As state and federal officials continue to seek ways to combat saltwater intrusion on the Mississippi River, Governor John Bel Edwards is turning to the White House for aid.
On Monday, Edwards sent a letter to President Joe Biden requesting a federal emergency declaration. Such a declaration from President Biden would free up disaster aid that officials could use to continue mitigation efforts and to reimburse the organizations already responding to the problem. A declaration would also allow other federal partners to assist the local, state, and federal government agencies already working to combat the issues caused by the saltwater intrusion.
This all comes as the lack of rain in Louisiana and along the Mississippi River watershed creates historic low flow conditions, allowing saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico to push upriver. Plaquemines Parish is already seeing some complications from the saltwater intrusion, including burst water pipes. Orleans, Jefferson, and St. Bernard Parishes could see impacts by mid-October.
