Why, and I'm being series here. Yes, the water eventually needs to be removed but what is the rush to move it out and wreak environmental havoc on Lake P and the gulf? There are sections of NO that are completely gone. Why not turn them into a temporary retention pond and work the problem? There are many sighs of relief that the offshore oil didn't pollute the GOM. Yet we are poised to do exactly that. Maybe the answer is that the GOM can absorb a certain percentage of toxic waste and not kill off the fisheries. I don't know but I doubt it is getting serious attention because it would be considered political death to say hold on now.
I have a few thoughts on this. I think the gulf and Lake P can handle all the polution from this mess without a real environmental disaster.
On the other hand, keeping a large non-moving area of water that is contaminated with feces, dead and decaying bodies, and other crud will be totally devastating. Mosquito born illnesses will certainly be on the rise.
Not to mention the stench that must be coming from that stagnant water.