Author: Emily Gautreaux

Surveying Begins on LSU’s University Lakes Project

The University Lakes Project, the effort to restore the six lakes that surround Louisiana State University’s campus, made considerable progress recently according to The Advocate.

In late March, airboats were spotted atop City Park Lake, where surveyors were mapping out the lake’s depth and obstacles so that a more thorough construction plan can be developed for the lake’s eventual dredging that will take place later this year.

Originally a cypress swamp, the six lakes that surround LSU’s campus have degraded over the decades with sedimentation build-up, vegetation overgrowth, and a thick layer of ever-present algae floating atop the six lakes. The long-awaited University Lakes Project aims to completely revitalize the area by first dredging City Park Lake, Erie Lake, Campus Lake, and College Lake, thus deepening them by several feet. In doing this, the lakes will be able to retain more water, avoiding their otherwise eventual transformation into mudflats.

Students at LSU and nearby Baton Rouge residents have reported that the lakes’ current shallow state (averaging 3.5 feet in depth) has led to the excessive overgrowth of vegetation such as algae and duckweed, causing a drastic increase in fish deaths. Governor John Bel Edwards, along with the Baton Rouge Area Foundation (BRAF), first announced the project to beautify the area, protect local wildlife, and prevent flooding back in 2019, but it suffered funding delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

That being said, it’s incredibly promising to see surveyors out on the lakefront, officially starting Phase 1 of the project, which begins by conducting bathymetric surveys, stump identification surveys, geotechnical borings, and sediment sampling, and it will ultimately conclude with the late 2021 construction to deepen and reshape four of the lakes and install new paths and lighting around City Park Lake.

President of the LSU Foundation, Rob Stuart, remarked on the overall project by saying, “It’s important for the whole community. It’s important for LSU students and faculty but it’s important for the whole community. When you’re out on the lakes on the weekend or an evening walk, you see people from all facets of the community. People coming from everywhere, all walks of life enjoying what’s out there and it’s really a focal point for the city. It changes the quality of life for Baton Rouge, helps the quality of life for students and I think it makes it a real attraction for Baton Rouge and LSU.”

Over the past several months, four companies have been named to implement the total project. The Lafayette-based company, Fenstermaker, will study the depths of the lakes, specifically looking for obstructive tree stumps by using survey crews and innovative remote-sensing technology. In April 2021, the Baton Rouge company, GeoEngineers will conduct soil samples, handing off their findings to Stantec, a Canadian company, and Sasaki, a Massachusetts-based firm. Each company will then use the soil samplings to plan for improving the water quality of the lakes, increasing their capacity to prevent flooding, and establishing the overall dredging plan.

As the project is extensive and is expected to be rolled out in several separate stages, leaders at both the state and local levels have amassed nearly $50 million in funding. This amount is in addition to Phase 1’s $15 million that has been allocated by East Baton Rouge Parish, The Recreation and Park Commission for EBR, or BREC, and the Louisiana Office of Community Development.

BREC expects the ground-breaking construction to begin no later than early winter 2021 with the lakes’ deepening and walking paths being completed by the first part of 2022. Governor Edwards remarked on the future of the project in saying, “when the project is complete, this will be a special place that I think all Louisianans will be able to be proud of.”

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Grilled Rosemary Olive Steak Kabobs

The warmer weather that arrives with the Spring and Summer months means that it’s ever-more tempting to fire up the grill for the occasional neighborhood cook-out or special weekday meal, so be sure to prepare a batch of these “Rosemary Olive Steak Kabobs” from Simply Recipes for your next grilling adventure to offer up an entree that all can enjoy.

