The Louisiana Coast: Guide to an American Wetland

1. The Louisiana Coast: Vital, Valuable, and Vulnerable

L ouisiana’s coast is a special place. the vast extent and variety of wetlands here are unparalleled anywhere in the temperate regions of North america. Marshes that span up to forty miles from north to south extend along the state’s southern perimeter, while the atchafalaya Basin, the continent’s largest river basin swamp, bisects the marsh and has long served as a physical divide between southwest and southeast louisiana. stretching across the parishes of cameron and Vermilion in southwest louisiana is the chenier Plain, an unusual geological formation of extensive marshes crossed by tree-covered ridges; it is one of only three major chenier plains in the entire world. in the southeastern part of the state lies the network of bayous , natural levees, cypress swamps, marshes, bays, and barrier islands of the deltaic Plain, formed where the Mississippi River has deposited sediment in a series of deltas during the past seven thousand years. A Vital Region this varied coast is a vital region in several ways. it is a living land that is continually changing as the Mississippi River, the gulf of Mexico, and human activities shape and reshape it. it is a human landscape as well as a physical place, a multiethnic region alive and evolving as it has been for centuries, as people use and modify the land and its resources. there is a wealth of experiential knowledge here, for generations have searched for and in many cases have found ways to harness the region’s abundance , cope with declines, and meet additional challenges imposed by weather, climate, insect pests, and market downturns. the cultural processes of adaptation, impact, and learning are ongoing on the louisiana coast, for this is no mere museum or tourist attraction. While the region contains a national park and many state and national wildlife refuges, it remains a true “working wetland,” a place that has much to teach and chapter 1 The Louisiana Coast Vital, Valuable, and Vulnerable 2 chapter 1 much to give to the entire nation. these gifts include a rich contribution to the nation’s energy supply, seafood industry, port and navigation network , and folk culture. A Valuable Region “america’s Wetland” is a name that the louisiana coast proudly carries, for this hard-working region makes a significant contribution to the united states and its citizens. the coalition to Restore coastal louisiana’s report No Time to Lose: Facing the Future of Louisiana and the Crisis of Coastal Land Loss (1999, rev. 2000) and the louisiana department of Natural Resources ’ publication America’s Energy Corridor (2006) provide statistics that illustrate these contributions and reveal what is at stake for the state and the nation. in an age of reliance on hydrocarbon -based energy, louisiana’s wetlands and gulf waters off the state’s coast by the year 2000 furnished an estimated 17 percent of the country’s crude oil and 25 percent of its natural gas. in 2006, the louisiana department of Natural Resources reported that the production of crude oil and natural gas from the coastal and offshore areas, including wells on the outer continental shelf, ranked louiLake Charles Lafayette Baton Rouge New Orleans A t c h a f a l a y a R . M i s s i s sippi R. P e a r l R . S a b i n e R . 0 40 miles 29° 94° 93° 92° 91° 90° 89° 30° 31° N Gulf of Mexico Chenier Plain Deltaic Plain Coastal Marsh Swamp Cheniers After Chabreck,1972; Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, 2000 LA TX MS C h e n i e r P l a i n D e l t a i c P l a i n Louisiana Coast The Louisiana Coast: Vital, Valuable, and Vulnerable 3 siana first and second, respectively, among the fifty states. a vast network of pipelines beneath these lands and waters carries both domestic production and additional, imported oil and gas to the nation’s refining and processing facilities. By 2006, the louisiana coastal area and its associated energy facilities were accommodating the movement of more than 26 percent of the country’s crude oil supply, along with more than 26 percent of its natural gas. these percentages will likely increase as offshore oil production expands and additional liquefied natural gas (lNg) receiving terminals begin operations. in addition to providing energy to the nation, the state’s coastal wetlands...