Miscellaneous
Thanks for tuning in this week! Today, Simone and Jacques have a special, panel-esque episode all about the infamous Mississippi River Gulf Outlet, nicknamed the "Hurricane Highway", and progress made in the decade since its closure. Pontchartrain Conservancy Coasts & Community Program Director John Lopez (https://mississippiriverdelta.org/staff/john-lopez/), National Wildlife Federation Gulf Program Deputy Director Amanda Moore (http://mississippiriverdelta.org/staff/amanda-moore/), and Lower 9th Ward Center for Sustainable Engagement & Development CEO Arthur Johnson (http://sustainthenine.org/team/) offer their invaluable perspectives on the channel's devastating impact to the surrounding communities and ecosystem prior to its closure in 2009, particularly when it acted as a funnel for storm surge when Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005. The panelists also discuss the rebound made by the ecosystem over the past 10 years that was captured in a recently released report (https://mrgomustgo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/MRGO-White-Paper-10-01-2020.pdf) and increased community engagement around coastal restoration.