Ingredients for Steak Kabobs

1 pound of sirloin steak, cut into 2-in. strips

1 ½ cups mixed black & green-pitted olives

⅓ of a large red onion, cut into pieces

3 tablespoons of olive oil

2 tablespoons of lemon juice

2 tablespoons of fresh rosemary, minced

½ teaspoon of salt

½ teaspoon of black pepper

Flat-leaf parsley, for serving 

Directions for Steak Kabobs

  1. You’ll begin this recipe by marinating your steak. Combine the steak strips, olives, pieces of onion, lemon juice, fresh rosemary, salt, and pepper into a bowl. Stir the ingredients to combine it all together, getting the steak pieces fully covered in the marinade. Place this in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before grilling. For additional flavor, keep the marinating steak in the fridge for several hours. If you’re using wooden skewers, place them in a bowl of water 30 minutes before grilling.
  2. After the steak is sufficiently marinated, you’ll assemble your individual skewers by threading pieces of beef, onion, and olives in a repeated pattern onto the wooden skewers. If any pieces of beef are especially long, fold them into the shape of an “S” as you thread them atop the skewers.
  3. Fire up your preferred gas or charcoal grill to high heat, about 500°F. When you can’t hold your hand over the grill’s grate for more than 2 seconds, use tongs to oil the grill grates with a small, folded piece of paper towel that’s been dipped in oil. Place your skewers on the hot grill and cook, turning them only once or twice throughout the cooking process. Cook until it’s charred and the steak is cooked to your preferred level of “doneness.” For a medium-rare steak, this takes approximately six minutes and up to ten minutes for a well-done steak.
  4. Once you’re satisfied with the cooked steak, remove the skewers from the grill, place them on a clean serving platter and sprinkle them with fresh parsley before serving.

Additional Notes:

  • This recipe pairs the flavors of steak, olive, and rosemary for a unique intersection of flavor profiles that complement one another. The hint of saltiness and mild flavor of the olives does a lot to accentuate the richness of the charred, sirloin steak that is made even more noticeably rich by the fresh, herbal aroma and palette of the fresh rosemary leaf.
  • If you like this recipe and see yourself wanting to kabob more often, then be sure to pick up some stainless steel skewers, as they don’t need the additional step of pre-soaking them in water like bamboo skewers; plus they’re reusable throughout your summer grilling adventures.
  • While this recipe specifies sirloin steak for its quick grilling time and rich flavor that pairs well with the olives, any steak could work for this recipe, including pre-cut steak that’s labeled “stir-fry beef” for those nights when you’re short on time.
  • When buying your olives, it’s always best to scope out the grocery’s olive bar, if available, trying to pick pre-pitted olives that are generally the same size and shape.
  • Lastly, once you’re done grilling, leftover skewers can be stored in the fridge for up to five days, served as an easy salad dish, pizza topping, or pasta sauce.

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The South’s Best Parks to Visit

With the weather turning to more favorable conditions, it’s never been more tempting to take in the wonderfully diverse scenery of the Southern United States, and with Southern Living’s expert curation of the eleven “South’s Best Parks 2021,” it’s also never been easier.

The full list serves as a home-grown bucket list of sorts with a well-researched collection of both the hidden and popular landscapes that show off the vast diversity of natural scenery found in the Southern states. Engage with nature in one of the most breath-taking settings around with the following Southern parks that hold both obvious testaments to nature’s beauty as well as subtle, nuanced reminders of the utter charm of Southern communities.

Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Texas

Just 25 miles outside of downtown Amarillo, TX lies the nation’s second-largest canyon and the state’s second-largest park, Palo Duro Canyon State Park. In this South’s Best Park, the canyon itself has been created by years of erosion from the Red River to form a chasm that is 800 feet in depth and ranges from six to 20 miles in width throughout the 120 miles of Texas High Plains. With that sheer expanse of land, there’s plenty of room for exploration by foot, mountain bike, horse, or car. Many visitors choose to stay close to the “South’s Grand Canyon” in one of its charmingly rustic “Cow Camp Cabins,” located on the floor of the canyon or atop one of the cabins located on the canyon’s upper rim. Either way, there’s no better vantage point to simply breathe and take in the rugged beauty of this charming piece of Texas history and terrain.

The park opens at 7:00 am and closes at 10:00 pm daily. For more information on visiting, go to  palodurocanyon.com.

