Caernarvon Delta, August 2011 (NWF staff photo)

By Maura Wood, National Wildlife Federation Coastal Louisiana Senior Outreach Coordinator

Our boat left the canal, rounded a small spit of land, and emerged into the outfall area of the Caernarvon freshwater diversion, known as Big Mar – Big Sea. Situated in the last big bend of the Mississippi River about a half an hour drive south of New Orleans, this failed agricultural enterprise of the past shows up on satellite photos as a big square lake. Recent imagery had suggested that perhaps some mud shoals had developed as a result of the diversion.

But today, I wasn’t looking at mud shoals. I was looking at acres of bushy, green, growing, happy vegetation. This couldn’t be Big Mar.  This was “Big Mar-sh”!

Caernarvon is the diversion everybody loves to hate.  “It doesn’t work,” they say.  “It hasn’t built land. What good is it?”

I always sigh when I hear that. Diversions should be a way of reconnecting the water and sediment of the Mississippi River, constrained within levees, with the nearby marshes which, pre-levee, were built and sustained by annual flooding of the river. Caernarvon is not that kind of sediment diversion, it is a freshwater diversion only, designed to lower salinities in an area where saltwater had intruded. Although the water of the Mississippi River contains lots of mud and sand, this diversion project didn’t focus on land-building, and was built instead to provide fresh water to a basin being inundated with salt.

But sitting in the boat, in an area that could no longer be referred to as a sea but rather a sea of plants, we were stunned at what the river had wrought. “This is more than I ever expected,” said John Lopez, a seasoned wetland scientist and executive director of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation. “This is phenomenal.”

David Muth, the National Wildlife Federation’s Louisiana state director, reached into the shallow water and grabbed a handful from the bottom. “It is mixed sand and silt. Once these plants become established, this marsh will not be washing away in the next hurricane, the way nearby organic soils did in Katrina. This is solid ground.”

So even though the design and intention of this particular diversion hadn’t encouraged it to, the Mississippi River had done what it does – build land. Caernarvon was opened in 1990 and over the years, it’s transported and deposited sand and mud into Big Mar, a little at a time, year after year.

Small areas of land began emerging after Hurricane Katrina. Big flood years on the river in spring 2008 and 2010 provided extra amounts of sediment, and the extended opening of the diversion during the oil spill a year ago might have contributed additional sediment as well, so that when the water receded, more land emerged. And in south Louisiana, it doesn’t take long for plants to take root, grow, and enhance land-building by trapping and holding even more sediment. The spring and summer of 2011 did the trick, and what looked promising a year ago looked spectacular today.

Our boat captains and Chris Macaluso of the Louisiana Wildlife Federation, NWF’s state affiliate, pointed to seed heads on the marshy plants that will feed flocks of ducks in the near future. A few blue-winged teal and mottled ducks served as tantalizing harbingers of the hundreds to follow.

On some of the higher areas, small trees demonstrated the progression of vegetation and habitats that can be expected as land continues to build and emerge from the water. David Muth probed the muddy bottom with a measuring pole to determine water depths – 6 inches, 12 inches, 6 inches – in an area originally several feet deep. It won’t be many more years before we can expect those shallow areas to fill and even more land to emerge. Check out comparison photos in this Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation report (PDF).

The National Wildlife Federation is committed to restoring a sustainable coast in Louisiana, and the capacity of the Mississippi River to transport sand and build land is a powerful tool. Our trip to Caernarvon provided a first-hand re-affirmation, once again, of this power.  At Caernarvon, we didn’t particularly help the River, and it took a long time, but it is doing what the river does – transporting and depositing sand, and building land.

Imagine what a diversion can do that is built to enhance this capacity? We are now capable of marsh-building diversions, that focus on capturing high concentrations of sediment.

So enough about “Caernarvon doesn’t work.” Caernarvon is showing us that the Mississippi River builds land. It always has, and it always will.

Take Action

It’s been over a year since the Gulf oil spill disaster began – and Congress has yet to require that BP fines from the horrific spill actually go back toward restoring the Gulf of Mexico. Please take a moment to ask your members of Congress to make a national commitment to Mississippi River Delta restoration.

