The Governor, Alex and oil

Program Note: See Randi Kaye's full report tonight on AC360° at 10pm ET.

[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/07/01/art.kayejindalemulsifiedoil.jpg caption="Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal talks to Randi Kaye about the emulsified oil he's holding that was lifted off the water."] Randi Kaye | BIO
AC360° Correspondent

The rain in Grand Isle, Louisiana won't quit. But nobody cares about staying dry here today. They care about the oil and where it's moving. I just boarded a boat with Governor Bobby Jindal to go see what Hurricane Alex brought ashore. Our tour should take us over to Grand Terre and Barataria Bay. Those areas were hit really badly by the spill. Oily pelicans and turtles were pulled from there for days. The governor wants to see how much more damage the hurricane may have caused there. He's not sure what to expect. Neither are we.

Our first stop is Pass Abel. One of many that lead into Barataria Bay. The governor shows us where he wanted to put huge rocks to help keep the oil out. He says he asked the President for help with this a month ago and has heard nothing back. Governor Jindal told me if the federal government isn't going to help then they "need to get out of the way".

As we make our way to Barataria Bay we run across an oily sheen on the water about a mile wide. Right nearby dolphins swimming. It's a surreal sight. You only hope they keep a safe distance.

After we passed the dolphins we arrive at Grande Terre Island. The Governor sees just what he feared most. The oil has moved deeper into the barrier island marsh threatening the shrimp and redfish. This is their nursing ground. Over 90 percent of the species in entire gulf area rely on this unique estuary. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service calls this the most productive estuary in North America. It's a combination of fresh water from Mississippi and salt from the gulf. Easy to see why folks here are fighting to protect it.

All photos courtesy Chuck Hadad/CNN

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement pointed out mangroves that oil had killed after 4 weeks of exposure, saying "they're dead and they ain't coming back."

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