Gulf State Park, Alabama

Located nearby the infamous beach towns of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach lies a coastal reserve of over 6,000 acres known as Gulf State Park. With two miles of beaches, 2,448 ft. of fishing space, three freshwater lakes, a nationally recognized scenic nature trail, beach pavilion, picnic area, and expansive, 496-site campground, this Alabama Gulfside treasure has something for everyone. Anglers can rest easy knowing that this State Park has the single largest pier in the Gulf of Mexico while also being Alabama’s only public pier in the Gulf. The sands of Gulf State Park’s beach are unmistakably white and often quiet, making it the ideal site of your next station of relaxation. Though, if you wish to be more active, the park is home to the 900-acre Lake Shelby which is ideal for swimming, kayaking, and canoeing.

The park’s trails and picnic areas are open from sunrise to sunset. For more information on visiting, go to alapark.com.

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

This South’s Best Park is the park for those wanting to explore a Southern mountain that’s bound to take their breath away, then look no further than the 200,000-acre breadth of protected land that is only 75 miles from the metropolis of Washington DC. The natural land itself is home to deer, songbirds, and black bears while also providing visitors with spectacular vistas, isolated wooded enclosures, cascading waterfalls, and fields upon fields of vibrant wildflowers. Shenandoah is a perfect spot for the casual or adventurous hikers who are interested in trekking to the top of Bearfence Mountain or the Hawksbill Summit Trail for an unforgettable 360° view or even a family trek down a less-intimidating day hike along the Dark Hollow Falls Trail. Though, if visiting, be sure to especially seek out the Cedar Run Falls, which is a skinny waterfall that’s carved into a steep chute from surrounding rock, making it the ideal swimming hole to dive into, rounding out a day of exhaustive hiking.

Shenandoah National Park is always open, Skyline Drive, the only public road through the Park, is periodically closed. For more information on visiting, call (540) 999-3500.

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Louisiana Coastal Restoration Efforts Gain Support

After a recent environmental impact statement was publicly released by the Army Corps of Engineers, more and more support has accumulated for the Louisiana Coastal restoration efforts, specifically Louisiana’s Mississippi River Delta, according to an article from Biz New Orleans.

This drafted version of the Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was released for a period of public review and comment, allowing for individuals and organizations to speak up and engage in the ongoing restoration efforts. The DEIS proposes that a sediment diversion is to be placed throughout a portion of the Mississippi River and its tributaries, extending into the Mid-Barataria Basin in Plaquemines Parish.

The Barataria Basin is currently experiencing one of the highest land loss rates in the world, and if approved, this sediment diversion could assist in the rebuilding and maintaining of tens of thousands of acres of land in the Plaquemines Parish area.

One group advocating for the implementation of the sediment diversion as a part of the Louisiana Coastal Master Planproject is “Restore the Mississippi River Delta,” which is a coalition of the National Audubon Society, Environmental Defence Fund, Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, and the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation. The coalition refers to the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion as Louisiana’s “best shot” to turn the tide on the state’s coastal land loss.

Between 1932 and 2016, the Barataria Basin has lost approximately 295,000 acres of land, making its land loss rate among the highest worldwide. A loss of land on this massive scale affects more than just maps of the region, as it displaces entire communities, threatens essential infrastructure and associated jobs, and completely destroys an iconic wildlife habitat that was once abundant and diverse.

The coalition’s campaign director Steve Cochran spoke of the immediacy of the proposal by saying, “unless we act now, we risk losing it all. The future of our entire region is at stake. The Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion will build more wetlands than any other individual restoration project in the world, in an area experiencing some of the highest land loss rates on the planet. If our region is to have a fighting chance against land loss, hurricanes, and sea-level rise, we must put the muddy Mississippi back to work to rebuild our coast.”

The full Draft Environmental Impact Statement, released by The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), consists of over 5000 pages, 10 chapters, and 20 appendices, detailing just how the proposed project could help to restore Louisiana’s coast. The full DEIS can be found on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ website.

