It's Baton Rouge: Out To Lunch

Here in south Louisiana, water is as much a part of the local landscape as is solid ground. And with coastal erosion, the ratio is becoming more skewed every year. Fortunately, environmental entrepreneurs are figuring out ways to help us deal with our water and coastal issues while also building viable businesses. Take Tyler Ortego, an environmentalist, engineer and aentrepreneur, who got his start with the Shaw Group and went out on his own in 2006 to found Ora Estuaries. Ora Estuaries uses engineered oyster reefs for coastal shoreline protection. The company got its start in the LSU Business and Technology Center and uses a developing technology that Tyler developed, called oyster scaffolding. As its name suggests, it involves growing oyster reefs in strategic locations where the coastline is eroding. Lord knows, there are plenty such places along the Gulf Coast of south Louisiana and Ora Estuaries is partnering with local communities to help them grow their own oyster reefs into the building blocks of coas