Protecting the Louisiana Protecting the Louisiana WetlandsWetlands

By Danielle Karacsony and By Danielle Karacsony and Deirdre SheridanDeirdre Sheridan

The ProblemThe Problem

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

What Caused This Problem?What Caused This Problem?• Destructive stormsDestructive storms

• Development of landDevelopment of land

• Levees along Mississippi RiverLevees along Mississippi River

Issues That Can Occur if This Issues That Can Occur if This Problem is Not AddressedProblem is Not Addressed

• Storm surgesStorm surges

• FloodingFlooding

• Destruction of habitatDestruction of habitat

• Destruction of human infrastructureDestruction of human infrastructure

• Destruction of environmentDestruction of environment

• Species dying out/extinctionSpecies dying out/extinction

Effects of Hurricane KatrinaEffects of Hurricane Katrina

Problems That Have Already Problems That Have Already OccurredOccurred

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

Matter Cycles AffectedMatter Cycles Affected

• Water CycleWater Cycle

• Carbon CycleCarbon Cycle

Biotic/Abiotic FactorsBiotic/Abiotic Factors

• FishFish• ShellfishShellfish• SalamandersSalamanders• FrogsFrogs• TurtlesTurtles• SnakesSnakes• AlligatorAlligator• Sea grassesSea grasses• PlantsPlants

• Climate:Climate:– HumidHumid– RainyRainy– HotHot

• WaterWater

• Wet, sandy soilWet, sandy soil

Symbiotic RelationshipsSymbiotic Relationships

• Alligator eating a fish – PredationAlligator eating a fish – Predation

• Plant sucking nutrients from a tree – Plant sucking nutrients from a tree – ParasitismParasitism

• Frogs and birds compete for same Frogs and birds compete for same food – Competitionfood – Competition

Our SolutionOur Solution

• Main Goal: to rebuild the wetlandsMain Goal: to rebuild the wetlands– Adding sediment to marshlandsAdding sediment to marshlands– Creating a SpillwayCreating a Spillway– Adding Foliage to wetlands (ie. Adding Foliage to wetlands (ie.

Donations of Christmas trees)Donations of Christmas trees)

• Timeline: Approximately 20 yearsTimeline: Approximately 20 years

Why It’s Worth ItWhy It’s Worth It

• Jobs can be createdJobs can be created

• Anyone can helpAnyone can help

• Can get local and countrywide supportCan get local and countrywide support

• Television and print campaigns can be Television and print campaigns can be createdcreated

• If plan is not followed, more damage If plan is not followed, more damage can occur with every hurricanecan occur with every hurricane

Why It Will WorkWhy It Will Work

• For every 2.7 miles of wetlands, For every 2.7 miles of wetlands, storm surges will be reduced by 1 storm surges will be reduced by 1 footfoot

• Repairing erosion will help New Repairing erosion will help New Orleans avoid further hurricane Orleans avoid further hurricane damagedamage

• Highway flooding will decreaseHighway flooding will decrease

Maintaining the PlanMaintaining the Plan

• About $14 billion is needed for this About $14 billion is needed for this projectproject

• Can obtain the money through:Can obtain the money through:– GrantsGrants– Private donationsPrivate donations– TaxesTaxes

• Advertising and government support Advertising and government support to promote the planto promote the plan

• Jobs Jobs

Possible ComplicationsPossible Complications

• Lack of local supportLack of local support• Lack of fundsLack of funds• Some oppose the rebuilding of the Some oppose the rebuilding of the

wetlands because hurricanes naturally wetlands because hurricanes naturally deposit some sediment to wetlandsdeposit some sediment to wetlands

• Some oppose the rebuilding & rebirth Some oppose the rebuilding & rebirth of New Orleans, because it is located of New Orleans, because it is located in a naturally flooded areain a naturally flooded area

SourcesSources• http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/images/0112-13.jpg• http://knowledge.allianz.com/nopi_downloads/images/katrina_broken-http://knowledge.allianz.com/nopi_downloads/images/katrina_broken-

levee_quer.jpglevee_quer.jpg• http://www.katrinadestruction.com/images/d/3299-5/http://www.katrinadestruction.com/images/d/3299-5/

flooded+neighborhoods+new+orleansflooded+neighborhoods+new+orleans• http://www.katrinadestruction.com/images/d/16659-4/Img_19kd38-slidell-http://www.katrinadestruction.com/images/d/16659-4/Img_19kd38-slidell-

aerial-image-lr1aerial-image-lr1• http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/most-destructive-storms-3.jpghttp://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/most-destructive-storms-3.jpg• http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/Water/images/http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/Water/images/

water_cycle_usgs_big.jpgwater_cycle_usgs_big.jpg• Sohn, Emily. "Saving Wetlands." Sohn, Emily. "Saving Wetlands." Science News For KidsScience News For Kids. Society for Science & . Society for Science &

the Public, 6 Apr 2005. Web. 7 Jun 2010. the Public, 6 Apr 2005. Web. 7 Jun 2010. <http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20050406/Feature1.asp>. <http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20050406/Feature1.asp>.

• "Coastal Louisiana." "Coastal Louisiana." National Wildlife FederationNational Wildlife Federation. 2010. National Wildlife . 2010. National Wildlife Federation. Web. 26 May 2010 Federation. Web. 26 May 2010 <http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Wild-Places/Coastal-Louisiana.aspx>. <http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Wild-Places/Coastal-Louisiana.aspx>.

• Young, Robert S, and David M Bush. "Force Marsh." Young, Robert S, and David M Bush. "Force Marsh." New York TimesNew York Times 27 Sep 27 Sep 2005, Print. 2005, Print.

• "Barrier Islands and Wetlands." "Barrier Islands and Wetlands." Louisiana Hurricane ResourcesLouisiana Hurricane Resources. Louisiana Sea . Louisiana Sea Grant College Program. Web. 26 May 2010 Grant College Program. Web. 26 May 2010 <http://www.laseagrant.org/hurricane/archive/wetlands.htm>. <http://www.laseagrant.org/hurricane/archive/wetlands.htm>.

• Sullivan, Bob. "Wetlands erosion raises hurricane risks." Sullivan, Bob. "Wetlands erosion raises hurricane risks." msnbcmsnbc (2005): n. pag. (2005): n. pag. Web. 7 Jun 2010. <http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9118570/>. Web. 7 Jun 2010. <http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9118570/>.

• "Hurricane Katrina Photographs August 30, 2005." "Hurricane Katrina Photographs August 30, 2005." USGS National Wetlands USGS National Wetlands Research CenterResearch Center. 24 May 2010. USGS. Web. 7 Jun 2010 . 24 May 2010. USGS. Web. 7 Jun 2010 <http://www.nwrc.usgs.gov/hurricane/post-hurricane-katrina-photos.htm>. <http://www.nwrc.usgs.gov/hurricane/post-hurricane-katrina-photos.htm>.