David Muth is the director of the National Wildlife Federation’s Gulf Program, which is a part of the “Restore the Mississippi River Delta” coalition, and he’s called for immediate action to be taken. Muth spoke of the importance saying, “Louisiana’s unparalleled coastal habitat is at risk of near-complete collapse in the face of climate change-driven sea-level rise. The Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion, perhaps more than any other project now planned, is vital to the long-term health of our wildlife and fisheries resources. We are finally beginning to address the serious challenges we face at an appropriate scale, using the right tool — the river. If we act now, we can remain a world-renowned Sportsman’s Paradise.”

Louisiana’s iconic coast is home to over 2 million people, a provider of nearly 30 percent of the commercial fishing landings of the United States, and a producer of 90 percent of the country’s outer continental oil and gas. These statistics and plenty more released in the DEIS denote that the time to implement coastal restoration efforts is sooner- rather than later.

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This Spring’s Top Cities for Outdoor Activities

It’s hard to overstate the benefits of outdoor activities in 2021, but with the spring solstice finally past, it might be a good idea to plan your Spring vacation around one of TravelPulse’s “Best U.S. Cities for Outdoor Activities.”

The data comes from a study conducted by LawnStarter, a national lawn care provider that also conducts in-depth, location-based studies. The study compared the 200 largest cities in the United States across 17 key analytics metrics, which ranged from the number of publicly-available trails, campsites, and gardens to the springtime rainfall percentages and amount of sunshine received.

It all resulted in an extensive ranking of all 200 cities, which details the location’s rank in outdoor activities, visitor friendliness, and spring climate. Outside of the objective rankings, many unique facts were learned about the studied cities such as Washington D.C. being the nation’s “most walkable” city or Metairie, Louisiana hosting the second-rainiest spring season in the entire United States.

Top 20 of the Best Cities for Outdoor Activities in Spring 2021

  1. San Francisco, California
  2. Portland, Oregon
  3. Honolulu, Hawaii
  4. Mesa, Arizona
  5. Washington D.C.
  6. Tucson, Arizona
  7. Los Angeles, California
  8. Long Beach, California
  9. Huntington Beach, California
  10. Las Vegas, Nevada
  11. Lincoln, Nebraska
  12. Salt Lake City, Utah
  13. New York City, New York
  14. Seattle, Washington
  15. Oakland, California
  16. Tempe, Arizona
  17. Fort Collins, Colorado
  18. Miami, Florida
  19. Riverside, California
  20. Lexington, Kentucky

#1 San Francisco, California

The Golden City tops off the list with its high-ranking walkability score, as the west coast city is known for its high number of public trails, outdoor vendors, and bicycle paths. Besides the truly iconic Golden Gate Bridge, visitors should take a leisurely cruise on the San Francisco Bay by way of an Alcatraz ferry ride, sailboat, or powerboat excursion. Though, if the water’s not your thing, then simply go for an outdoor foray into the hidden, idyllic Muir Woodsand its ancient, towering Coastal Redwoods. Alternatively, hike to the top of Mt. Tamalpais to see the famed city from a picturesque viewpoint or try out horseback riding on one of the winding trails of Fort Funston.

#2 Portland, Oregon

This delightfully unique gem of the Pacific Northwest boasts some of the most decadent gardens publicly-accessible in the country. If visiting the city in the Spring months, be sure to make it a point to check out the Portland International Rose Garden, Japanese Garden, Lan Su Chinese Garden, or the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden for some of the most unforgettable plantlife, sculptures, and scenery around. In a similar vein, Portland abounds with parks for you to walk, bike, or hike; Washington Park, Forest Park, Mount Tabor Park, and Silver Falls State Park are just four that come to mind in terms of postcard-worthiness.