Their job: to take on the seemingly impossible task of restoring some of the marshes and beaches that became so damaged by the BP oil disaster of 2010.   Over the course of the day, a group of 50 volunteers planted 1,600 black mangroves along the marshy shoreline of Grand Isle State Park and another 500 plugs of bitter panicum, a native grass, along beach areas.

The park, edging on Barataria Bay, was one of many places considered “ground zero” when the toxic BP oil came ashore. Moreover, the community of Grand Isle had double trouble when Hurricane Katrina surged over the island smashing many or its homes, businesses and camp areas.  More of Louisiana’s valuable wetlands were lost to the storm then in any other recorded time.  Undaunted, the community’s leaders are moving forward and even smaller efforts such as wetland and beach restorations are making a difference.

To bring out volunteers for several such restoration efforts, the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL) and National Wildlife Federation (NWF) formed a partnership to directly engage people in improving oil-impacted mangrove habitats across areas of coastal Louisiana.  The partnership’s main goal is to engage volunteers in restoring three areas that were heavily impacted by the BP Deepwater Horizon spill.

The group gathered at the park early Saturday and, after being briefed on how to effectively plant the mangroves and panicum, they were deployed in smaller groups spread along the shoreline.  The volunteers worked hard most of the day, in the June heat, laying in new vegetation along critical places that the oil had harmed. Others worked on plantings that would stabilize and rebuild marshes and beach areas suffering from erosion.   It is the kind of work that is physically challenging but highly rewarding.  Importantly, the volunteers formed a common sense of purpose and took great joy in seeing their progress and results.

These wonderful folks remind all of us to recognize that the Gulf oil disaster is far from over and it will take many years to repair the damage, if it ever can be repaired.   But they also remind us of the deep human need to have hope for a better future for the people, wildlife and nature of Grand Isle and for all of us.

Volunteers in Action: Find out about other volunteer efforts to restore damaged wetlands on the Gulf Coast.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Built a Quarter Mile of Oyster Reef in Mobile, Alabama

Kicking off the first event with chilly, overcast conditions on January 22^nd and 23^rd, over 500 volunteers from Alabama and across the country came together in Mobile bay to foster the beginnings of oyster reefs. 16,000 bags of oyster shells were carefully dispersed along the shore with the goal of building 100 new miles of oyster reefs and 1000 miles of replanted marshlands along the Gulf in Alabama to make Alabama’s coastal areas more resilient to impacts from hurricanes, oil spill accidents, and climate change. The work was the result of a collaboration of more than 20 public and private partners including National Wildlife Federation, Nature Conservancy and NOAA.

Restored Native Ground Cover at Bald Point State Park

Next, volunteers gathered at Bald Point State Park on Florida’s Gulf Coast.  Park Ranger Kevin Patton introduced us to our work site for the next two days and we successfully worked in teams and planted 5,000 wiregrass plugs and disperse a dozen bags of seed. Bald Eagles and other migrating raptors, along with monarch butterflies use this area to rest before continuing south for the winter.  It is imperative to keep these lands healthy. Additionally, the Florida Wildlife Federation gathered signatures to petition for a constitutional amendment to prohibit oil and gas drilling in Florida’s near-shore waters.

Restored Dunes to Protect Nesting Wildlife at Perdido Key State Park

Next up, dune restoration in Perdido Key, Florida!  Joined by over 75 volunteers including the US Navy and Air Force at Pensacola, combed the beach to protect the critical habitat of residential and migratory nesting wildlife such as turtles and birds!  As the oil washed up on miles of beaches along the Gulf Coast, Perdido Key, home of the endangered Beach Mouse felt heavy impacts. Volunteers worked as temperatures reached the high 80s to rebuild and protect an important dune boundary to help native grasses and habitat for nesting shore birds, turtles, and the native beach mouse.

