Delta Dispatches

Cameron Parish Port, Coastal Funding and In the Blind Documentary

December 6th, 2019  |  43 mins 33 secs

Thanks for listening to this week’s Delta Dispatches! Simone and Jacques open the show talking to Clair Hebert Marceaux, Port Director for the Cameron Parish Port. Clair talks about her career and how went from an English teacher to one of Louisiana’s coastal leaders. In the final segment of the show, they’re joined by Emma Reid, director of the new documentary, In the Blind, which follows the history of duck hunters’ role in coastal restoration in Louisiana.

The Positive Effects of Closing MRGO

November 15th, 2019  |  41 mins 19 secs

Welcome to the latest episode of Delta Dispatches. Today hosts Jacques Hebert and Simone Maloz are joined by frequent guests Dr. John Lopez of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation and Dr. Alisha Renfro of the National Wildlife Federation. In this episode, we talk about the science of coastal restoration including 2019's high river, the impacts of the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO), the upcoming State of the Coast conference, and volunteer opportunities to help our coast!

Future Leaders in Coastal Restoration

November 8th, 2019  |  43 mins 37 secs

Welcome to Delta Dispatches, with your hosts Jacques Hebert, and Simone Maloz. Today we're talking to future leaders in coastal restoration! Today’s first guest is Milan Mardia, senior at Jesuit High School. Milan has presented to the CPRA Board about educating younger generations of coastal advocates and is learning how A.I. (artificial intelligence) could enhance how we approach coastal projects. Check out Milan’s website dedicated to Louisiana’s coastal restoration here: https://www.lacoastalerosion.com/. Next up is Martin Mantz, Coastal Restoration Program Manager at Nunez Community College. He brings on a professor and a few students to talk about their new Coastal Studies and GIS Technology program and other opportunities to build a career in coastal restoration at Nunez. You can learn more on their website: https://www.nunez.edu/academics/coastal-studies-and-gis-technology-450799

The Economics of Coastal Restoration

October 25th, 2019  |  44 mins 14 secs

coastal restoration, economics, sediment diversions

Three new reports that show how coastal restoration is not just helping protect communities, industries and wildlife but also generating jobs and opportunity in the process.

Barrier Islands with BOEM and Rougarou Fest

October 11th, 2019  |  41 mins 16 secs

Welcome to Delta Dispatches, with your host Jacques Hebert. Today’s guests are Jessica Mallindine, Marine biologist at the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), along with John Filostrat, Regional Supervisor for the Office of Public Affairs. In the second half of the show, Jacques is joined by Jonathan Foret, Executive Director of South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center to discuss the upcoming Rougarou Fest, October 26-27 in Houma, Louisiana.

Talking Coastal Science with Don Boesch

October 4th, 2019  |  42 mins 53 secs

Thanks for listening to the latest episode of Delta Dispatches, with your hosts Jacques Hebert and Simone Maloz. Today talks with one of the most celebrated coastal scientists in the country, Don Boesch, Professor and President Emeritus at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. They talk about his distinguished career including his time as the first director of LUMCON, and his experience on the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling in 2010. Jacques is also joined by Victoria Sagrera, Restore or Retreat Special Projects Coordinator to talk about Restore or Retreat’s busy summer.

Bonus Episode with Shannon Cunniff!

October 1st, 2019  |  42 mins 27 secs

On today’s bonus episode of Delta Dispatches, Jacques sits down with Shannon Cunniff, who recently retired after 27 years working at the heart of environmental policy. Shannon discusses her career highlights, ranging from working for a federal agency at the intersection of water resources and coastal resilience to working for the Environmental Defense Fund and serving as a board member for the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association. In this interview Jacques and Shannon talk about her inspirational career – including obstacles she overcame, personal highlights, and advice for future environmentalists. In the final act of the show, Jacques welcomes James Karst, Communication Director for the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana to talk about some of their upcoming work and an exciting partnership with the New Orleans Saints!

Coastal Management in Jefferson Parish

September 27th, 2019  |  45 mins 49 secs

On today’s episode of Delta Dispatches, we talk with Lauren Averill, Jefferson Parish Coastal Zone Director, and ASPBA Central Gulf Coast Board member. Lauren discusses the history and importance of coastal management in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana’s most populous coastal parish, and highlights a number of restoration projects underway in the parish.

Celebrating #NationalEstuariesWeek

September 23rd, 2019  |  42 mins 40 secs

On this week’s episode of Delta Dispatches, we’re celebrating #NationalEstuariesWeek! Our friend Kristi Trail, executive director of Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, drops by to talk about one of our favorite estuaries, the Lake Pontchartrain Basin! Learn more about this vital ecosystem and work LPBF is doing to protect it 30 years after the organization's founding. Later in the show, Simone and Jacques are joined by Angela Chalk, executive director of Healthy Community Services to talk about the importance of water management in cities like New Orleans and what YOU can do in your own background or block to help!

