[StBernard] Engineers Say Lessons from Katrina Studies Can Benefit Commun...

[Westley Annis]

These are very good points.  Not only should the clear cutting of these cypress forests be banned, but why aren't we replanting cypress forests?  Will they not grow now with the saltwater intrusion?
SJK


-----Original Message-----
Ok, if the MRGO was actually a conduit or not can be debated from now on.
One thing all of us residents and former residents over a certain age can
attest to is the fact that MRGO allowed saltwater intrusion into the
freshwater cypress swamp that was growing thickly along the coasts of our
parish.  Those of us old enough to remember pre-MRGO days (remember the old
pontoon bridge?) can remember these swamplands.  MRGO has got to go before
that cypress swamp can ever be replaced - if it can be at all and act as a
barrier against flooding.
 
And another thing about our cypress swamp forests along our coasts, I have
joined in the protest over clear cutting of cypress forests for cypress
mulch sold by all the big gardening retailers (i.e.. levees.org, Nature
Conservancy, etc.) and I don't see this protest having much impact.  My
question is with such coastal forests so vital for hurricane protection, why
can't a state just pass a law to outlaw this practice?  I don't have any
experience with law or politics but this just seems to be a sensible route
to take to protect our wetlands.  Am I being too naive?
Penny T.