[StBernard] Critics call Corp plan to close MRGO 'half-hearted'

[Westley Annis]

By CityBusiness staff report 

2006-12-16 4:52 PM CST 

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Conservation group leaders criticized an interim report
to Congress released Friday by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that
identified closing the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet to all navigation as
the best option, but stopped short of providing a full plan for restoration
while putting off a final decision until at least late next year. 
 
The groups called on the Corps to expedite the restoration of protective
wetlands in Louisiana and praised Sen. David Vitter, R-Metairie, for
demanding the Corps use already appropriated funds to begin closing MRGO . 
  
The conservation experts said the report is a good first step, but
inadequate in light of the New Orleans vulnerability to hurricanes. 
  
"Hurricane Katrina taught us that there is no time to waste before closing
the deadly Mister Go," said Paul Harrison, Louisiana Coastal Project
Director for Environmental Defense. "Sen. Vitter hit the nail on the head
when he said that the Corps should get started immediately and use
authorized funds to close the channel at Bayou la Loutre." 
  
"The Corps often says that it doesn't make the big decisions, Congress
does," said Mark Ford, executive director of the Coalition to Restore
Coastal Louisiana. "Well, Congress has made the decision that $75 million is
available to start closing MRGO. Now all the Corps has to do is listen." 
  
Earlier this month, environmentalists and local officials presented a report
titled "Mister Go Must Go." 
  
Environmentalists were disappointed the Corps report overlooked critical
elements to be analyzed in next year's Louisiana Coastal Protection and
Restoration study. 
"Critical wetlands restoration tasks like the freshwater diversion at Violet
and marsh creation are not 'opportunities,' they are required actions," said
Susan Kaderka, Gulf Coast Regional Director for the National Wildlife
Federation. 
  
The Corps report also fails to address storm surge or wave attacks on
vulnerable levees. 
"Instead of fixing the problem, the Corps has decided to ignore science, in
favor of taking baby steps," said Melissa Samet, senior director of Water
Resources at American Rivers. "This half-hearted approach leaves thousands
of people who live in New Orleans and St Bernard Parish at risk, and calls
into question just how serious the Corps is about providing real hurricane
protection to the area." 
  
MRGO is an artificial channel built by the Corps in 1965 as a shipping
shortcut from the Gulf of Mexico to the New Orleans inner harbor. The Corps
created the channel by slicing through the natural land bridge and barrier
islands that separated New Orleans from the Gulf, which allowed millions of
gallons of saltwater to flow into the area's freshwater bayous and lakes.
The salt water killed tens of thousands of acres of cypress forest that had
served as a natural hurricane barrier. 
  
MRGO costs taxpayers almost $12 million each year for maintenance plus the
cost of dredging needed to keep it open yet it is only used by about half a
dozen ships a day. It costs an average of to taxpayers each time a ship uses
the shortcut. 
  
After Hurricane Katrina, Congress directed the Corps to develop a plan to
stop deepdraft shipping on MRGO. Congress can take further action now that
the Corps has delivered its interim report..