An infamous shipping canal known as the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO) has destroyed or damaged almost 1,000 square miles of coastal habitats valuable for species such as Louisiana's alligators. We urge the Corps to fully and quickly implement a plan and restore the damaged ecosystem surrounding the MRGO, create new protections for the New Orleans area, reconnect the river to the wetlands, and restore 55,000 acres of wildlife habitat.
A few suggestions from a coalition of experts:
* Harness the power of nature: The Corps should create oyster beds instead of using rocks where possible. Oyster beds are a cost-effective solution that improve water quality, create habitat for a wide variety of species, and maintain themselves over time.
* Fix the banks: Repairing and narrowing MRGO's banks would help protect the New Orleans area from future hurricanes.
* Use sediment carefully: Adding sediment is an important part of restoring marshes, but the Corps should source its sediment carefully, fully accounting for the impacts on all species of wildlife. The Corps should consider re-using sediment already being dredged from the Mississippi River for navigation.
* Monitor the system: The Corps needs to increase its monitoring in the MRGO ecosystem to be able to accurately measure the impact of the restoration project over time.
With these additional recommendations in place, we urge the Corps to fully and quickly implement this plan by a coalition of experts and community leaders and restore the damaged ecosystem surrounding the MRGO.
Headquarters, US Army Corps of Engineers
441 G. Street, NW
Washington, DC 20314-1000
Email: hq-publicaffairs@usace.army.mil
