Coastal louisiana

Abstract

Coastal Louisiana owes its existence entirely to sediments supplied to the Gulf of Mexico coast by the Mississippi River. Today, land loss greatly exceeds land creation. The extensive engineering works that were intended to protect people and assets from floods and support navigability of the lower Mississippi River are now profoundly implicated in the disappearance of the wetlands that once provided natural protections. The loss of wetlands, barrier islands and other lands in coastal Louisiana is severe and becoming worse.