Conserved Acres of Beach and Recreation Trails

On March 25^th our next event was about 2 hours East of Perdido Key at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. University of California at Berkley students dedicated their spring break time away from examinations and study sessions to engage in hands on restoration work on some of the most beautiful beaches in the country. Joined by South Walton Community locals, we were able to accomplish clearing and marking 6 hiking trails, installing signs and effectively roping off over 3 miles of beach to protect the dunes and wildlife who nest there, and remove invasive exotic plant species to allow for native pitcher plant growth.

Restored the Marshes of Mississippi

Over 30 volunteers worked in Ansley Marsh which borders the Gulf and is a haven for migratory birds and many alligators.  Volunteers toiled in the sun with many insect friends to remove debris from Hurricane Katrina, plant marsh grasses and work on the removal of the very invasive Chinese tallow tree (popcorn tree).  The marsh is part of the gateway system protecting the open waters of the gulf from the shoreline homes of MS coastal communities.

Rebuilt Marsh in Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge

Last stop – West to Louisiana!  Tasked with planting over 20,000 grasses over two events (four days), National Wildlife Federation partnered with US Fish and Wildlife Service and  the Louisiana Wildlife Federation to make this goal a reality.  Just outside of New Orleans, Volunteers traveled to Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge to plant marsh grasses to restore lost habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife species.  This event almost fell exactly on the one year mark of the Gulf oil disaster. Ben Weber, NWF’s Oil Spill Response Coordinator for the Western Gulf said “Heightened public awareness, volunteer enthusiasm and support from NWF members is making a big impact.” On April 15^th and 16^th and over Memorial Day weekend, volunteers worked in high water levels on uneven muck and mud to space plants across the water five feet apart.  Mary Swantek who traveled with a group of 15 volunteers weighed in on her experience, “Working in the marsh just outside of New Orleans was a once in a life time experience.  We not only took an air boat ride to get to the work site but were surrounded by all kinds of wildlife, it was absolutely beautiful.  Crawling in 4 to 6 inches of water and planting marsh grasses was a bit intimidating at first but with adrenaline running high we were all there for one reason… to protect these lands and protect wildlife!” Margaret Mead once said: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.   Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” Having had the opportunity to organize and travel to work hands on at several of these events, this quote takes on a new meaning for me.  The level of commitment, enthusiasm, and dedication to wildlife and wild spaces from volunteers who traveled near and far to work with National Wildlife Federation is astounding.  It is indisputable that our hard work from Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, to Florida made a difference to local habitat and wildlife.

UPDATE: On June 25, 50 volunteers planted 1,600 black mangroves in Grand Isle, LA as part of the the Gulf Coast recovery effort.

Click here to view the embedded video.

On April 20^th, 2010, as many American’s watched their TV sets in utter disbelief as oil poured into the Gulf of Mexico, a group of college students were planning their trip to come help!  As we reach the one year anniversary of the oil spill, the University of California at Berkley students joined National Wildlife Federation and dedicated their spring break time away from examinations and study sessions to engage in restoration events in Florida.

On March 25th, a dozen students traveled more than 2,000 miles to volunteer at local state parks in Florida. Their high energy, hard work, and determination was certainly felt by all at National Wildlife Federation’s Gulf Restoration Event at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park.  The importance of restoration and maintaining Florida’s Gulf coast also resonated with locals who call the Gulf home.  South Walton Community members joined us and together, we were able to accomplish properly marking 6 trails, installing signs and effectively roping off over 3 miles of beach to protect the dunes and wildlife, and removing invasive exotic plant species to allow for native pitcher plant growth.

The volunteer events in Florida (Bald Point State Park, Perdido Key State Park, and Topsail Hill Preserve State Park) have all been a true testament that hard work, dedication, team work, and some suntan lotion and bug spray, can lead to tremendous improvements for wildlife who call these parks home. 

As our restoration events are now moving west we need your help now more than ever!  Tasked with planting 23,000 grasses over two, two day events, our National Wildlife Federation team is partnering with the Louisiana Wildlife Federation to make this goal a reality.  Our next event will take place at Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge, just outside New Orleans.  Planting marsh grasses will restore lost habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife species and we need your help!

