| conservation |

pany that once owned a large portion of the land along the river never clear-cut the for- est. In the 1970s, advocates ranging froma timber com- pany heir toMWF, from hunters and fishermen to TheNature Conservancy, persuaded the state to buy 32,000 acres of bottom- land forest fromthe PascagoulaHardwood Company in a down-to-the-wire effort to acquire the land before itwas sold to a corporate timber giant. This pioneering effort even-

inevitable once pipelines begin carrying oil t

the salt domes. Mississippi See More

Pascagoula River Basin

tually led to protection of 50,000 acres of the Pascagoula water- shed. “Most people thought it was a lost cause,” says Bill Quisenberry, who was then leg- islative liaison and aide to the farsighted Mississippi wildlife department chief, AveryWood, Jr., who led the effort. “I think even today it is an acquisition of national significance.” The Pascagoula may not

remain unspoiled. MWF and its allies have fought efforts to dam the Bouie River—a key tribu- tary where gulf sturgeon spawn. A proposed deep-water port near Gulfport will require dredging sturgeon-feeding areas. Most worrisome: Shortly after Hurricane Katrina pum- meled the region, the Bush administration casually unveiled plans to turn underground salt domes near Richton into Strate-

NWF IN ACTION

Saving Habitat NWF works with its 47 state affiliates to protect wildlife habitat throughout the nation. One of the groups, the Mississippi Wildlife Federation, is a leader in efforts to protect the Pascagoula and works with various state agencies and private organizations to safeguard wildlife. For information on NWF affiliates, visit www.nwf.org/regional-centers.aspx; the website of the Mississippi affiliate is www.mswildlife.org.

| 20 | NATIONAL WILDLIFE

MALE WOOD ducks perch in a tree in the Pascagoula Basin, which covers 9,600 square miles. The river winds a path across 80 miles of southeastern Mississippi into the Gulf of Mexico.

gic Petroleum Reserve reposito- ries. The proposal went unno- ticed in the struggle to recover from Katrina’s devastation. Construction plans call for

taking 50million gallons of water a day fromthe Pascagoula for five years to hollow out the salt domes for oil storage. The 42million gallons of brine pro- duced daily by that hydraulic mining would be piped south and dumped into Mississippi Sound just east of Horn Island, where gulf sturgeon feed. The brine, far saltier than seawater, could devastate the sturgeon, Ross says. Other scientists say the currents could bring the polluted water back intoMississippi Sound instead of pushing it into the ocean. “That’s a two-fer,” saysWilson, who expressed shock at the petroleum-reserve proposal. “They are going to screw up two ecosystems at once. They are just determined to take away one of the last remnants of our natural environment.” The petroleum reserve could

foul a considerable part of the Pascagoula and southernMissis- sippi. The pipeline carrying the brine to the Gulf ofMexico will cross several rivers, streams and freshwater wetlands,MWF’s Shropshire says. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that just while building and fill- ing the depot, 18 oil spills and 75 saltwater spills will occur. Oil leaks and spills also are

Join the Mississippi Wildlife Federation on Facebook | 20 | NATIONAL WILDLIFE

The wate extraction may communities, says Mark

Woodrey, a research biologist at Mississippi State University’s Coastal Research and Extension Center in Biloxi, which would in turn a3ffect the bird communi- ties founld in the Lower

shrink breeding grounds for the insects that feed migratory birds, fish, reptiwles anld other critters. “You can store oil anywhere,” Shropshire says. “You cannot recreate a haven for birds, fish, plants andd animals like the PascagoulJra anywhere.”

loweringtuthe river also willrotection of 50,0 acres of the Pascagoula water- shed. “Most people thought i as

Pascagoula River marshes. It could interfere with spring floods thaactqcarry vital surges of nutrients to the forests, wetlands and floodpTlaihns. Significantly ally led to p

ost cause,” says Bill

TheObama administration didn’t include funding for the Pascagoula oilThedepot in next year’s budget.While that’s good news, it’s a longway fromcanceling the project. “It has been our experi- ence that such items get reinstated as the budget billmoves through theHouse and Senate,” Shrop- shire cautdredgions. “Trustme, these things neavreeradie.”

The petroleumreservewill

Quisenberry, who was then le islative liaison and aide to the farsighted Mississippi wildlife epartment chief, AveryWoo ., who led the effort. “I think even today it is an acquisition national significance.”

Pascagoula may not

remain un poiled. MWF and allies have fought efforts to da the Bouie River—a key tribu- tary where gulf sturgeon spaw A proposed deep-water port ne r Gulfport will require ing sturgeon-feeding

provideminimal permanent jobs. Itmakes farmore sense to Shrop- shire, Sward and others to protect the Pascagoula,which offers great ecotourismpotential. It already sustains hunting, birding and other recreation aswell as a sport fisheryworth $488million yearly to the state economy and a commercial fishery that supports some 15,000 jobs. “It’swhat, an 18-day supply of petroleum?” Ross asks. “And for that you would put this ecosystemthat is so rare at risk?”

NWF IN ACTION

Saving Habitat NWF works with its 47 state affil wildlife habitat throughout the n groups, the Mississippi Wildlife Fe in efforts to protect the Pascago various state agencies and priva safeguard wildlife. For informatio visit www.nwf.org/regional-cente of the Mississippi affiliate is www

KEN OLSEN is based in Oregon.

s. Most worrisome: Shortl after Hur icane Katrina pum eled the region, he Bush

administration casually unvei plans to turn underground sa domes near Richton into Stra

affect a numbest. Inetrhe 1970s, advocates ranging froma timber com- pany heir toMWF, from hunters and fishermen to TheNature Conservancy, persuaded t e state to buy 2,000 acres of bottom- and forest fromthe

pany that once owned a large portion of the land along the river never clear-cut the for- of wetlan plant

P scagoulaHardwood Compa in a down-to-the-wire effort to uire the land before itwas

sold to a corporate timber giant is pioneering effort even

MAP BY THUY SENSER; DAN NELSON