"MRGO Must Go" campaign launched Wednesday, July 2, 2008 By: Lacey McCormick Effort aims to close and restore notorious New Orleans-area shipping channel A broad coalition of environmental, social justice, and neighborhood groups recently launched the MRGO Must Go campaign to raise awareness about the need to restore the damage caused by the “hurricane superhighway.” The Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO) is a channel built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1965 to be 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 bayous and lakes. The salt water killed tens of thousands of acres of cypress forest that had served as a natural hurricane barrier. The design of MRGO also allowed it to act like a funnel, accelerating the rate at which hurricane-churned wind and water headed toward the New Orleans area. The loss of natural hurricane barriers and the increased storm surge from the MRGO “funnel” allowed Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to slam into the coast at full force, putting unprecedented strain on manmade levees some of which failed. Congress has now officially de-authorized MRGO and the Corps has announced that it expects to plug the channel before the start of the 2009 hurricane season. The MRGO Must Go campaign applauds the Corp's decision to plug the channel, but is asking the public to take action to ensure the channel is plugged on time.  The campaign also asks the public to ensure the White House and Congress keep the Corps focused on restoring the MRGO-damaged wetlands that once protected New Orleans and St. Bernard. Learn more and take action at http://mrgomustgo.org/.

Green your garden Thursday, May 1, 2008 By: Lacey McCormick Make your yard a wildlife habitat . . . The City of Austin and National Wildlife Federation are challenging Austin neighborhoods to certify the most number of yards within their boundaries as wildlife habitats.  Participating neighborhoods will have the chance to win the challenge and help Austin earn points towards becoming certified as Texas’ first NWF certified Community Wildlife Habitat.   The Neighborhood Habitat Challenge begins May 1 and ends Oct. 31. The top three neighborhoods that have met all the challenge criteria and certified the most number of habitats will be awarded First, Second and Third place prizes. Neighborhoods that take the challenge must also organize a community invasive plant removal and promote gardening for wildlife through neighborhood newsletters and websites in addition to certifying the highest number of yards as habitats during the contest period.  Upon completion of the challenge neighborhoods must register their neighborhood with the Wildlife Austin program.   Residents can certify their yards by visiting the National Wildlife Federation’s website, www.nwf.org/gardenforwildlife or can request a pre-paid habitat certification application (limited quantity) from the Wildlife Austin program at 327-8181 x29.    For more information visit http://www.keepaustinwild.com/.