General DNR News

WASHINGTON OFFICIALS TO TOUR COASTAL LOUISIANA BY AIR

Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, J.P. Woodley, and EPA Assistant Administrator for Water, Tracy Mehan, will tour areas of Louisiana’s coast by air on Thursday, October 16, as they are briefed on the state’s dramatic land loss and efforts to stop it. Scientists and state officials will fly the group over vanishing marshes and restoration sites, landing at the Caenarvon Fresh Water Diversion Project.

The tour is part of the America’s WETLAND Technical Summit being held in New Orleans onOctober 16 and 17, and will focus on how water monitoring tracks the impacts of coastal restoration efforts in Louisiana as National World Water Monitoring Day approaches.

State Department of Natural Resources Secretary Jack Caldwell will board the flight with federal officials to give them an overview of the state’s coastal conditions.

Press availabilities are as follows:
* A news conference will be held at 9:00 a.m. on October 16 at Lakefront Airport before the coastal flyover.

* The float planes will land for onsite demonstrations and presentations on the Caernarvon Fresh Water Diversion Project and water monitoring at 10:15 a.m. at the Delacroix Camp next to the canal.

The America’s WETLAND Technical Summit, coordinated by the American Society of Civil Engineers, will convene at 1 p.m. at the Hotel Monaco in New Orleans on Oct. 16 and go through the following day, bringing together internationally recognized experts in engineering and science.

*Press is also invited to attend the two-day technical conference.