Join us April 15^th and 16^th and or May 27^th and 28^th – Together we can meet our goal to plant 23,000 plant species!

Sign up today!  See you in Louisiana!

NWF team in Venice, La. (May 2010)

TIME magazine recently named the Gulf oil disaster as America’s biggest news story of 2010. While the National Wildlife Federation will continue working to focus attention on the disaster and its impacts, as 2010 draws to a close, we also wanted to highlight some of the disaster’s unsung heroes – the people who donated their time, helped pull together resources, and in some cases even put their own careers on the line to make a difference.

This list isn’t meant to be comprehensive, but just a sampling of those who stepped up in a time of crisis – for every Dr. Ian MacDonald, there are hundreds of other scientists working to monitor the disaster’s impact and determine the best response.

It’s a small way of saying thanks to these friends of Gulf Coast’s people and wildlife:

Erin Kenny

The senior at New Jersey’s Toms River High School South organized a concert called Sea It Through, raising over $5,000 for NWF’s Gulf Oil Spill Restoration Fund. Hundreds of kids across the county like Erin helped raise not only funds to support resources for restoration, but awareness at the local level that we all share responsibility for helping the Gulf recover.

Ryan Lambert

The south Louisiana fishing and hunting guide traveled to Washington, DC to talk directly to members of Congress and their staff. Lambert focused not only about the impacts of the Gulf oil disaster, but how communities and ecosystems had already been weakened by coastal wetland erosion and Hurricane Katrina. “Now, with millions of gallons of oil entering this fragile ecosystem from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, never before has our national treasure been in more jeopardy than it is now,” Capt. Lambert told his audience on Capitol Hill.

Dr. Ian MacDonald

BP pushed a paradox in the early days of the Gulf oil gusher, both claiming there was “just no way to measure it” and that it was a preposterously-low 200,000 gallons a day. Instead of demanding an accurate figure, the federal government went along with BP’s smokescreen. But Dr. Ian MacDonald spoke out, saying that if BP couldn’t (or wouldn’t) measure the gusher, the scientific community would gladly help. Later, we learned the true figure might’ve been as high as 2.52 million gallons a day. The Florida State University oceanographer’s research also helped prove the BP oil continued lurking in the Gulf threatening wildlife long after the well was capped.

Diana Ferrell, volunteer with NWF's Gulf Surveillance Network

Diana Ferrell

Diana has been one of the top volunteers with NWF’s Gulf Surveillance Network. Long after BP declared the Gulf clean and started packing up, volunteers like Diana continued finding oil on Gulf beaches. In all, NWF’s volunteers conducted over 5,000 surveillance reports, in the heat, on the water and monitoring the coast line for all forms of wildlife. And wildlife advocates all across the country played a critical role in raising awareness of the unfolding disaster & demanding an effective response, submitting over 188,000 emails, phone calls and letters to the editor urging key administrative and legislative decision-makers to respond boldly. In one of the most effective examples, outcry from NWF members over BP’s apparent lack of concern for the fate of endangered sea turtles caught in its oil “burn boxes” led the federal government to direct BP to ensure trained wildlife professionals were on board their boats to conduct surveillance prior to burns.

Alyssa Milano & Keith Powell

Alyssa spent months asking her Twitter followers to donate to NWF’s Gulf Oil Spill Restoration Fund, answered phones and presented wildlife facts on CNN’s Gulf telethon, and issued this seductive challenge to the Old Spice Guy: “You must make a $100,000 donation to the National Wildlife Federations Gulf Oil Spill Restoration Fund. Are you strong enough?”

Click here to view the embedded video.

“Jealous” of all the attention Alyssa was lavishing on the Old Spice Guy, actor Keith Powell of 30 Rock fame tried to woo Alyssa away by making videos of his own focusing attention on the Gulf oil disaster. His efforts raised thousands of dollars for NWF’s Gulf Oil Spill Restoration Fund.

