Morgan City will host meeting on possible estuarine reserve

Local people can take part either online or in person in a Morgan City town hall meeting about a possible national estuarine research reserve site in St. Mary Parish, according to LSU’s SeaGrant organization.

The LaNERR Site Development Committee will host a series of town hall meetings to provide information on three possible sites: Atchafalaya Basin, Barataria Basin and Pontchartrain Basin. Three town hall meetings (virtual and hybrid) have been organized for each site. Webinar links are included on this story at StMaryNow.com

The Morgan City meeting will be 6-8 p.m. Feb. 8 at Morgan City Municipal Auditorium.

Virtual meetings are strictly online. Hybrid town hall meetings, like the one in Morgan City, can be attended either in-person or online. Registration is required for online participation.

According to SeaGrant. The National Estuarine Research Reserve System is a network of estuarine areas representative of the various biogeographic regions in the United States.

Reserves are established for long-term research, education, stewardship and interpretation to promote informed management of our nation’s estuaries and coastal habitats. A reserve represents a partnership between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and coastal states. NOAA provides funding and national guidance, and each site is managed by a lead state agency with input from local partners.

Local supporters say the reserve can be on either private or public land, or a combination. Land use rules would continue as they are at any site selected for a reserve.

Online only virtual meetings are scheduled for: noon-2 p.m. Feb. 2 and Feb. 9 and 6-8 p.m. Feb. 9.

Virtual and in-person town halls are scheduled for:
—6-8 p.m. Feb. 1 at Southeastern Student Union Annex - Theater (2nd floor) in Hammond (parking at the corner of Ned McGehee Drive and North Oak Street)
—6-8 Feb. 3 at SUNO Auditorium of the Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences (AHSS) – 6400 Press Drive in New Orleans
—6-8 p.m. Feb. 7 at Lafitte Barataria Museum & Wetland Trace – 4917 City Park Drive in Lafitte
—6-8 p.m. Feb. 8 at Morgan City Municipal Auditorium.
—6-8 p.m. Feb. 10 at Sliman Theatre for the Performing Arts – 129 E. Main St. in New Iberia.