In June, a team of about 30 trained personnel used specialized boats and equipment to successfully capture and relocate a mother and baby bottlenose dolphin from a tidal pond near Grand Isle. These dolphins had been stranded there for nearly two years due to Hurricane Ida's storm surge and flooding. The operation aimed to release them into open water, and both dolphins were in good health.
This event marked a positive outcome among the 27 marine mammal strandings responded to in Louisiana that year. The effort was funded by a portion of the $3 million BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill natural resource damage restoration funds.
Each marine mammal stranding response is unique, and in this case, the dolphins were monitored for two years as they had access to food and were not in immediate danger.
These rescue efforts are part of a larger plan to strengthen the response network before the commencement of the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion, a major coastal restoration project in Louisiana. This project, with groundbreaking scheduled, is set to operate by late 2027 or early 2028. However, concerns have been raised regarding its impact on dolphins.
The diversion will introduce freshwater from the Mississippi River into the Barataria Basin, which is predicted to cause a significant increase in dolphin deaths. It's estimated that the first year of operation could lead to 537 more dolphin deaths compared to without the diversion. This number represents about 26% of the dolphin population in the basin in 2019.
The freshwater influx from the diversion could lead to skin lesions and other health issues in dolphins due to low salt exposure. Despite these potential negative effects, the trade-off is considered worthwhile as the sediment carried by the diversion is expected to help combat land loss along Louisiana's coast.
Dolphin populations in the Barataria Basin are divided into four areas, with the central and western regions likely to experience the lowest salinity levels due to the diversion. These areas are crucial for understanding the potential impact on the dolphin population.
Read the full article here....
https://www.nola.com/news/environment/dolphin-rescue-plan-ramped-up-ahead-of-3-billion-diversion/article_754e1568-2d4c-11ee-854e-bfc996582e85.html