#3 Honolulu, Hawaii

Admittedly, this one might seem like a no-brainer, but Spring may just be the optimal season to visit Hawaii instead of Summer. This is due to its optimal weather ranging from 70ºF to 79º, beating not only the Summer heat but the crowd as well. Spring also has a bountiful supply of indigenous and non-native plants blooming in Honolulu’s various rainforests and gardens, such as Oahu’s Foster Botanical Garden, featuring trees planted as early as the 1850s.Outside of weather and scenery, springtime in Honolulu means that it’s time for the seasonal visits from Humpback whales on the southern shores of Oahu. Honestly, where else can you whale watch in April?

Always be sure to check with the latest CDC-recommended travel guidance before traveling to any of the notable cities listed in the full data set.

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Simple Cajun Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo Pasta

The classic shrimp fettuccine alfredo pasta is a recipe all chefs should hold in their back pocket. It can be whipped up in less than an hour with store-bought ingredients, or it can be meticulously perfected when making your sauce from scratch. Either way, this recipe from Closet Cooking is your best bet to make a restaurant-grade pasta dish from the comfort of your kitchen.

The benefits of preparing this meal from home coincide with the control you have over the spice levels of your pasta, depending on you and your guests’ preference. This recipe specifically adds a twist to the Italian classic by way of cajun or creole seasoning (think Tony Chachere’s) and the blackening approach to sautéing the shrimp.

Ingredients for Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo:

  • 8 ounces of fettuccine or your favorite pasta
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 point of shrimp (peeled and deveined)
  • 1 tablespoon of cajun seasoning
  • 2 cloves garlic (chopped)
  • 1/4 cup dry white wine or chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
  • 1 cup Parmigiano Reggiano (parmesan), grated
  • 1/2 tablespoon cajun seasoning or to taste
  • 1 tablespoon of olive oil
  • ½ tablespoon of salt
  • 1/4 cup green onion, sliced (optional)

Directions:

  1. In a medium-sized skillet or stovetop pan, melt your butter over medium-high heat. Once it’s completely melted and spread around the pan, you’ll dip your peeled and deveined shrimp into a small bowl of your cajun seasoning and then place them in the pan to brown. Cook the shrimp for at least 3 minutes on each side. Afterward, remove them from the pan, setting them aside.
  2. With a metal spoon or similar cooking utensil, scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan, and add your chopped garlic, sautéing the garlic until it’s fragrant. The process should take approximately 30 seconds.
  3. While you’re sautéing the above ingredients, fill a large-sized pot with water and place it on a nearby burner. Sprinkle a ½ tablespoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of olive oil into the water to keep the noodles from sticking. Bring this to a boil for approximately 8-13 minutes, removing the pasta once it’s “al dente” (tender, but firm).
  4. Poor in your dry white wine to deglaze the pan with the garlic. Then, add in your heavy cream, parmesan, and leftover cajun seasoning until it all begins to thicken up a bit, usually about 3-5 minutes.
  5. Once it’s a heftier thickness, toss your cooked pasta into the Alfredo sauce, getting the pasta covered. Then, add your shrimp, and combine it all.
  6. Then you’re done! Plate your cajun shrimp fettuccine alfredo, and garnish each with chopped green onions. Enjoy!

Notes:

  • Feel free to substitute the fettuccine pasta for a gluten-free alternative or another type of pasta, depending on your texture preference. Typically other types of long pasta such as spaghetti or vermicelli tend to work best at absorbing the sauce.
  • Of course, the fresher your Parmigiano Reggiano (parmesan) and green onions are, the better. This is becausefreshly-grated parmesan cheese will melt more evenly and cleanly than a pre-shredded kind.
  • Ensure that you are cooking your creamy pasta sauce over low heat while never letting it come to a boil. This is to prevent the ingredients or excess oils from separating.
  • Each piece of shrimp should take no longer than 3-4 minutes to cook if using the uncooked kind from the store that has a greyish coloration.

All in all, this is a perfect dish to have at the ready for the upcoming warmer months, as it doesn’t require a lot of time spent over the hot stove, and it’s hearty enough for those with bigger, more-demanding appetites.

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