More of the Same for Spending in the Atchafalaya Basin, Though New Task Force Brings Hope
By Helle Parker
The Times-Picayune
Little is new in Louisiana's annual plan for addressing the rapid filling-in of the Atchafalaya Swamp.
Hampered by limited funding streams, the state's $6 million Atchafalaya Basin Program pales in comparison to the state's massive restoration efforts along the shoreline.
Unlike the eroding, sediment-starved coast, changes to water's flow through the Atchafalaya Swamp due to spoil banks from oil and gas canals over the years have led to too much sediment dropping into the basin. This has created problems for local habitats and fisheries and harmed the swamp's ability to protect communities from flooding.