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Protecting the Louisiana Wetlands

Protecting the Louisiana Wetlands. By Danielle Karacsony and Deirdre Sheridan. The Problem.

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Protecting the Louisiana Wetlands

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  1. Protecting the Louisiana Wetlands By Danielle Karacsony and Deirdre Sheridan

  2. The Problem In the past few years, the wetlands in Louisiana have receded. This erosion is destroying the habitats of many animals. The wetlands are important to Louisiana because the land provides natural defense against hurricanes. The receding wetlands affect not only the ecology of Louisiana but the economy as well.

  3. What Caused This Problem? • Destructive storms • Development of land • Levees along Mississippi River

  4. Issues That Can Occur if This Problem is Not Addressed • Storm surges • Flooding • Destruction of habitat • Destruction of human infrastructure • Destruction of environment • Species dying out/extinction

  5. Effects of Hurricane Katrina

  6. Problems That Have Already Occurred When hurricanes travel over water, they become more powerful. When they travel over land, they can lose power. Therefore, the wetlands provided a natural buffer against severe storms. Since the wetlands are receding, hurricanes and tropical storms are becoming more powerful and causing more damage.

  7. Matter Cycles Affected • Water Cycle • Carbon Cycle

  8. Fish Shellfish Salamanders Frogs Turtles Snakes Alligator Sea grasses Plants Climate: Humid Rainy Hot Water Wet, sandy soil Biotic/Abiotic Factors

  9. Symbiotic Relationships • Alligator eating a fish – Predation • Plant sucking nutrients from a tree – Parasitism • Frogs and birds compete for same food – Competition

  10. Our Solution • Main Goal: to rebuild the wetlands • Adding sediment to marshlands • Creating a Spillway • Adding Foliage to wetlands (ie. Donations of Christmas trees) • Timeline: Approximately 20 years

  11. Why It’s Worth It • Jobs can be created • Anyone can help • Can get local and countrywide support • Television and print campaigns can be created • If plan is not followed, more damage can occur with every hurricane

  12. Why It Will Work • For every 2.7 miles of wetlands, storm surges will be reduced by 1 foot • Repairing erosion will help New Orleans avoid further hurricane damage • Highway flooding will decrease

  13. Maintaining the Plan • About $14 billion is needed for this project • Can obtain the money through: • Grants • Private donations • Taxes • Advertising and government support to promote the plan • Jobs

  14. Possible Complications • Lack of local support • Lack of funds • Some oppose the rebuilding of the wetlands because hurricanes naturally deposit some sediment to wetlands • Some oppose the rebuilding & rebirth of New Orleans, because it is located in a naturally flooded area

  15. Sources • http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/images/0112-13.jpg • http://knowledge.allianz.com/nopi_downloads/images/katrina_broken-levee_quer.jpg • http://www.katrinadestruction.com/images/d/3299-5/flooded+neighborhoods+new+orleans • http://www.katrinadestruction.com/images/d/16659-4/Img_19kd38-slidell-aerial-image-lr1 • http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/most-destructive-storms-3.jpg • http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/Water/images/water_cycle_usgs_big.jpg • Sohn, Emily. "Saving Wetlands." Science News For Kids. Society for Science & the Public, 6 Apr 2005. Web. 7 Jun 2010. <http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20050406/Feature1.asp>. • "Coastal Louisiana." National Wildlife Federation. 2010. National Wildlife Federation. Web. 26 May 2010 <http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Wild-Places/Coastal-Louisiana.aspx>. • Young, Robert S, and David M Bush. "Force Marsh." New York Times 27 Sep 2005, Print. • "Barrier Islands and Wetlands." Louisiana Hurricane Resources. Louisiana Sea Grant College Program. Web. 26 May 2010 <http://www.laseagrant.org/hurricane/archive/wetlands.htm>. • Sullivan, Bob. "Wetlands erosion raises hurricane risks." msnbc (2005): n. pag. Web. 7 Jun 2010. <http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9118570/>. • "Hurricane Katrina Photographs August 30, 2005." USGS National Wetlands Research Center. 24 May 2010. USGS. Web. 7 Jun 2010 <http://www.nwrc.usgs.gov/hurricane/post-hurricane-katrina-photos.htm>.

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