Jane Lyder testifies before National Commission on BP Spill, Sept. 2010 (Via Flickr's TalkMediaNews)

Jane Lyder

When Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal rushed to build sand berms in an attempt to block oil from coming ashore, the Interior Department’s deputy assistant secretary for fish, wildlife and parks raised concerns that, because sand dredging could damage already-eroding barrier islands, the berms could do more harm than good. Lyder found herself the victim of withering personal attacks from berm backers. But report from the BP spill commission just last week vindicated concerns from Lyder and others, saying the berms cost $220 million while stopping just 1,000 barrels of oil.

Bob Marshall

A Pulitzer Prize-winning outdoor writer, Bob Marshall of the New Orleans Times-Picayune has delivered some of the best reporting on the disaster’s impacts on coastal Louisiana. He’s also been willing to lend his voice to advocate for action, recently editorializing that Louisiana is being battered by an abusive relationship with Big Oil.

Rep. Ed Markey

The chair of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence & Global Warming demanded full transparency from BP and his efforts helped lead to live spill cam video becoming available to the public. Rep. Markey also fought for comprehensive, bipartisan legislation to respond to the disaster, improving safety to protect workers and wildlife and closing tax loopholes that benefit oil companies (unfortunately, the Senate has yet to follow suit).

Dr. Riki Ott & Patty Whitney

The devastation of the Exxon Valdez spill took years to fully reveal itself, with ripple effects still being felt today. Immediately after the disaster began, Dr. Riki Ott traveled to Louisiana to share Prince William Sound’s story and warn residents of the potential dangers ahead. Patty Whitney of Bayou Interfaith Shared Community Organizing was among those willing to stand up against Louisiana’s addiction to oil, telling the New York Times, “When is our government going to adapt to new energy sources that aren’t harmful to our environment and the people who depend upon the environment?”

The Gulf walrus

BP’s official response plan for oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico included references to “sea lions, seals, sea otters [and] walruses.” That revealed two things: That BP sloppily copied and pasted portions of its Gulf response from previous Arctic exploratory planning; and that regulators were so eager to green-light drilling that they never even read disaster response plans. The fictional Gulf walrus became a symbol of the clumsy rush to drill and calls to save the Gulf walrus provided brief moments of much-needed comic relief.

I could spend all day telling you about the great work done in the Gulf. Others who deserve recognition include:

• The National Wildlife Federation’s Dr. Doug Inkley, who worked tirelessly to communicate scientific information about threats to Gulf ecosystems in an easy-to-understand way
• Louisiana Wildlife Federation Executive Director Randy Lanctot, who championed of coastal Louisiana restoration long before the oil disaster & is working to keep it on the national agenda
• Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida, the only U.S. senator from the Gulf who warned of the possibility of a major oil disaster while steadfastly opposing expanded offshore oil & gas leasing
• Wyland, an accomplished painter, sculptor, photographer, writer &  SCUBA diver who was among the earliest & loudest national voices to raise concerns about long-term impacts to Gulf communities & ecosystems
• David Godfrey of the Sea Turtle Conservancy, who helped coordinate turtle nest relocation
• Cindy Dohner, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Southeast Regional Director who took the lead coordinating the initial FWS response
• Anne Thompson and Rachel Maddow of NBC News and Anderson Cooper of CNN, who spent countless hours deep in the heart of the communities most affected by the disaster
• Natalie Portman, Jack Johnson, Gloria Reuben, Ryan Theriot, Debi Mazar and countless other celebrities who used their star power to raise funds and awareness

Why are we highlighting all these unsung heroes now? Because while the Gulf oil disaster is fading from the national spotlight, its impacts will linger for years or even decades to come. The Gulf needs heroes now as much as ever.

To learn more about the National Wildlife Federation’s response to the Gulf oil disaster and find out how you can help, visit NWF.org/OilSpill.

National Wildlife Federation's Maura Wood examines oil in a Louisiana marsh.

Since the start of the Gulf oil disaster, the emergence of oil into the marshes of Louisiana has been one of the most pressing environmental concerns.

