Louisiana Wetlands:
Recognising a National Treasure

May 26, 2016 | Posted by Emily McCalla in coastal restoration, 

May is American Wetlands Month, and Louisiana’s coastal wetlands are some of the most productive ecosystems in North America. Not only do they provide habitat for numerous fish, wildlife and birds, but they also help improve water quality, provide recreational opportunities and protection for people and infrastructure from damaging storm surges.

Wildlife habitat and nurseries

Wetlands serve as a nursery environment for  juvenile fish. The countless ponds, bays and bayous found in the Mississippi River Delta provide essential habitat for most commercial and game fish found in the Gulf of Mexico. Menhaden, shrimp, oysters and blue crab area all important commercial species that depend on healthy coastal wetlands to thrive.  Additionally, fur-bearers like muskrat, beaver and mink, as well as reptiles including  alligators call coastal wetlands and estuaries home.

Storm surge protection

Wetlands have an incredible value for people,  too. One acre of wetlands has the capacity to hold up to 1 million gallons of water during a flood! On average, damaging storm surges are reduced by one foot for every 2.7 miles of wetlands, reducing wave energy and protecting levees and other critical infrastructure from these destructive forces of nature. The value of community protection for a one-mile strip of wetlands is valued at $5.7 million. Water filtration Wetlands also help improve water quality by filtering and retaining residential, agricultural and urban wastes. Reconnection of the Mississippi River to surrounding wetlands would help filter out nutrients that are  contribute to a harmful low oxygen area in the Gulf of Mexico dubbed the “dead zone.”  The shallow waters of coastal wetlands are good habitat for submerged aquatic vegetation,  which can utilise the extra nutrients and potentially reduce the Gulf of Mexico dead zone as well as increasing water clarity.

Restoring Louisiana’s coastal wetlands

Louisiana holds 40 percent of the coastal  wetlands in the continental US and is currently experiencing around 80 percent of all coastal wetland loss in the US. Work is underway to restore and rebuild wetlands in the Mississippi River Delta through projects in the state’s Coastal Master Plan, including sediment diversions and marsh creation. The reintroduction of Mississippi River water and sediment to its delta plain allows new wetlands to build and flourish, providing habitat for wildlife, clean water, places to recreate, and protection for storm surge.

Richie Blink, National Wildlife Federation