Fishing Louisiana's Coast with Chris Macaluso & Todd Masson

September 6th, 2019  |  42 mins 51 secs

On this week's episode of Delta Dispatches, we're talking fish! Today’s first guest is Chris Macaluso, Director of the Center for Marine Fisheries for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. He reflects on the state of Louisiana's fisheries after a historic year of Mississippi River flooding. Simone and Jacques also talk with another prolific fisherman, Todd Masson, host of the Marsh Man Masson YouTube channel. In the last segment, Greg Lambousy, Director of the New Orleans Jazz Museum, joins the show to discuss this weekend's Downriver Festival in New Orleans.

Covering Louisiana's Wild Weather with Steve Caparotta

August 30th, 2019  |  41 mins 43 secs

On this week’s episode of Delta Dispatches, we talk with Steve Caparotta, meteorologist for WAFB in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Jacques and Simone are excited to talk to another of Louisiana’s most respected meteorologists. Steve talks about how Louisiana floods, the increase in extreme weather, and how the map of our state has changed. In the final act of the show, we’re joined by David Muth, director of gulf restoration for the National Wildlife Federation. David talks about the Davis Pond Freshwater Diversion and how, despite not being designed or operated to build land, the input of sediment over time has resulted in land gain and increased wildlife habitat.

New Louisiana Poll: 98% Want to Maintain as Much of Louisiana’s Coast as Possible

August 16th, 2019  |  43 mins 14 secs

On today’s episode of Delta Dispatches, hosts Jacques and Simone are joined by Mark Sickle, Corporate and Government Relations for Weeks Marine and Bernie Pinsonat, formerly a partner at ‎Southern Media & Opinion Research, Inc. and now commissions polls for Bernie Pinsonat Inc. Mark kicks off the show to talk about Weeks Marine’s new dredge, which will be used for the upcoming Terrebonne Basin Barrier Island project, which includes West Bell Headlands, Timbalier Island and Trinity East Island. On the second half the show, Bernie joins the show to talk about the results of the recently completed poll of Louisiana voters. This poll found that voters are deeply concerned about the state’s coastal land loss crisis and support coastal restoration efforts to address it. You can read the results of the poll at http://mississippiriverdelta.org/coastal-poll-2019/.

Chief Meteorologist Margaret Orr

August 9th, 2019  |  49 mins 11 secs

Welcome to the latest episode of Delta Dispatches! On this episode, Jacques sits down with Margaret Orr, Chief Meteorologist at WDSU News and a New Orleans institution. Margaret talks about why she became a meteorologist, the unique relationship New Orleans has with weather, and what the increase of extreme weather and rain events means for everyone living in the city. In the final segment of the show, Jacques also sits down with Hansel Harlan from Marsh Dog. After a brief pause in production, your dog’s favorite nutria treats are back. Be sure to listen to find out which stores are stocking the new flavors!

Debriefing 2019's Unprecedented Mississippi River Flood

August 2nd, 2019  |  53 secs

This week on Delta Dispatches, host Jacques Hebert talks with two return guests about the historic flooding of the Mississippi River in 2019. Topics include the Bonnet Carre Spillway, sediment diversions, the dead zone and more! Thanks to Alisha Renfro (Coastal Scientist for the Mississippi River Delta Restoration Program, NWF), and Natalie Peyronnin Snider (Senior Director, Coastal Resilience, EDF) for stopping by!

Episode 100 with Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards

July 26th, 2019  |  37 mins 32 secs

Thanks for listening to the 100th episode of Delta Dispatches! Jacques and Simone mark this special occasion by sitting down with Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards to get his thoughts on Hurricane Barry, the state's coastal restoration and protection efforts, and much more!

The River's Revenge with Tristan Baurick

June 28th, 2019  |  42 mins 9 secs

Thanks for listening to the latest episode of Delta Dispatches! In today’s episode, hosts Jacques Hebert and Simone Maloz dive deep into the Mississippi River with Tristan Baurick to discuss his 5 part investigative series about the Upper Mississippi River. From the Headwaters in Minnesota to Davenport, Iowa, Tristan focused on stories of different ways we’ve tried to control the Mississippi River. At the end of the show, Melissa Mylchreest, associate director at the Institute for Journalism & Natural Resources to talk about the importance of environmental journalism and how IJNR provides immersion training programs for environment and natural resource journalists.