sea-Level Dynamics Influence Coastal Processes Along The Moroccan Coast.” Simone and Jacques talk to him about the experience, what challenges are facing the coast of Morocco and highlight any parallels to Louisiana’s coast. They also get Alex’s take on his recent big-screen debut in Last Call for the Bayou and catch up on the latest with Dupre!

On today’s episode, Simone and Jacques recognize the 10th anniversary of the Gulf Oil Disaster and highlight what people are saying about progress and ongoing challenges in the Gulf a decade later. Learn more at http://mississippiriverdelta.org/decade-after-disaster/. They then bring on Laurence C. Smith, the John Atwater and Diana Nelson University Professor of Environmental Studies and Professor of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences at Brown University, to discuss his new book: RIVERS OF POWER: How a Natural Force Raised Kingdoms, Destroyed Civilizations, and Shapes Our World, which explores the underappreciated relationship between rivers and civilization as we know it, and examines the importance this vast, arterial power holds for our present, past, and future.

Ten years after the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, restoring the Mississippi River Delta and its surrounding coastline isn’t just about recovering the wildlife and habitats harmed from the 2010 oil spill; it is ultimately about the opportunity to envision a more sustainable and resilient delta for future generations. On today's show, Simone and Jacques discuss where we are ten years later and highlight progress made on restoration since the spill and opportunities to build on this progress in the years ahead. They are first joined by Greg Grandy, Deputy Executive Director Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana, to discuss restoration projects CPRA has completed to help ecosystems and wildlife recover. They then chat with Amanda Moore Deputy Director, National Wildlife Federation, to hear her perspective on the immediate aftermath of the spill and work that she and others have done to help communities recover and become more resilient. Visit mississippiriverdelta.org/decade-after-disaster/ to

Thanks for listening to the latest episode of Delta Dispatches. This week we replay a recent episode with the filmmakers Dom and Nadia Gil with Encompass Films to discuss "Last Call for the Bayou" their 5 short documentaries about Louisiana's land loss crisis. Their documentary series is now available to watch free online here: https://watch.smithsonianchannel.com/details/series/last-call-for-the-bayou.

On today's show, Simone and Jacques chat with several guests who provide recommendations on coastal resources and content that people can access during this time of quarantine and self-isolation. First, they interview Chris Cook, lighthouse director with Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, who highlights educational tools (https://saveourlake.org/lpbf-programs/education/educator-resources/) parents can use to occupy kids who are at home. Then, Helen Rose Patterson, senior outreach coordinator with the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), unveils the coalition's new Coastal Care Package (http://mississippiriverdelta.org/coastal-care-package/), full of recommendations for books, movies, articles and more to keep you informed and engaged. Last up, frequent guest Dr. Alisha Renfro, staff scientist also with NWF, discusses the coalition's new virtual flyover (https://earth.google.com/web/data=Mj8KPQo7CiExRERjTXNmakctU1ZINzB6VExrOUFSd3VkdEpfVmpFeEgSFgoUMERCQzJENkMxNTEyMjNGOTBDMEQ) that takes you on a flight over th

Thanks for listening to the latest episode of Delta Dispatches. In an interview recorded last week, Jacques and Simone sit down with Chip Kline, Executive Assistant to the Governor for Coastal Activities and Chairman of the CPRA Board. They talk about the CPRA’s 2020 goals, the Governor’s recent Coastal Priorities speech, sediment diversions, the Bonnet Carre Spillway, river management, hypoxia and more.

Welcome to Delta Dispatches with Jacques Hebert & Simone Maloz! This week on the show, they talk with Tyler Buckingham, one of the co-hosts of the American Shoreline podcast! Delta Dispatches is a proud part of the American Shoreline Podcast Network, which is focused on preserving coastlines around the world. We also check in with James Karst, Director of Communications and Marketing at the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana. James talks about crawfish dipping, potato salad in (or out of) gumbo and the recently announced speakers at this year’s State of the Coast, happening May 26-28, 2020. Finally we talk with John Price, General Manager of the Old No. 77 Hotel and the New Orleans Magazine’s Thought Leader of the Month!

