PRESS
RELEASE
Calcasieu
Lake Marine Debris Program Gets a Boost
September
27, 2006
The Louisiana
Sea Grant College Program (LSG) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) Office of Coast Survey are receiving a helping
hand from the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office (CSPO) and
the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources in their attempt
to rid Calcasieu Lake of marine debris.
Since Hurricane
Rita passed through southwestern Louisiana a year ago, items ranging
from telephone poles to pieces of homes have littered Calcasieu
Lake and adjacent waterbodies. With the help of numerous boaters,
volunteers and community partners, Sea Grant and NOAA have made
strides in identifying and locating more than 90 pieces of floating
and stationary marine debris through the Calcasieu Lake Marine
Debris Marking and Mapping Program. Discovering what lies beneath
the surface and removing identified debris are now the program’s
main focus.
The CPSO is
donating staff time and the use of its newly acquired side scan
sonar equipment in locating and identifying underwater obstructions.
The Louisiana
Department of Natural Resources’ Underwater Obstruction
Program has committed approximately $250,000 to hire contractors
beginning in November or December to remove debris identified
by the program.
While not
everyone has a boat with side scan sonar capabilities, anyone
can report debris on the lake and learn more about the program
online at www.laseagrant.org/debris.
Foam floats and PVC pipe debris markers are available to boaters
free of charge at Calcasieu Point Landing , 3955 Henry Pugh Blvd.,
Lake Charles.
For more information,
contact Tim Osborn, Tim.Osborn@noaa.gov,
(337) 291-2111; Kevin Savoie, KSavoie@agcenter.lsu.edu,
(337) 475-8812; or Justin Farrell, jfarrell@lsu.edu,
(225) 578-6348.
This effort
is made possible with involvement of NOAA's Office of Coast Survey
with the funding and support of NOAA's Marine Debris Program,
which is part of the NOAA Office of Response and Restoration (National
Ocean Service). The NOAA Marine Debris Program works with other
NOAA offices and partners to support national, state, local and
international efforts to protect and conserve our nation’s
natural resources and coastal waterways from the impacts of marine
debris.
