Woody gagliano, the father of coastal erosion in louisiana, contends that possibly half of the loss of wetlands in the latter half of the 20th century is due to faults in our muddy coastal areas. It is the contention of this proposal that the conversion of marsh into open water in the louisiana coastal plain is primarily due to. Louisiana will never look the same, but the coastal master plans various projects, if implemented, may at least help to stop erosion at its current rate. Over millennia, sealevel rise and subsidence and erosion of deltaic and. These processes must be understood in order to predict future erosion and to better manage our coastal resources.
Dean moosavi takes students in his physical geology course to the spit of land on the edge of the gulf of mexico where they are observing rapid land loss in southern louisiana. Towards a sustainable coastal louisiana the state has lost 40 square miles per year over the last fifty years. The increasing number and intensity of coastal storms and other natural hazards are putting more people and property at risk along louisiana s coast. Scientists warn of louisiana coastal erosion 6 august 2010 a team of researchers, including three from boston university, have released findings suggesting that current plans to. Geological survey and the louisiana geological survey began a fiveyear cooperative study focused on the processes which cause erosion of barrier islands. Challenges facing coastal louisiana flooding hurricanes coastal erosion sealevel rise subsidence extreme temperatures thunderstorms, lightning, hail drought 1 louisiana s hazard mitigation plan is an excellent resource for guidance on characterizing risks and developing adaptive strategies. Louisiana continues to experience one of the fastest rates of coastal erosion. Regulatory best practices to make louisiana coastal.
Works on december 19, 2008 states that the coastal restoration components proposed as part of the lca chenier plain study will be evaluated as part of the southwest coastal louisiana feasibility study. There has been discussion in 2003 about the impact of faults along louisiana s coast. Coastal subsidence and sea level rise create conditions conducive to flooding, the intrusion of salt water into fresh water habitats, and coastal erosion. The coast of louisiana is under threat because of sea level rise and land subsidence.
Threats to louisiana communities exist from coastal erosion and associated coastal disturbance factors, urban expansion, residential and commercial development, land disturbance operations, introduction of exotic species, and many other human and some natural. As evidence, he notes the rather rapid formation of lakes that have straight margins one would expect rounded or jagged edges if storms were. Colten 2017 identified a shift in louisiana s coastal erosion story between congressional meetings in 1990 and 1999. Behind katrina, in just two short days, louisiana lost as much of its coast as it normally does in six months, said dr. Oct 10, 2012 the coastal louisiana risk assessment clara model developed by rand estimates flood depths and damage that occurs as a result of major storms in louisiana s coastal region and was used to evaluate potential projects for inclusion in the states 2012 coastal master plan. The committee members represent leaders from a variety of fields with handson experience managing complex policy and organizational issues.
Today, louisiana coastal wetlands are being lost at a rate of 16 square miles a year. A key natural cause of coastal erosion is continuous wave action along marsh edges. Coastal landforms caused by deposition and erosion along the. Natural and manmade causes of land loss saving coastal. Coastal louisiana recent land loss and canal impacts. Onfarm conservation programs have played a critical role in helping reduce the inland wetland loss rate by more than 75%. Fulbert namwamba southern university baton rouge campus this paper intends to focus attention on the idea that land loss and vegetation change are. In short, as coastal marsh succumbs to coastal erosion, usevalue decreases, primarily because of a reduction in productivity caused by the loss of organic matter. With its low, flat coast, louisiana already suffers from a high apparent sea level rise as marshes are sinking and coastal erosion is converting marsh areas into open water. Largescale commercial production of coastal plants is essential to provide plant material for coastal restoration projects. Barrier islands fronting the mississippi river delta plain act as a buffer to reduce the effects of ocean waves and currents on associated estuaries and wetlands. Louisiana possesses 41% of the united states coastal wetlands turner and gosselink 1975.
Final report undergraduate research opportunities program. Tjardana, 1995, sri lanka samarayanke, 2003, india malini and rao, 2004. The people, economy, environment, and cultural heritage of southwest louisiana are at risk from storm surge flooding. Louisianas coastal wetlands protection and restoration program, which.