Thanks for listening to the latest episode of Delta Dispatches. This week Jacques talks to the owners of two eco-tourism companies. First, he speaks with Barbara Johnson, founder of the Great Delta Tours. Barbara has been a respected practitioner, civic leader and consultant in New Orleans for more than 30 years. Tours by the Great Delta Tours cover coastal restoration and bird and wildlife viewing. Next on the show is Marie Gould, founder of Lost Lands Tours. Mary has spent more than 25 years boating and kayaking in the wetlands surrounding New Orleans. Lost Lands Tours focus on educating people on the importance and impact of the Louisiana wetlands, and the devastation that's been caused by human alterations to the Louisiana coast.

Today on Delta Dispatches, Jacques and Simone start the show talking about the hottest debate in coastal Louisiana: is dipping crawfish a crime against humanity or merely deeply unsettling. Once that’s settled, they talk to Stacy Ortego with the Louisiana Wildlife Federation to talk about the progress made on one of our favorite restoration projects: the River Reintroduction into Maurepas Swamp. Finally, they dig deep with Brian Ostahowski, Theodore Marks, and Peyton Finch about about archaeological efforts across Louisiana's coast.

Thanks for listening to the latest episode of Delta Dispatches. This week we’re talking to Samantha Carter, Outreach Manager for the National Wildlife Federation and she’s here to talk about the third annual Cook-off for the Coast! This free event, taking place at Docville Farm on February 8th from 11-3! Come enjoy great (free) food, music, kids events, and more! The event will benefit the Chandeleur Sound Living Shoreline program, which is a partnership Nunez Community College and Chalmette High School where students builds and install oyster breakwaters along the northern edge of Comfort Island. Learn more at CoastCookoff.com (http://CoastCookoff.com)! On the second half the show we talk to Jennifer Guidry, CWPPRA Outreach Coordinator. Jennifer talks about the history of the agency and some of the exciting projects that were awarded funding earlier this week.

Welcome to Delta Dispatches with solo host Jacques Hebert. Today’s first guest is Erik Johnson, Director of Bird Conservation of Audubon Louisiana. Erik talks about the restoration of one of Louisiana’s most important pelican rookeries, Queen Bess Island. They also discuss some of the great work Audubon Louisiana is doing across the coast including an upcoming beach-nesting bird volunteer opportunity. Jacques is also joined by Julia Bland, Executive Director of the Louisiana Children’s Museum. They talk about the museum’s new home in City Park and their Mississippi River exhibit “Move with the River.”

Thanks for listening to the latest episode of Delta Dispatches. This week Jacques and Simone are joined by filmmakers Dom and Nadia Gil with Encompass Films to discuss "Last Call for the Bayou" their 5 short documentaries about Louisiana's land loss crisis. The films are currently being shown at festivals around the country. One film, "On a Wing and a Prayer" was released online by CNN's "Great Big Story," while the other films will be released online later this year. You can learn more about the films at lastcallforthebayou.com (https://www.lastcallforthebayou.com/) and https://www.greatbigstory.com/stories/spotlight-wing-and-a-prayer.

Thanks for listening to the latest episode of Delta Dispatches. On the first episode of 2020, Simone and Jacques speak with Brad Barth, Operations Assistant Administrator for the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA). Brad talks about one of Louisiana’s cornerstone restoration projects: the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion. The CPRA recently completed modeling that showed this project protecting 47 square miles of land over 50 years.

On this special year-in-review episode of Delta Dispatches, Jacques and Simone look back at a busy year for coastal restoration in Louisiana. They’re joined by friends and guests from the past year starting with Chip Kline, chairman of the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA), Lauren Averill, Jefferson Parish Coastal Zone Director, and ASPBA Central Gulf Coast Board member and Kristin Tracz, Program Officer with the Walton Family Foundation.

Thanks for listening to the latest episode of Delta Dispatches! Today we talk to one of our favorite guests, Dr. Alisha Renfro! Alisha talks to Simone about how a crevasse at Fort St. Phillip is one of the few areas of Louisiana that's growing new land. Alisha also talks about the important River Reintroduction into Maurepas Swamp project, which is up for public comment now. On the second half the show, we're joined by Mary Elise Schlesinger from the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation to talk about Saturday's Lights on the Lake event! Come out to the lighthouse for a great holiday celebration. Learn more at https://saveourlake.org/lights