re: St Bernard Parish doubles down on stupid with opposition to river diversions

It's scary to me that these people trying to get elected won't touch one of the top three biggest issues facing Louisiana in the past 25 years just so they'll have a better chance at winning. It's all about getting elected and staying elected. None of them really want to do anything other than that

It sounds to me like these oystermen are harvesting oysters where oysters used to not be.

As the fresh marsh turned brackish the oystermrn started moving and replanting their oysters as close as the could to the launch in order to save $ on fuel and time.

As the years have gone by they have established oyster reefs in areas that are closer to the launches but that historically have never had oysters there.

When the freshwater diversions were installed and opened the fresh water killed their oyster reefs that they had transplanted further inland.

These guys move and relocate oysters numerous times in the oysters life. It's actually quite interesting to me.

Unfortunately as the diversions are built it throws their current operations into a mess and forces them to re- learn what they have spent years figuring out.

I HATE dumb fricks who think doing nothing to save the coast is better than some oyster guys losing money.

Suppliment the income for those with documented tax returns for Christ's sake....but save the coast G dammit!

We duck hunt down there and most of those people "ain't right" to begin with.... Most are nice, but some are total assholes and think you are treading on "their" ancestors land. Many are uneducated as well... Hard to make them understand things of this magnitude. Personally, I'm up for it....
My dad has been telling me this for years. He surveyed damn near every part of the coast at some point in time in the last 40years. He talks about how far you had to go to get to the gulf then and now... Pretty crazy how bad it's become

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Fifthstring

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Some salient points made there, but a few things a would like to offer.

Going on ten (YES TEN) years ago the state developed the the COAST 2050 strategy.

Its stated goal was to acheive NO NET LOSS of wetlands by the year 2050. It called for all the type projects that you listed and assumed adequate funding started years ago. We haven't moved on that project with the exception of a few CWPRRA projects (small scale stuff).... Draw your own conclusions as to where we stand now.

Everyone calls for sediment diversions...... The current bed load of the Mississippi River is estimated to be 40 % of what it was in 1920, caused by sediment entrapment behind the many dams along the watershed. This means we have much less sediment to work with. Freshwater diversion have been built, and then allowed to silt in over squabbles about maintenance.

This past weekend, I spoke with the head civilian guy for another USACE district. He is a very impressive guy and a native of NOLA. I asked if he would be interested in returning to New Orleans District, USACE (since the position is open or will be open soon). He indicated that he would not be interested based on the the toxic relationships between the feds and this state and these local govts...... Also indicated that his current state has the money and clout to get large projects through authorization and appropriations, LA does not....... In short, he can make a difference where he is, in lieu of banging his head against a wall here.

Outlook is not good for South La.

I love my state and enjoy the outdoors. Enjoy it while you can, things will continue to change.

Agree with both of you. The decreased sediment load in the river is unfortunate but is measured in hundreds of millions of tons per year...there is still plenty in there. It is like saying you refuse powerball winnings of 40M$ today because a few years ago it was 100M$. Another point I love to bring up when the reduced sediment load is made (not by you Sid, but by Anti diversion diehards), is that if indeed the river had no sediment left, the alternative of dredging a hole to China is also therefor irrelevant since there would be no coarse grains to dredge outside of the few offshore shoal deposits.

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Anti diversion diehards

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There's what, 20-30 people against it? Don't most oysters come from Alabama and Texas anyway?

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Don't most oysters come from Alabama and Texas anyway?

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The largest oyster producing area in the country used to be the bays on the east bank of the river in Plaquemines and St. Bernard.

Not sure if it is still that way since the oil spill.