Delta Dispatches

Louisiana Embarks on ‘Year of the Dredge’ to Restore its Coast

January 20th, 2022  |  36 mins 16 secs

In the first episode of 2022, Simone and Jacques welcome back Gregory Grandy, Deputy Executive Director Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana, who discusses how 2022 will be one of the most significant years for Louisiana's coast with some of the largest, most ambitious restoration projects ever to move forward. These projects include marsh creation, or “dredging” projects as well as projects to reconnect the Mississippi River to wetlands to sustain them into the future.

Recapping 2021 on Louisiana’s Coast

December 21st, 2021  |  48 mins 29 secs

For the last episode of 2021, Jacques and Simone discuss major events and milestones for Louisiana’s coast over the prior year and look forward to what’s to come in 2022. As a reminder, many families in Louisiana are still dealing with the lingering impacts of Hurricane Ida as we head into the holidays. Visit http://mississippiriverdelta.org/ida to learn how you can help those in need this holiday season and beyond. Happy Holidays to our Delta Dispatches family!

A Conversation with U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy

December 15th, 2021  |  30 mins 16 secs

Happy ‘Gatorgiving!

November 19th, 2021  |  37 mins 43 secs

In this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, be on the lookout for the beautiful “Celebration Gator” float! We were inspired by this reptilian replica to record a riveting episode celebrating Louisiana’s most iconic animal. We’re joined by Dr. Andy Nyman, Professor, Wetland Wildlife Ecology at LSU and talk about the alligators, coastal restoration, and their future!

Examining a “Living Laboratory” on Louisiana’s Coast: A Conversation with Scientist Molly Keogh

November 18th, 2021  |  40 mins 3 secs

Scientist Molly Keogh, who received her PhD at Tulane University and is now a Postdoctoral Scholar, University of Oregon, Department of Earth Sciences, joins the podcast to discuss her latest paper, “Organic matter accretion, shallow subsidence, and river delta sustainability”, and its relation to Louisiana’s coast. Molly, who was featured for her research in the documentary film “Last Call for the Bayou”, also discusses that experience, and her work at the Davis Pond Freshwater Diversion, a “living laboratory” of Louisiana’s coast.

New Science on Subsidence and the Mississippi River Delta

November 9th, 2021  |  29 mins 49 secs

This week on Delta Dispatches, we talk to Elizabeth Chamberlain, Assistant Professor, Wageningen University, about her career as a coastal geologist. Liz got her start at LSU and Tulane researching the Mississippi River Delta and has gone on to study deltas around the world. She joins Jacques and Simone to discuss a new paper based on research in the Lafourche Delta, focusing on how subsidence impacts the Mississippi River Delta and its implications for restoration projects in Louisiana. Her new paper “Does Load-Induced Shallow Subsidence Inhibit Delta Growth?” was published earlier this month: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2021JF006153.

NOLA River Fest 2021

October 26th, 2021  |  34 mins 43 secs

This week on Delta Dispatches, Jacques and Simone chat with friend of the show Helen Rose Patterson, senior outreach coordinator with the National Wildlife Federation (NWF). She’s here to talk about NOLA River Fest 2021, happening this week! Don’t miss the virtual panels covering a range of interesting topics concerning the Mississippi River: https://www.facebook.com/MississippiRiverDelta/events/. In this episode we also talk about the Coastal Community Handbook, a quick guide to all things coastal. You can read the digital version or request a physical copy of the handbook at: https://mississippiriverdelta.org/handbook.

Introducing Simone Maloz as the new Campaign Director for Restore the Mississippi River Delta

October 18th, 2021  |  52 mins 39 secs

On today’s episode, Jacques talks with Steve Cochran, who has served as Campaign Director of the Restore the Mississippi River Delta (MRD) for the last six years, about some developments within the coalition. After successfully leading the MRD team, Steve is moving on to assume a new role leading state affairs within Environmental Defense Fund and none other than our very own Simone Maloz will assume the role of MRD campaign director! We talk with Steve about his career, reflections on his time as campaign director, and advice for the future. We then officially welcome Simone, hear about her background and learn what she's most excited about as she takes this next step.