Currents and high tides can push oil deep into a marsh, saturating grasses, smothering plants and infiltrating the complex root systems which keep the fragile environment in place.

Clean-up crews have been using a number of techniques to cleanse the affected areas but experts say in some cases the best option may actually be to let the marsh heal itself.

As of late-August, approximately 108 of the state’s 5,700 miles of wetlands had been hit by oil. Some of the most heavily hit coastal marsh areas were in Louisiana near Grand Isle, Venice and eastern Barataria Bay.

At Bay Jimmy in Plaquemines Parish, large amounts of oil have come in direct contact with plants and grasses. Those plants survive in the salty environments by taking in oxygen through their leaves then transmitting it down to the roots. When its leaves are covered in oil, it essentially smothers the plant and when the plants that hold the marsh in place die, the marsh quickly falls victim to erosion.

There are a number of methods for cleaning up marshes, including:

• Vacuuming oil out with suction hoses.
• Removing it by hand.
• Cleaning and raking or burning it in place.

Could Cleaning Cause More Harm Than Good?

The Catch-22 of cleaning marshes is that while oil can wreak havoc in these fragile environments, the impact of humans going in there can do even more damage. Doug Inkley, senior scientist at NWF, said that the simple act of walking in the marsh can damage plants and stir up the soil. Bringing in heavy equipment, boats and an army of workers into a coastal marsh environment can have a more profound impact than the oil itself.

“It mixes up the different soil horizons, destroys vegetation, roots, kills organisms and is just not a good option. In some cases, it may be best to let the marsh heal itself, although the best option is to not let it get there in the first place,” said Inkley.

The U.S. Coast Guard and BP contractors laid out nearly two million feet of containment boom in the early summer to try to prevent oil from reaching the marshes. While it saved some areas from oiling, it actually trapped oil in other areas and made the situation worse.

Irving Mendelssohn, a professor at the Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences at Louisiana State University, said now that the oil is already there, anything that can cause more penetration of the oil into the soil is going to make the problem worse. Mendelssohn identified other options such as in-situ burning which can be done when there is a few inches of water over the marsh to avoid burning plant roots.

Vacuum Barges Removing 30,000 Gallons of Oil a Day

Another less intrusive option is using low pressure washing to flush oil from vegetation. The risk with that technique is that if the flow of water is too strong it will disturb and displace the soil.

“When there is not a lot of oil and the natural microbial activity has the ability to degrade it, then it may be best to [leave it in place]. The major reason for removing oil is when the volume is higher and there is a risk of it being transported elsewhere [via currents or tides],” said Mendelssohn.

Although it is a slow process, vacuuming oil with a suction hose has proven to be one of the least-intrusive and most effective ways of removing oil. In Bay Jimmy, vacuum barges have been removing up to 30,000 gallons of oil per day. Floating around the edges of the marsh, they can remove oil from the outskirts without causing further damage to the grasses.

Debate Over Shoreline Cleaners

There are also new shoreline cleaners on the market, a type of dispersant which manufacturers claim are 100 percent biodegradable, non-toxic and can be used in some marsh environments. Some of these products include HydroSOLVE and Evolve CM301. While demonstrations show they appear to effectively clean marsh grasses, Inkley advises against the use of any products or dispersants that have not been thoroughly tested.

“We’ve already seen what [negative impacts] dispersants can cause. I don’t think we should be trying anything in a marsh that hasn’t been thoroughly tested,” said Inkley.

Randy Lanctot, executive director of the Louisiana Wildlife Federation, said that techniques should be carefully chosen and fine tuned to the area where crews are working. In some areas that might simply be to leave things as they are. Lanctot said while Louisiana’s marshes have never seen an oil spill of this magnitude, tar balls and smaller spills are nothing new in the region.

“Some areas have been through this stuff before and survived. In places where there is minor oiling, I think [the marshes] can heal themselves and we’re soon going to find out how quickly,” said Lanctot.

Click here to view the embedded video.

