In today's episode of Delta Dispatches, we say goodbye to host Jacques Hebert, who leaves the show, and the Restore the Mississippi River Delta Coalition to become the Communication Director for the McKnight Foundation. We're joined by several special guests (Chip Kline, Bren Haase, Steve Caparotta, and Steve Cochran) to reflect on 194 episodes of Delta Dispatches and the incalculable contributions Jacques has made to the restoration of Louisiana's coast. Join us in wishing Jacques good luck in new his endeavors!

Today’s episode explores the other end of the Mighty Mississippi by welcoming Trevor Russell, Water Program Director with Friends of the Mississippi River. Based in Minnesota, Russell paints a picture of the upper river, discusses his organization’s work to enhance the health of the Mississippi River from the Twin Cities and beyond. In particular, he highlights the organization’s award-winning State of the River report, the Mississippi River Restoration & Resilience Initiative (MRRRI) Act they are advocating for along with the Mississippi River Network, and more!

Christopher Esposito, Ph.D., Research Scientist with The Water Institute of the Gulf, joins the podcast to discuss his journey from being an educator in a New Orleans math classroom to a leading scientist helping understand and inform coastal restoration efforts on Louisiana’s coast. Chris discusses the newly-launched Bay Denesse Living Lab Initiative, a physical site in Plaquemines Parish where scientific research is combined with active restoration, as well as other projects from coastal science to river management.

On this week’s podcast, Jacques is joined by Arthur J. Johnson, CEO, of the Lower 9th Ward Center for Sustainable Engagement and Development (CSED). Arthur was recently recognized by the River Network for his leadership and impact on communities along the Mississippi River. Arthur discusses new programs at CSED, including glass recycling for coastal restoration and a new young leadership cohort. Arthur also reflects on the need for restoration of the MRGO Ecosystem to support people and nature across the Greater New Orleans region. Learn more about CSED and support their work https://sustainthenine.org/

This week, Jacques spoke with John Ruskey, one of the most knowledgeable river guides and paddlers of the Mississippi River. John shares his life experiences gathered from over 40 years paddling the Mighty Mississippi. Tune in to learn about John’s work and how you too can experience the Mississippi firsthand!

With the start of Atlantic hurricane season, Simone and Jacques bring back one of Louisiana's most trusted weathermen, WAFB's Steve Caparotta, to talk about storm season, how to stay prepared and his new podcast Coast and Climate.

With summer fast approaching, Jacques and Simone (united once again!) sit down with Kristi Trail, Executive Director of Pontchartrain Conservancy (PC). Kristi is excited to be in person with events again and PC has plenty of ways to get involved! They’ve got ongoing volunteer opportunities, the Lighthouse Museum is open again for tours, and this weekend they’re hosting their annual Storm Sweep, which kicks off this Saturday, May 28th! Be prepared this hurricane season at https://scienceforourcoast.org/stormsweep2022/.

This week Simone is joined by James Karst, Communication Director for the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL) to talk about all their exciting work in 2022 including next week's Coastal Stewardship Awards, which honors individuals and organizations demonstrating extraordinary commitment to our coast. Later in the episode, Simone is joined by three of this year's winners ( Raegan Creppell, Jonathan Foret and Genie Ardoin) who are being recognized for their tremendous work to help coastal communities recover from Hurricane Ida.

On today’s Delta Dispatches, we chat with long-time friend of the show and Executive Director of the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, Bren Haase! Bren talks through an exciting year for Louisiana’s coast with the largestAnnual Plan to date, with over $1.35B in expenditures and 92 projects in construction. You can read the Annual Plan and use CPRA’s interactive map on their website: https://ap23.coastal.la.gov/ Bren also talks us through the upcoming Coastal Day at the Louisiana Legislature on April 5th.

On today's episode of Delta Dispatches, Jacques chats with Grammy-award winning musician Louis Michot! Louis discusses how his upbringing in Louisiana's Cajun country shaped his love of the environment and Louisiana's coast and even inspired his music. Louis will be performing with his band, Lost Bayou Ramblers, at this year's Shell-A-Bration on March 25th! This community event is dedicated to raising awareness and engagement for the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana's Oyster Shell Recycling Program. Learn more and buy your ticket here: https://www.crcl.org/shell-a-bration.

After a quick introduction by Jacques and Simone, we replay a recent episode from the American Shoreline Podcast! Hosts Peter Ravella and Tyler Buckingham turn their attention to the dynamic Louisiana coast and the struggle to protect the City of New Orleans from Mississippi River floods. Joining the show is Dr. Devyani Kar, Senior Manager and Scientist with the Environmental Defennse Fund, to share new research that shows how upriver river diversions can restore vital wetlands and reduce the impacts of Bonnet Carré Spillway openings, the current flood control measure (operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) that flows into Lake Pontchartrain. Then, we discuss how Louisiana stacks up against other state coastal restoration programs and why Louisiana's program is forging the way forward. We close our discussion with Dr. Kar with another project she is working on to harnessing nature-based solutions to reduce Gulf Coast flood and chemical exposure risk in Galveston Bay, particularly from petrochemical complexes.