Water Quality Updates with Pontchartrain Conservancy

October 7th, 2021  |  38 mins 31 secs

As impacts from Hurricane Ida continue to be assessed, Pontchartrain Conservancy's Water Quality Program Director Brady Skaggs discusses how the storm affected water quality across the region and what actions you can take to improve water quality in nearby waterways. Skaggs also highlights the newly-launched Lake and Coast App that puts water quality data at your fingertips. As a reminder, you can find ways to help those impacted by Hurricane Ida here, and don't forget to check out our newly-launched Community Guide to Coastal Restoration!

Nature's Role in Climate Adaptation | A Conversation with SCAPE's Kate Orff

September 29th, 2021  |  43 mins 16 secs

This week on Delta Dispatches, we’re excited to welcome Kate Orff, Founding Principal of SCAPE. Jacques and Simone talk with her about the role nature can play in adapting to climate change, how she is reimaging landscape architecture through her studio, as well as on-the-ground restoration opportunities from Louisiana to New York. SCAPE’s recent work includes OurFutureCoast.org (https://www.ourfuturecoast.org/) and Kate was featured in the New Yorker in the story “The Seas Are Rising. Could Oysters Help” (https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/08/09/the-seas-are-rising-could-oysters-protect-us).

Recovery in South Lafourche with Bless Your Heart Nonprofit

September 23rd, 2021  |  38 mins 24 secs

This week on Delta Dispatches, Jacques and Simone chat with Jeray Jambon Jarreau from Bless Your Heart Nonprofit. Jeray talks about life in South Lafourche after the devastation of Hurricane Ida. Bless Your Heart Nonprofit is working on the ground to address the needs of some of the most impacted communities in South Louisiana. Learn about the work they’re doing and how you can help through their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/blessyourheartnonprofit/

Hurricane Ida: How You Can Help & A Conversation with Scot Pilié

September 13th, 2021  |  1 hr 1 min

In the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, one of the most devastating hurricanes to ever make landfall in Louisiana, Simone and Jacques discuss ongoing impacts to communities and how people can help those in need. They also welcome Scot Pilié, EDF senior communications specialist and meteorologist, to discuss the extent of Ida’s impacts and why it was so destructive from a meteorological standpoint. Please visit MississippiRiverDelta.org/Ida to support organizations doing work in Louisiana to help those in need.

Photographing Louisiana's Coast with Matthew White

August 26th, 2021  |  41 mins 44 secs

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Delta Dispatches! This week we’re chatting with photographer Matthew White about beautiful and inspiring work recently published in the New York Time. “Beauty, Serenity, Stillness: An Ode to the Final Miles of the Mississippi River” features photography of the landscape and communities of Plaquemines Parish. See more of Matthew’s work on his website and Tumblr.

Breaking Down BTNEP with T. Bradley Keith

August 6th, 2021  |  34 mins 27 secs

On this episode of Delta Dispatches, Jacques interviews first time guest T. Brad Keith the new director of the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program (BTNEP). Founded in 1990, BTNEP is the oldest coastal organization in Louisiana and helps ensure access to sustainable clean water across the estuary. T. Brad talks about the history and future of this vital program for coastal Louisiana.

The Economic Case for Coastal Restoration

July 29th, 2021  |  35 mins 46 secs

On today's episode, Simone and Jacques are joined by Jasmine Brown, Public Policy Manager for Greater New Orleans Inc. Jasmine discusses the work her organization is doing, through its Coalition for Coastal Resilience and Economy (CCRE) and beyond, to advance coastal restoration in our region to protect people and the economy, as well as to create jobs and economic growth. Learn more about GNO Inc.'s work and CCRE at https://gnoinc.org/business-climate/coastal-restoration/.

Exploring Louisiana's First Wind Week

July 1st, 2021  |  39 mins 24 secs

Thanks for listening to the latest episode of Delta Dispatches! Today Jacques and Simone are joined by Harry Vorhoff, of the Governor's Office of Coastal Activities, and Rep. Joseph Orgeron to discuss the state's first Wind Week, a series of public webinars on expanding wind energy in the Gulf.

You can watch all Wind Week sessions online at: https://gov.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/page/124.