Delta Dispatches

The Road to Resilience

Thanks for listening to this week’s episode! Today, Simone and Jacques talk about the ongoing efforts by Louisiana's state agencies and nonprofits to increase coastal resilience in relation to climate change. First, we catch up with Jeannette Dubinin, the Director of Resilience and Adaptation for the Center for Planning Excellence, or CPEX. She talks about some of their exciting new projects and their free virtual Smart Growth Summit that is currently underway -- and accepting participants (h...

Hurricane Laura Recovery

Thanks for listening to this week’s episode! Today Simone and Jacques talk about the ongoing needs and obstacles in the wake of Hurricane Laura. First, we speak with Sara Judson, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana. She talks about the relief and recovery after the storm and the role her organization is playing to help the people of Southwest Louisiana. Also joining us is Corey Miller, Director of Community Resilience with our friends at CRCL. Corey talks abou...

Introducing the Coastal Community Cookbook!

On this week’s episode, we talk with Samantha Carter, Outreach Manager with the National Wildlife Federation to talk about her new project, the Coastal Community Cookbook (http://mississippiriverdelta.org/recipes/)! Inspired by the paper bound cookbooks passed around by our grandmothers, the Coastal Community Cookbook is designed to promote our favorite seafood recipes and raise awareness of the issues found along our coast. You can submit your own recipe here (https://forms.gle/fhLU16QVpqfVK...

CPRA Leader Discusses Hurricane Laura Response

In the wake of the destruction of Hurricane Laura, we sit down with Chip Kline, Executive Assistant to the Governor for Coastal Activities and Chairman of the CPRA Board. Chip talks about the work CPRA is doing to protect the people who call South Louisiana home, what it’s like in Louisiana’s Emergency Center, what he saw when he toured southwest Louisiana, the importance of coastal restoration in the face of future storms and more. Please consider helping those affected by Hurricane Laura. ...

Reflecting on Hurricane Katrina's Legacy

This week we sit down with two guests to reflect on where we've come in the years since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. First we talk to Sidney Coffee, who headed the Governor’s Office of Coastal Activities in 2005 at the time of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. She would go on to be the first chair of the CPRA and has been instrumental in shaping that agency, the Coastal Master Plan, and coastal restoration in Louisiana. Next we welcome Arthur Johnson back to the show. Arthur is the Chief Executive...

A Coastal Conversation with Rep. Garret Graves

On this extra special, lagniappe episode of Delta Dispatches, we welcome Congressman Garret Graves back to the show. We reflect on the coming 15 year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and how coastal restoration has played a role in preparing Louisiana for future storms. Rep. Graves also talks about how he sees bipartisan work to create cleaner energy and community resilience in Louisiana.

Fragile Grounds

This week on Delta Dispatches, we speak with Jessica H. Schexnayder about her book, Fragile Grounds (https://www.upress.state.ms.us/Books/F/Fragile-Grounds), which compiles stories and photographs of endangered cemeteries throughout Louisiana's coastal zone and beyond. On the second half the show we welcome back Deborah Visco Abibou, Ph.D., restoration programs director for the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana. CRCL is about to install their latest oyster reef as part of their oyster sh...

Checking in on Hurricane Season with Steve Caparotta

Thanks for tuning in! Last week, forecasters updated their outlook calling for an 'extremely active (https://www.wafb.com/2020/08/05/updated-forecast-calls-extremely-active-hurricane-season/)' remainder of the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Simone and Jacques chat with WAFB Meteorologist Steve Caparotta (https://twitter.com/SteveWAFB) to get his insights on the update and what is driving it, as well as discuss prior record-breaking seasons and other trends. On the second half of the show, Ja...

Scoping Out the Mid-Breton Sediment Diversion

We're dedicating this entire episode to the Mid-Breton Sediment Diversion, which is officially in the scoping period. During the scoping period, the public can provide comments and suggest questions about the project that they think should be addressed in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to ultimately inform how the project moves forward. This episode breaks down the scoping process and talks about how you can deliver your comments about the project to the Army Corps of Engineers. The...

Upriver Diversions and the Bonnet Carré Spillway. Also, hello, Pontchartrain Conservancy!