Coastal protection and restoration authority2017 coastal. The project proposes measures to protect ancient mounds with cultural significance sacred to the pointe au chien tribe. First, an exploration of how equal footing doctrine gave the states once navigability has been deter erosion changes the relationship between title to the beds of inland navigable mined, the legal consequences which. The first comprehensive study of coastal erosion in louisiana was conducted by morgan and larimore 1957 for the office of the attorney general of the state of louisiana morgan, 1955. Baton rouge region louisiana is facing a coastal land loss crisis nearly two thousand square miles of land has been lost over the last 100 years, and an equal amount could potentially be lost over the next 50 years. True sea level rise associated with global warming will exacerbate the states serious land loss problems. The loss of louisianas coastal wetlands continued at a rate of over 60 km2. It is predicted that an additional 1,127 square kilometers of land will be lost in the next 50 years.
Stewardship incentives for louisianas coastal landowners. Coastal restoration under cwppra and property rights. Louisiana s coastal wetlands provide benefits far beyond its borders, supporting more than 30 percent of the united states commercial fishing catch and protecting five important shipping ports. A proposal to create an atlas of surface fault traces in.
According to the author, the story shifted from coastal erosion being caused by sediment starvation and canal excavation to predominately sediment starvation. First, an exploration of how equal footing doctrine gave the states once navigability has been deter erosion changes the relationship between title to the beds of inland navigable mined, the. C this article has been rated as cclass on the projects quality scale. Although much of louisiana is still covered in native vegetation, undisturbed examples of all natural communities are rare, and many are extremely scarce. Study area and project purpose the overall study area is located in southwest louisiana and includes calcasieu, cameron and vermilion. Reducing coastal erosion is especially important in louisiana because the state has the highest erosion rate in the continental united states. Coastal erosion on grand isle, louisiana, occurring rapidly. Professionals louisiana coastal restoration project. The economic impact of coastal erosion in louisiana on state. Coastal lands have for centuries provided a crucial buffer zone between south louisiana s communities and the violent wave action and storm surge that tropical storms and hurricanes transmit from the gulf of mexico. The study area includes the louisiana barrier islands which serve to protect 41% of the nations wetlands. An overview of the history of coastal restoration plans and. In considering coastal erosion, data for shoreline loss from 1932 to 1990 will be examined in the digital data series dds79, coastal erosion and wetland change in louisiana by the u. This legislation was followed by the breaux act 16 u.
The areas low elevation, proximity to the gulf of mexico, subsiding lands, and rising sea, combines to cause coastal flooding, shore erosion, saltwater intrusion, and loss of wetland and chenier habitats. North american has over 10,000 km of barriers, of all barrier coast of the world. The present coastal land erosion rates, however, are estimated to be 102 km 2 9 yr 1, or 0. Louisiana, coastal characteristics alternate between swampy coast and white sand barriers. The board further contended that in conjunction with that development, pipeline companies. If you require any assistance publicizing your idea or would like to get in contact with stakeholders e. Louisianas coastal erosion and invasive species by nola878. The economic impact of coastal erosion in louisiana on. This level of production has altered the louisiana coastal wetlands over the past 100. Toward a sustainable coastal louisiana, the appendices. When you leave this session and step onto the street, look for a louisiana license plate and youll see the motto, sportsmans paradise. Pdf a perspective on the louisiana wetland loss and coastal. Coastal erosion in louisiana is part of wikiproject geology, an attempt at creating a standardized, informative, comprehensive and easytouse geology resource.
These loss rates are extremely high compared with the rest of. Several transect measurements across the shoreline loss can be averaged to come up with a rough estimate of average coastal erosion. Louisiana hopes to fight coast erosion by mimicking nature. Severity of louisiana shoreline and barrier island erosion. Louisianas rate of coastal wetland loss continues to slow. Erosion and saltwater intrusion impacts to the wetlands and. The economic impact of coastal erosion in louisiana on state, regional, and national economies april 2004 a study that quantifies the economic implications due to coastal erosion in louisiana pdf 398 kb. Louisiana s coast contains 4045% of the nations wetlands, and the millions who live in or visit the coast engage in sporting by hunting, boating. Wetlands and coastal erosion southeastern louisiana university. Natural and manmade causes of land loss saving coastal louisiana. Since 1932, our state has lost more than 1,800 square miles of land, roughly the size of the state of delaware.
