The closing of the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet was just the first step in how Congress directed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to close the former navigation channel.
The next step the corps has been directed to take includes devising a plan on how to restore wetlands destroyed or adversely affected during the channel’s decades of operation.
The Mississippi River Gulf Outlet — also called the MRGO or Mr. Go — was authorized by Congress in 1956. After years of efforts to get the short-cut channel from New Orleans to the Gulf of Mexico closed, Hurricane Katrina brought it to Congress’ attention again.
