Keith Lusher Jr Spring has sprung, and with it comes the rising river levels here on the Northshore. But perhaps no river is monitored as much as the Pearl River. Local bass angler Clay Zeringue fishes numerous tournaments on the Pearl and says right now levels are normal but it’s important to keep an eye out for rain around a certain location. “The West Pearl River runs all the way up to Jackson, Mississippi. The only time we get affected is when you see a lot of rain up around that area,” Clay says. The Pearl is at 13 ft. right now but Zeringue says to monitor the rainfall to the north and you should be able to predict when the river will rise. “If that rain hits around Jackson, we’ll start seeing the river rise about six to seven days later,” he says. The Pearl is a popular destination for those who crawfish on the Northshore and Clay says the rising levels are important to be able to get around. “You really don’t want it to get below 10 ft. When it gets below 10 ft., it starts getting hard to maneuver in the swamp,” Zeringue says.
Mississippi River Levels
Four years ago the Bonne Carre Spillway was opened, virtually ruining all saltwater fishing throughout Lake Pontchartrain. With the harsh winter up north, all eyes are on the mighty Mississippi once more as river levels are slowly rising. But there is some good news. Forecasters say they do not anticipate having to open the spillway this year even with the heavy snow up north. Jeff Graschel is a hydrologist at the National Weather Service and says river levels are normal for this time of year. “Right now we're only expecting just a seasonal crest at New Orleans at 14 feet, which is kind of typical that we have this time of year," Graschel said.
Ethanol Bill
A bill to eliminate the mandate to use corn ethanol in fuels looks to be on its way to passage. U.S. Senators Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) are working to repeal a law that drives up the cost of fuel and causes thousands of dollars of damage to outboard engines across the state of Louisiana. The Toomey-Feinstein Corn Ethanol Mandate Elimination Act of 2015 would abolish the corn ethanol mandate in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) is also a cosponsor of the measure and says “In 2005, Congress bought into the corn ethanol mandate for billions of dollars, and taxpayers have been stuck with a lemon ever since. Congress can no longer justify a policy that props up the ethanol industry at the expense of taxpayers, consumers, the hungry, and the environment. I am pleased to join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in supporting the full and immediate repeal of the corn ethanol mandate.” The Environmental Protection Agency is scheduled to release the Renewable Fuel Standards in June of 2015. Until then, sportsman across the state will continue to suffer the consequences of the corrosive fuel blend.
Mississippi River Levels
Four years ago the Bonne Carre Spillway was opened, virtually ruining all saltwater fishing throughout Lake Pontchartrain. With the harsh winter up north, all eyes are on the mighty Mississippi once more as river levels are slowly rising. But there is some good news. Forecasters say they do not anticipate having to open the spillway this year even with the heavy snow up north. Jeff Graschel is a hydrologist at the National Weather Service and says river levels are normal for this time of year. “Right now we're only expecting just a seasonal crest at New Orleans at 14 feet, which is kind of typical that we have this time of year," Graschel said.
Ethanol Bill
A bill to eliminate the mandate to use corn ethanol in fuels looks to be on its way to passage. U.S. Senators Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) are working to repeal a law that drives up the cost of fuel and causes thousands of dollars of damage to outboard engines across the state of Louisiana. The Toomey-Feinstein Corn Ethanol Mandate Elimination Act of 2015 would abolish the corn ethanol mandate in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) is also a cosponsor of the measure and says “In 2005, Congress bought into the corn ethanol mandate for billions of dollars, and taxpayers have been stuck with a lemon ever since. Congress can no longer justify a policy that props up the ethanol industry at the expense of taxpayers, consumers, the hungry, and the environment. I am pleased to join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in supporting the full and immediate repeal of the corn ethanol mandate.” The Environmental Protection Agency is scheduled to release the Renewable Fuel Standards in June of 2015. Until then, sportsman across the state will continue to suffer the consequences of the corrosive fuel blend.