As wetlands and natural barrier islands erode, nearby communities will simply suffer the negative consequences. The interaction of hurricanes and coastal erosion is very complicated. Final environmental assessment pointauchien cultural. Williams and others published a perspective on the louisiana wetland loss and coastal erosion problem find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. Aug 28, 2014 coastal landscapes everywhere are now facing a serious threat, but none more so than southeast louisiana. Coastal lands are a natural protective buffer, without which the levees that protect the cities and. Wind resource maps of offshore louisiana report 2007 pdf 428 kb more wind resource details. Louisianas coastal e rosion and invasive species quotes matthew pardue many invasive species are brought with good intentions, but it just sometimes doesnt work out. The southwest coastal louisiana study has both national economic development ned and national ecosystem restoration ner components. As erosion and degradation continued, segmented lowrelief barrier islands formed and eventually were separated from the mainland by shallow bays and lagoons. Understanding coastal erosion on beaches marine and coasts.
Towards a sustainable coastal louisiana the state has lost 40 square miles per year over. Nearly half of the original wetland habitats in the united states have been lost over the past. Figure 2 mapping louisiana coastal erosion louisiana s coast has lost about 55 square kilometers of wetlands per year over the last 50 years. Louisiana fisheries louisiana coastal law newsletters. Louisiana hopes to fight coast erosion by mimicking nature 3 october 2019, by rebecca santana this may 1, 2019, photo, shows the davis pond diversion, a project that diverts water from the. Department of natural resources state of louisiana. Challenges facing coastal louisiana flooding hurricanes coastal erosion sealevel rise subsidence extreme temperatures thunderstorms, lightning, hail drought 1 louisiana s hazard mitigation plan is an excellent resource for guidance on characterizing risks. Louisianas eroding coastline the climate change and. Jun 03, 2014 louisiana coastal erosion is a national disaster that must be addressed take a look at wall map of louisiana, and one would think the coastline is healthy.
Sea level rise and land subsidence in coastal louisiana core. Wetland loss along louisiana s coast presents an urgent risk to natural habitats, coastal communities, and both local and national industries. But that map, produced by the state and horribly outdated, has little connection to the wisps of marshland quietly washing into the gulf of mexico. Coastal louisiana and charged it with recommending ways that state government could expand its management of the coastal restoration program. The federal government projects that seas along the u. Since 1930, louisiana has lost approximately 2,000 square miles of coastal wetlands. Saving louisianas coastal wetlands columbia university. Chinese tallow trees evolved to louisiana and spread like wild fire. Threats to louisiana communities exist from coastal erosion and associated coastal disturbance. The project would consist of installing a natural oyster reef to help preserve the mounds from future coastal erosion. Jul 12, 2017 coastal wetlands help to reduce inland flooding and erosion and act as essential habitat for fish, shellfish and other wildlife. Louisiana continues to experience one of the fastest rates of coastal erosion in the world, and this complex and fragile ecosystem is disappearing at an alarming rate more than 1,800 square miles of land between 1932 and.
Beyond the alaska peninsula and bordering the bering sea, extensive coastal plains are found with numerous lakes and meandering streams. The board of commissioners alleged that the oil and gas industrys development of the coast, dating back to the early 1900s, was a contributing cause of land loss along the louisiana coast. Coastal erosion has been an enemy of louisianas coastal wetlands and marshes since the early 1940s when a series of flood control levees were constructed. Coastal erosion pdf download full pdf read book page. The project would consist of installing a natural oyster reef to help preserve the mounds from future coastal erosion and sea level rise. A website dedicated to understanding coastal erosion, raising awareness, and accelerating the restoration effort of louisiana s wetlands louisiana coast in a future without action, medium scenario coastal louisiana wetlands are one of the most critically threatened environments in the united states. Moreover, coastal wetlands are frequently subject to. Louisiana coastal zone lcz, the primary mechanism has been the farm bill. Land subsidence, combined with rising sea level, is expected to increase the potential for coastal flooding, shoreline erosion.
Erosion and saltwater intrusion impacts to the wetlands. The environmental and economic consequences of coastal erosion in louisiana are significant. There is a quantitative answer that requires sufficient computer power to make predictions. Land subsidence and rising sea level are expected to increase the potential for coastal flooding, shore erosion, saltwater intrusion, and loss of. Grand isle is an example of deteriorating barrier islands that have served in the past as part of a natural. Erosion and saltwater intrusion impacts to the wetlands and shoreline in the louisiana gulf coast region introduction coastal erosion and wetlands loss is a major problem along the gulf coast, particularly in louisiana. Coastal protection and restoration authoritycoastal. Hoke concluded, the future of coastal louisiana is contingent on the success of this plan. Since 2000, 1,000,000 acres of wetland have been lost. Toward a sustainable coastal louisiana, an executive summary. If you would like to participate, you can choose to edit this article, or visit the project page for more information.
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