Thanks for listening to another episode of Delta Dispatches with Jacques Hebert and Simone Maloz! Today we talk with Dr. Ehab Meselhe, Professor, Tulane University, School of Science & Engineering about his illustrious career. He talks about his time studying two of the largest rivers in the world, the Nile and Mississippi. Dr. Meselhe also recently completed a study that looks at the impacts of planned upper river diversions on operations of the Bonnet Carré spillway. Later in the show, we’r...

Birds of a Feather

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 Charl...

Get a Game Plan

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 livi...

Louisiana Coastal Update

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.

Building Coastal Resilience in Louisiana and Beyond

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 ...

Louisiana SeaGrant and Louisiana Seafood Direct

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...

From Casblanace to Cocodrie: Coastal Resilience with Dr. Alex Kolker

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. ...

From Casblanaca to Cocodrie: Coastal Resilience with Dr. Alex Kolker

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. ...

From Casablanca to Cocodrie: Coastal Resilience with Dr. Alex Kolker

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. ...

Rivers of the World

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: RIV...

A Decade After Disaster

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 t...

Last Call for the Bayou

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.

A Coastal Care Package

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 coordinato...

Interview with CPRA Chairman of the Board Chip Kline

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.

American Shoreline Podcast Network and Previewing State of the Coast

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)...

Eco-tours of Louisiana's Coast

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 year...

Archaeology of Louisiana's Vanishing 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 archaeo...

Come out to Cook-Off for the Coast on February 8th!

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 ...

Exploring Nature: Birds and the Louisiana Children's Museum

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...

Sediment Diversion Could Protect 47 Sq. Miles of Louisiana's Coast

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.

A Toast to the Coast in 2019!

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.

Don't Miss Lights on the Lake on Dec. 14th!

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 tal...

Cameron Parish Port, Coastal Funding and In the Blind Documentary

The Positive Effects of Closing MRGO

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

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.lacoas...

The Economics of Coastal Restoration

Simone is joined by Dr. Robert Habans, Economist with The Data Center and Dr. Loren C. Scott, President of Dr. Loren C. Scott and Associates, Inc. to discuss new economic reports with relevance on Louisiana's coast. Kristin Tracz, Program Officer with the Walton Family Foundation, joins as a guest co-hosts!

Barrier Islands with BOEM and Rougarou Fest

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) Marine Minerals Program, 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

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 Drilli...

Bonus Episode with Shannon Cunniff!

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 ...

Coastal Management in Jefferson Parish

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

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 a...

Fishing Louisiana's Coast with Chris Macaluso & Todd Masson

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 Muse...

Covering Louisiana's Wild Weather with Steve Caparotta

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 Fres...

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

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...

Chief Meteorologist Margaret Orr

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...

Debriefing 2019's Unprecedented Mississippi River Flood

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

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

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 ...

Philanthropic Support for Louisiana's Coast

Thanks for tuning into the latest episode of Delta Dispatches! In this episode, Jacques and Simone catch up on the latest coastal news, followed by two more interviews from the EVERLAB conference. Simone sat down with Kristin Tracz of the Walton Family Foundation to talk about their environmental efforts in Louisiana and across the country. Later in the show Simone is joined by Liz Williams Russell from Foundation for Louisiana talks about the LA Safe program, LEAD the Coast, and other progra...

Talking Port Fourchon, Louisiana’s Coast and Terrebonne’s Coastal Day

Thanks for listening to the latest episode of Delta Dispatches. In this episode, we hear more interviews from the EVERLAB conference. In the first segment of the show, you’ll hear Simone’s interview with Chett Chiasson, Executive Director at Port Fourchon to talk about the importance of industry on Louisiana’s coast and the ways Port Fourchon partners with the state of Louisiana and other exciting things happening with the port. Following that interview, Simone sits down with #1 avid listener...

EVERLAB 2019

Thanks for listening to this week's episode of Delta Dispatches! In this special episode of the show, host Simone Maloz sat down with a series of guests from the EVERLAB conference. EVERLAB, which took place in New Orleans earlier this month, was a place for conversation around environmental finance, investment, risk management, and economic growth. Simone spoke with several attendees at the conference and in this episode you'll hear interviews with Michael Hecht, president & CEO of Greater N...