Scientific dispute over using sewage to restore Louisiana’s wetlands turns political

Framing wetlands as a flooding solution won bipartisan support in Wisconsin. Could it work elsewhere?

Reading Time: 6 minutes(Graphic by Michael Crowe / Ag & Water Desk with images by Jeff Wheeler and Anthony Soufflé / Minnesota Star Tribune)In less than 10 years, three catastrophic floods ravaged northwestern Wisconsin and changed the way people think about water. The most severe, in July 2016, slammed Ashland with up to 10 inches of rain in less than a day — a month’s worth of rain fell in just two hours. As rivers swelled to record highs, maj…

Debate grows over using treated sewage to restore Louisiana’s vanishing wetlands

A scientific rift over wetland restoration methods has turned political in Louisiana, where critics and supporters of using treated sewage to combat coastal erosion are clashing in the statehouse.Wesley Muller and Elise Plunk report for Louisiana Illuminator.In short:Louisiana scientists and environmental groups are divided on whether using treated sewage in natural wetlands helps or harms the landscape, with some calling for a halt to these pro…

Severe racial disparities persist in Louisiana petrochemical jobs, new study finds

People of color are underrepresented in petrochemical jobs nationwide, according to a new peer-review study, with some of the most extreme disparities in Louisiana. Differences in education do not explain these outcomes, Tulane researchers found.

Small Colorado towns cry foul as state seeks to clean up their wastewater

Dozens of small towns in Colorado have banded together to protest new wastewater treatment permits that are designed to protect state rivers and streams, saying they  contain new rules that are too costly to implement and they haven’t had time to make the necessary changes to comply. ‘I told the CDPHE if they continue down this road, the folks out in the rural areas are about ready to tell them to pound sand.’ Sen. Byron Pelton, R-Sterling The …

Scientific dispute over using sewage to restore Louisiana’s wetlands turns political

On right, the City of Hammond's assimilation wetland on the northern coast of Pass Manchac. The wastewater effluent flows to the right of the pipeline, labeled for clarity in the image. (Photo: Wes Muller/Louisiana Illuminator)Opposing views among environmental groups and coastal scientists in Louisiana have spurred intense debates over the use of treated sewage to restore Louisiana’s wetlands. The conflicts could jeopardize some decades-long ef…

Roundup: Wetlands restoration / Offshore oil and gas leases / BRFD recruiting

Use of treated sewage: Opposing views among environmental groups and coastal scientists in Louisiana have spurred intense debate over the use of treated sewage to restore Louisiana’s wetlands. The conflicts could jeopardize some decades-long efforts to restore the state’s disappearing coast. Read more from Louisiana Illuminator.  Expanding production: Reversing Biden administration policies that halted offshore leasing, prompting lawsuits and re…