Oil cleanup crews leaving Mississippi's barrier islands

Barrier islands cleanup to pause in March

 

 

OCEAN SPRINGS, MS--Visitors to Mississippi's barrier islands this spring and summer will notice something different: Very few oil cleanup workers.

Dan Brown, superintendent of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, told The Mississippi Press that cleanup will stop on March 1, so as to not disturb the nesting areas for shorebirds and turtles. The work will resume on Aug. 15th.

Brown said workers have already removed a lot of oil from the barrier islands of Petit Bois, Horn, West Ship, East Ship and Cat. But he admits there is still more there.

Last week, the Coast Guard released a report saying the Gulf beach cleanup has reached a point where crews, heavy equipment and thorough scrubbing can cause more damage to the ecosystem than good. The report said recent oil samples show weathered oil found along beaches has lost the majority of the toxic compounds in it and the oil left on shores meets federal safety thresholds for people.

Terry Morris, a retired National Park Service ranger and oil spill coordinator, said maintenance and monitoring teams will continue to check the island beaches from March through August. He said areas with oil and without birds will be cleaned.

WLOX

2/17/11

Second Annual Battle on the Bayou to be March 12

The second running of the Battle on the Bayou will be held on Saturday March 12 on Old Fort Bayou in Ocean Springs, MS. The race will benefit the Land Trust for the Mississippi Coastal Plain, a group that is working toward conserving several important coastal habitats, and has established several recreational Blueway water trails for paddlers. One is Old Fort Bayou itself.

Old Fort Bayou begins in the Latimer area of Jackson County and meanders southwest growing wider and deeper till it empties into the Back Bay of Biloxi.  The race course runs roughly 9.5 miles over black-water bayou through estuarine marsh and maritime forest.  It will start at the Gulf Hills Resort grounds and conclude at The Shed and Camp Journey's End.    

Ernest Herndon, author of Canoeing Mississippi, Paddling the Pascagoula and Canoeing Louisiana will be in attendance at the pre-race event held on Friday evening at Gulf Hills to sign books.     

A cardboard boat race will take place in the Gulf Hills Hotel swimming pool.  Eight teams will be given 2 hours to construct a pool worthy vessel.  The teams will be given cardboard, pvc pipe, duct tape and a utility knife.  Once the time is up, the boats hit the water for a hilarious race to see who wins or makes it to the other side of the pool.  

Friday evening festivities will also include a "Taste of the Town" Reception that feature Ocean Springs area restaurants, children's activities, and more.

For more information on the weekend festivities, and the race go to http://www.battleonthebayou.com/