Wetland Restoration
From New Orleans Wiki
Restoration of Our Wetlands
The economic[1] well-being of Louisiana and its coast is not only significant for our state, but it is also an important national issue. Coastal Louisiana is significant[2] to both the local and national economics. Louisiana offshore oil port is the largest US oil importer (one million barrels of crude oil a day is handled here). Our state handles over 450 million tons of cargo each year within the states six deep-draft ports. Louisiana is responsible for a large percentage of the nation's waterborne commerce. Petrochemical processing is also a dominant industry in Louisiana. Louisiana moves approximately 10 to 13% of countries imported crude petroleum via its pipelines to refineries and customers throughout our nation. Many navigational industries are supported by our waterways which in turn, enhance other industries. Several foreign and US locations receive and send millions of tons of cargo annually through our waterways. Tourism, aquaculture and recreational activities have also become a significant economic activity in Louisiana[3]
More recent years have brought resurgence of oil and gas exploration; due to the discovery of the deeper oil fields of the central Gulf of Mexico, the improvement of technologies and the deepwater royalty tax relief. There is a deep concern of whether the coastal infrastructure[4] requirements can support and maintain this growth. Protection from wetland deterioration[5] is also needed to protect the oil and gas infrastructure. The decline in infrastructure also affects the fisheries; this is due to the changes in the balance of the salt water and freshwater ecosystems. As our marsh areas are replaced by open waters, there is a loss of our valued species of shellfish and fish. (20% of the nation's total commercial fishery harvest comes from Louisiana). This imbalance in the ecosystem substantially affects Louisiana seafood production industries. The saltwater intrusion can also harm our agriculture, such as citrus and rice crops. In addition, waterfowl nesting are found along coastal Louisiana and is responsible for 70% of the nesting migrating waterfowl. Our deteriorating wetlands also have an impact on these birds. As Louisiana subsidence[6] increases and the sea levels continue to rise, more and more wetlands are depleted which decreases our protection from storm surges.
Restoration programs
A state and federal program that provides a coastal restoration plan is Coast 2050: Toward a Sustainable Coastal Louisiana. Some major causes of the wetland loss are a gradual rise in sea levels[7], alteration in hydrology, tropical storms, hurricane impacts, drainage of wetlands, levee construction, dredging of canals, harvesting of wetland forests, herb ivory and oil and gas exploration[8]
River diversions are an economical and efficient way of restoring our wetland, if done properly. Some possible solutions[9]to save our wetlands through the use of proven methods such as, diversions of sediment-laden river water to shallow open areas and using dredged material that can be deposited in low marsh areas, as well as new ideas, like flexible concrete matting to reduce bank caving would be beneficial projects. A good report that examines efforts to devise a coherent rebuilding plan and entail what might be the risks[10] of rebuilding. The use of vegetative plantings can also aid in the wetland and coastal restorations.
• A good site for restoration links for Louisiana and other states is [11]
Vegetative Plantings
Improving our vegetative plantings can also aid in the wetland and coastal restorations. Wetland habitat and salt marsh erosion are critical components for our ecological and economical health. Louisiana loses 16,000 to 20,000 coastal marsh acres per year, which is 80% of the total coastal wetlands loss in all of the US. LSU AgCenter has several programs to help develop genetically[12] superior vegetation that will benefit our restoration projects.
The California Bulrush[13] could be helpful in our area because it could help stabilize newly created marsh areas. The AgCenter is also studying the sea oats[14] from the Gulf Coast which are better seed producers than our Louisiana sea oats and could possibly proliferate more quickly.
• Alternatives to wetland restoration---Louisiana coastal zone is 75% privately owned land, so stewardship incentive programs might encourage private wetland restoration[15]
Educational Volunteering Programs
Learning about our wetlands through educational volunteering programs can be useful to gain a first hand experience about our wetland and some of the restorative projects that are taking place in our communities.
• Read how volunteering can make a difference in wetlands restoration[16]
• Student can contribute to solving the problems associated with coastal land loss by creating brochures about how citizens can help restore Louisiana’s land loss.[17]
• Are you looking to gain 1st hand knowledge[18] of some of south Louisiana’s restoration projects? Do you want to gain some information about these projects from some of the local experts and learn about the restoration techniques that are being used throughout Southern Louisiana?
Legislation to Improve Our Restoration
Legislation is very important to our present and future restoration projects.
Water Development and Resource Act (WRDA), this act creates a framework for completing the plan and the Louisiana Coastal Area(LCA);the Comprehensive Ecosystem and Security Enhancement (CEASE) Act which provides a state and federal framework for implementation of a long-term plan to restore Louisiana coast----future funds and proper energy royalties. Offshore Fairness Act (OFA) which corrects the injustice in the current law about the seaward lateral boundaries.
There is NO ONE solution or sudden fix for the problems that we are facing. Our coastal and wetland restoration should be tackled through a multitude of many different restoration projects (diversions, leaky levees, barrier islands, vegetative plantings, etc.) River diversions are the fastest way to build up our wetlands and the lowest direct-cost technique, but a combination of many different projects could be helpful. To save our disappearing coast and wetlands, we ultimately need RESPONSIBILITY and INTEGRITY from our elected officials and the citizens of Louisiana should not become complacent with our needs and visions for a BETTER Louisiana. The passage of any of the royalty sharing bills is essential for getting ongoing funds that will be needed to sustain our coastal and wetlands restoration projects. Voice your need for the royalty sharing to our government!!! Time is our enemy, be proactive!
Barrier Reefs and Islands That Can Protect Our Wetlands
Protection from storm and wave damage given by barrier islands and reefs are an essential component of Louisiana’s wetlands protection. They provide a substantial reduction in surge.
Are there alternative resources that might be used to help build up our wetland protection, by building up our barrier reefs and barrier islands? Could we also incorporate using old ships or subway cars etc. for artificial reefs or buffers against storm surge?[19]
Information about the storm and wave protection that barrier islands provide and the best and guidance for restoration of barrier islands
Our Cypress Forests
Is cypress logging in Louisiana weakening our protection from hurricanes? There are some reasons that environmentalists believe that cypress logging takes away some of the protection which shields our coastal communities. There is a debate over what causes the most damage to the cypress forests, direct harvesting or coastal erosion? There is new analysis that shows more cypress boards are being harvested than in prior estimates. In the past, manmade canal were cut for oil and gas shipping and this caused saltwater intrusion which killed the trees[20]. Along with these canals were the damaging effects of manmade levees that kept the trees wet year-round. This eliminated the periodic dry spells that were needed for new cypress growth. For example, in St. Bernard there were numerous cypress stands that were killed off due to the Mr. Go, which caused a salt-water intrusion. Because of this lack of forest buffer, the surge of water from Katrina destroyed the levees; but in areas where the forest remained, the levees stayed intact. This shows how important the cypress forest and our wetlands[21] can be in protection from storm damage. The state Department of Natural Resources and the Nature Conservancy are seeking money to fund a program which would buyout the cypress landowners, thus ensuring that the trees are not destroyed. Can we help restore and preserve[22] the cypress forests? Maybe the next time, we decide to spruce up our gardens we could use another type of mulch?[23]
