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November 22, 2005 12:07 PM

Update On The "60 Minutes" Kusky Flap

Posted by Brian Montopoli
Just wanted to give a quick update on the debate surrounding Sunday's "60 Minutes" story about New Orleans, which we previously discussed here. Today, The Times-Picayune of New Orleans prints a lengthy story on the controversy entitled "NOT SO FAST, '60 MINUTES.'" The story quotes a number of experts saying that Tim Kusky, the scientist quoted in the "60 Minutes" piece saying the city would be surrounded by water within 90 years, "went overboard," as the Times-Picayune puts it.

Here's a portion of the article:
In an interview Monday, Kusky said his projection of the city becoming an island was "based on a statement made by the director of the U.S. Geological Survey" in 2000.

But University of Texas at Austin geology professor Charles Groat, who was then director of the U.S. Geological Survey, flatly disagreed with Kusky's conclusions.

Groat said Kusky relied on "an offhand comment that has often been repeated" that was included in a University of New Orleans magazine piece that compared New Orleans to Atlantis.
The story goes on to quote scientists further questioning Kusky's findings, as well as his credentials in the field.
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by coolrod2 November 25, 2005 5:37 AM EST
Dear Alpphaa10: Yes, I realize that the Army Corps would have to do more dredging if it undertakes silt management and diversion projects and it would entail more expense (but nothing monumental compared to the cost of not doing it). It is necessary in light of the ecological importance to the whole country of saving the Louisiana wetlands. Believe me, the ecological chain reaction will be felt all over. You don't seem to understand that if we undertake these necessary projects, then the doomsday scenario that even certain scientists allege would not happen. The estimates of even these scientists are based on what they think would happen assuming nothing is done. As I said earlier, there is much we can do to save the wetlands, and there are also methods being considered of controlling subsidance (see article down below). If we undertake the necessary steps to save the wetlands, then it would reverse the unnatural processes now underway. And, by reversing the erosion of our coastline, there could be eventually (many years frem now) more land between New Orleans and the Gulf than there is now or has been in qutie some time. Believe it or not, I appreciate your concern on these matters--I don't take it personally. I realize that you want sound policies. But, allowing the depletion of America's most important natural wetlands is not good policy. i think that you could agree with that.
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by alphaa10-2009 November 24, 2005 7:42 PM EST
CoolRod2-- My comment, "Your information on silt management reminded me the Corps must dig out of the channels the very silt it introduces to build up the wetlands," referred to the intensified dredging in shipping channels up and down the river because of renewed silt burden in river volume. The Corps will have to spend much more on dredging channels through the same river it will use to deliver silt to the marshlands. One hand is fighting the other, so to speak. There probably is no way around this quandry, given that the original silt reduction measures which starved the marshlands were designed by the Corps precisely to reduce the constant expense of redredging ship channels. As for subsidence, CBS checked with the Geological Society Of America to check out Kusky's claims. "60 Minutes" was put in touch with three scientists, all of whom backed Kusky's argument. One even said Kusky was being too conservative in his estimate of how quickly New Orleans would sink. $14 billion to refloat New Orleans is a lot of money for a little time, even if the city floats beyond 2095. And pumping water under the city is a bit like pumping water out of the city-- expensive, repeated, artificial measures for what relocation does far more permanently, naturally and at far lower cost. Resorting to a siege mentality will not save New Orleans from relentless natural forces. Relocation is the best, cheapest and longest-term bargain with Nature that can be made. Take it while you can.
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by coolrod2 November 24, 2005 7:04 PM EST
Dear Alphaa10: You suggest that we have been using "Promethian" measures that failed. Quite the contrary. They weren't Promethian measures at all. They were half $&*! The federal government has constantly rebuffed our requests for a category 5 levee system and sensable and ecollogically responsible measures to restore our wetlands. One would think that the Katrina episode would put an end to this demolition by neglect, but now people are using it as an excuse to write us off. Actually the Army Corps did not build some of the levees even up to their intended category 3 mandate and specs. I can't fault them completely. They were underfunded. Pilings that were supposed to be 20 feet were only built 7 feet in the 17th Street Canal! That glaring omission could have saved most of the city. And for the last several years the Bush administration has slashed the Army Corps budget the bone. Louisiana has payed more than its fair share of oil revenues to the federal government for too long. It is them for the federal government to honor our most basic requests. our promisory note has matured. We have paid into the right to be recompenced.
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by coolrod2 November 24, 2005 6:35 PM EST
Dear alphaa10: I did not say that the Army Corps. would have to dig out silt to restore the wetlands. You misunderstood me. The Army Corps already dredges all up an down the river! That is necessary for navigation. But, it is not sufficiant for wetland restoral. What I mean is that the Army Corps. is studying ways to allow silt to be diverted out of the midwetern plains form rainfall and gravitationl flow of water into the river(then allowing diversions in the marshlands downriver to feed the alluvial plains). This naturally occurring process has been impeded by levees over the last century. So, the Army Corps. is looking for ways to maintain the levee flood control up and down the whole river, while, at the same time, building ducts and channels to restore the naturally ocurring drainage process. And, you keep harping on "subsidance." It has already been made clear by numerous experts that the problem is not as severe as Dr. Kusky maintained (he does not even specialize in coastal geology). Furthermore, I have already stated that measures are being considered to control the subsidance problem by pumping river water into the water table under the city creating an upward pressure and also diverting small amouns of water into low lying parts of town (occasional 6 to 12 inch mini-floods). These operations could mainly be handled by our sewage and water board with little or no outside assistance other than Army Corps. consultation and oversight.