In a Cape Cod marsh that was heavily oiled decades ago, the damage has been persistent. In this video, NWF looks back at how another oiled wetland has been slow to recover.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Its closure was welcomed by many in 2009 but the channel is a prime example of how manmade canals have caused catastrophic erosion in the state.

What happens next may serve as a model for how such channels and canals may actually be used to replenish what they destroyed.

Manmade Channel Sped Wetland Oil Infiltration

Louisiana’s wetlands have been cut apart over the years by the oil and gas industry. Between the early 1900s and the 1980s, the more than 9,000 miles of canals were cut through Louisiana’s wetlands. As they opened up into the Gulf of Mexico, they provided a direct avenue for salt water to move deep into the wetlands, increasing erosion and wreaking havoc with the natural order.

During the Gulf oil disaster, such manmade channels also served as a highway to bring oil straight into the heart of the wetlands.

MR-GO wasn’t created for the oil industry but as a shortcut for manufacturers and importers in New Orleans. Since was authorized in 1956, there has been outcry from residents of New Orleans and St. Bernard Parish that it would exacerbate saltwater intrusion and offer a direct path for hurricane storm surges to pour into the city. It did exactly that in 2005 during Hurricane Katrina with more than 20 levee breaches that had a large role in flooding more than 80 percent of New Orleans.

Randy Lanctot, director of the Louisiana Wildlife Federation, said the MR-GO has been tearing apart the surrounding wetlands for years. The growing width of the channel, saltwater intrusion and destruction of swamps to build the canal created a manmade disaster that has continuously shrunken the map of Louisiana.

“We ended up with an extremely long deepwater channel cutting right through an area of wetlands that no longer got nourishment from the river and was already in decline,” said Lanctot.

600,000 Acres of Habitat Impacted

According to the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Comprehensive Habitat Management Plan (pdf) from 2006, the MR-GO has impacted over 600,000 acres of habitat in Louisiana. This includes the loss of esturarine wetland, the annual dead zone in Lake Pontchartrain and the shift from lacustrine to estuarine. Although built at a width of 650 feet, it had grown to an average width of over 1,500 feet by the time it was closed. John Lopez, PhD, director of the Coastal Sustainability Program at the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, said that the canal has cause major alterations to the hydrology in surrounding areas with the funnel for saltwater intrusion being a death blow to some habitats.

“The cypress swamp in the central wetlands and most of that swamp has died off. Just about everything was altered by the hydrology of the MR-GO,” said Lopez.

Helping Wetlands Rebound

The MRGO Must Go Coalition, which is comprised of members including the National Wildlife Federation, Sierra Club and Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, has campaigned since 2008 to push the Army Corps of Engineers to close the canal. Since the canal closed in March 2009, the group has promoted restoration of the surrounding wetlands. Amanda Moore, project organizer for the NWF’s Coastal Louisiana Restoration Project, co-authored the report Mister Go Isn’t Gone Yet, which highlights recommendations on what needs to be done.

Some of those recommendations include reintroducing freshwater to parts of the marsh through a diversion and restoring channel banks and land bridges to prevent further erosion and wave damage. The report also calls for restoration of the Central Wetlands, a 30,000-acre area near the Lower Ninth Ward and St. Bernard Parish.

“We’re trying to figure out the best way to restore the area. To restore a lot of the major ecological functions, to restore some of the critical landscape features like the Biloxi marsh and shore up the bank lines,” said Moore.

Freshwater diversions may offer the biggest promise. The plan proposes the reintroduction of freshwater at Violet as a top priority. It would bring in freshwater from the Mississippi River to build and sustain wetlands in the Central Wetlands Unit, Biloxi Marshes and along Lake Borgne. The diversion could also deliver sediment that could be directed to Proctor Point, an important wetland area along the MR-GO levee. That could help re-establish a forest to provide some storm surge protection.

Lopez said that while the canal’s closure was the first step in addressing the problem, the canal itself can be used to rebuild the surrounding wetlands if used properly.

“We have already seen in the past year the changes in salinity and some indications of the hydrology going back to what it was pre MR-GO. That channel is still there and I think there is potential to use that positively,” said Lopez.