Richelle DeCuir

1
LA WETLANDS PSA
Hi, Im Richelle DeCuir from CenLA. Im
concerned because Louisiana supplies the largest
port in the world. This area is in danger.
Without this area, we will not be able to import
and export all the ingredients for the foods that
make Louisiana famous. Louisiana loses 1 acre of
wetlands each 24 minutes. At this rate, our
ports are in serious danger. Please join with me
to protect our seafood, spices, economy, lands,
and animals that are suffering due to these
catastrophic losses.

• By
• Richelle DeCuir
• Title 1 Wetlands Workshop
• January 15, 2004

2
Wetlands PowerPoint ProjectBy Richelle
DeCuir, Mary Dunkeson, Gayla Verzwyvelt

• These valuable marshes and swamps are
  deteriorating, and at least some of the causes
  are clear
• Natural subsidence of this ancient part of the
  Mississippi delta
• Sea level rise
• Lack of fresh water, nutrient and sediment input
  from the levied Mississippi River
• Salinity increases
• Large populations of nutria and muskrat
• Hurricane damage (hurricanes Betsy, Camille,
  Andrew and Georges, in particular)
• Lakeshore erosion
• Draining, ponding and canal building

3
Economic Factors

• How do wetlands benefit Louisiana?
• Jobs in Oil and Gas
• Shipping and Commerce on the Mississippi
  Louisianas Port system is the largest in the
  world.

4
Possible Solutions

• Public Education
• Industry Education
• Create new Marsh
• Improve plant vitality
• Reduce rates of land loss
• Control Rivers
• Dredging
• Natural Hydrology

5
New Land Creation Project

• Holly Beach Sand Management
• Cost 19.30 million
• Project Area 8901 acres
• Status Construction
• Net Benefit after 20 years 330 acres
• Location
• West of Calcasieu Pass along the Gulf of Mexico
  shoreline, extending between Holly Beach and
  Cameron Beach.
• Problem
• Loss of land due to chronic erosion caused by a
  lack of sand and sediment due to canalization and
  regulation of the Mississippi and Atchafalaya
  rivers to the east. The Calcasieu and Mermentau
  rivers are not supplying coarse-grained sediment
  to the area, and the Cameron Jetties associated
  with the Calcasieu Ship Channel deflect the
  little material that does exist away from the
  beaches.
• Restoration Strategy
• The projects goals are
• Protect approximately 8,000 acres of existing
  marsh wetlands north of the chenier ridge.
• Create and protect roughly 300 acres of beach
  dune and coastal chenier habitat from erosion and
  degradation.
• Project plan consists of placing approximately
  1.7 million cubic yards of high quality sand on
  the beach to reestablish a more historic
  shoreline, as well as improve the effectiveness
  of the existing segmented breakwater system.

6
Evaluation

• Critique
• Project extremely worthwhile as these beaches
  provide recreation and are important to the
  tourism industry.
• Reason the project was chosen Holly Beach is a
  fun place to visit.