Reaction to lawsuit related to Bonnet Carre Spillway

Reaction is coming in following Attorney General Jim Hood’s announcement yesterday of the state’s intention to sue the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over the Bonnet Carre Spillway openings.

Dr. Moby Solangi with the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport says the lawsuit is a good step in helping to bring relief to the Coast’s marine habitats and economy.

IMMS and Mississippi State have also received ‘GOMESA’ funding from the state to perform research on dolphins and turtles in the Mississippi Sound.

Dr. Solangi says the research will help the state determine how much damage has been done as a result of the spillway openings. “These animals being on top of the food chain are a good biological indicator. They are kind of a black box and they preserve the evidence. By looking at them we’ll be able to provide evidence to the attorney general and state agencies as to the cause and effect relationship of the opening of the Bonnet Carre.”

The lawsuit against the Army Corps of Engineers will officially be filed following a 60 day period of notice that began yesterday.