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by coolrod2 November 24, 2005 6:07 PM EST
Dear Alphaa10: The estimates of how many of actual residents have returned to the city is based on numerous polls and surveys that have been researched and reported in the media and are being used by city and state officias to determine how to balance the numbers in the budget. Two reports I read on the internet last month, while I was in evacuated, indicated that 60 to 70% of our inner city (Orleans Parish) residents plan to return. And those that don't will do so mainly because of financial limitations. And that doesn't include the rest of our residents in surrounding parishes who have already returned (and by the way those parishes are also surrounded by our same flood protection system and have the exact same issues). Most estimates figure that the population of inner Orleans will be approximately 250,000 within the next 12 to 24 months and at about 400,OOO in the next four to five years and will continue to grow. New people are expected to move here. Donald Trump is even planning to build a 70 story condiminium tower downtown! The population greater New Orleans Metropolitan area (GNO) was at almost 1.4 million before the storm. It would not be extrvagant to claim that at least about a million people have already returned to the metro area. And more are coming in every day. 70% of the tenants in my apartmenet building have retured and the only reason why some the units are still vacant is due to extensive roof damage.
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by alphaa10-2009 November 24, 2005 7:51 AM EST
Thanks for the news, CoolRod2. Like you, I am surprised so many people appear to be back, maybe 1/4 of the inner city, by your estimate-- but 3/4 is still absent/not voting. And how many of the 1/4 are recovery workers, not residents? Aside from upbeat anedotes (welcome), we lack an objective picture. And the original problems remain. You and others believe in Promethian measures to make New Orleans work, but these failed us bigtime in the Katrina disaster. I refer to levees and floodgates fighting "nature" in the sense of knowing all this is a needlessly costly holding action. Your information on silt management reminded me the Corps must dig out of the channels the very silt it introduces to build up the wetlands. And it still does not take into account the thing about subsidence. Remember? You can build your castle walls higher and higher, my friend, but the land itself is falling away beneath you. City relocation is the best, cheapest and long-term bargain with Nature that can be made. Take it while you can.
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by coolrod2 November 24, 2005 5:48 AM EST
I've got to hand it to CBS... New Orleans was one of the few places in the country where the CBS Evening News ranked #1 in ratings--yes Dan Rather! But, in actuality, it mainly because of our award-winning WWL Channel 4 News, probably the best local news in the country. WWL, one of CBS' oldest and most presteigious affiliates, is the most trusted name in the Gulf South. And every night right before the CBS Evening News, channel 4 switches directly to the CBS Evening News without commercial break. I have never seen another station do this in any other city or place. As legendary anchor Bill Elder used to put it best at the end of every five o'clock newscast: "And now we swith you live and direct to the CBS Evening News." CBS should be thankful that WWL does not give viewers time to change the channel. You really blew it this time. You can consider your New Orleans ratings a "gone pecan." I am willing to bet that WWL is now going to put a commercial break in front of the national news.
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by coolrod2 November 23, 2005 11:57 PM EST
Dear alpha10: I wish to correct your assertion that New Olreans is "not functioning." I am assuming that you have not spent any time here lately. I have. I am living here (just like so many others). People continue to return every day. Look at the traffic jams! The area I live in (near the river) is roaring back to life. And other areas, even many areas affected by flooding, are in the early stages of renovation. Other areas hit really badly are going to take a long time and will probably be have to be modified. But, about two thirds of the city-proper should be back within a year. About at least a quarter of "New Orleans proper" (125,000 people out of the pre-Katrina 480,00) is back, and that does not even include the suburbs and surrounding parishes(approximately 800,00 people so far) are almost completely back. Keep in mind that the Greater New Olreans metropolitan area (GNO)is more than just Orleans Parish it is a hub of several parishes that revolve around the City of New Orleans. Like Boston, St. Louis, or Atlanta, we have a finitely drawn inner city municipality, surrounded by ancilliaries that are, in reality, just as much a part of the city. Unfortunately the city's finances got wiped out by Katrina. The city has had to spend millions on rescue, recovery, and cleanup operations (which still continue). Becuse the city-proper (Orleans Parish) was completely evacuated for a time, it lost all revenue streams and will need assistance.
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by coolrod2 November 23, 2005 11:04 PM EST
Why Louisiana's wetlands are important to America: Louisiana has, by far, America's largest and most important wetlands. They are known, not only for their natural beauty, but also their rich and complex ecosystems. There are hundreds of thousands of animal and plant species, many of whom depend on this benthic enviornment to survive. In fact there are several endangered species in this region. Some of the animal species are migratory, such as ducks, geese, etc. so, the ecosystem of this region impinges directly of the ecosystems all over North America--all over the United States, as well as Canada. So, to loose south Louisiana's wetlands to unecessary and preventable coastal erosion, would directly affect the whole country.
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by ronmwanga November 23, 2005 10:54 PM EST
After reading Michael Messing (sp?)'s amazing 2 part NYRof Books essay on journalism and his critique of being "fair and balanced," which, he believes, subtracts from the bite of an investigative piece I feel a little better about the 60 Minutes story. I only wish there was a little more -- not much more -- contrast of view on the piece.
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