Louisiana Coastal Area, Louisiana. Land Loss and Marsh Creation
Abstract
The marshes are disappearing at the rate of 39.6 square miles/year due to compaction, subsidence, sea level rise, erosion, saltwater intrusion, and man's activities. To find solutions to land loss problem, a number of measures were evaluated including controlled and uncontrolled sediment diversions, placing dredged material, injecting liquids into subsurface strata, and regulating alteration of wetlands. An array of plans that include uncontrolled sediment diversion and dredged material from 8 navigation channels appear to be economically justified and environmentally acceptable. It is recommended that these plans be investigated in greater detail in a feasibility study. During the feasibility study, other alternatives of controlled diversion and transporting material from the Mississippi River to nearby subsiding areas will be analyzed in further detail. Whether the plans are justified depends on the dollar value of the marsh. The value of the marsh as real estate and as a producer of commercial and recreational fish and wildlife has been determined, but this is only a portion of the true monetary value of the marsh. The marshes are valued for their unique esthetic and ecologic characteristics and cultural resources, as a repository for domestic and agricultural wastes, and for the capacity to buffer hurricane-induced flooding. Since assigning a dollar value to these so- called intangible benefits is difficult, it is recommended that the intangible benefits of the marsh be investigated so that the true value can be used in determining the economic feasibility of an alternative plan.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1984
- Accession Number
- ADA225280
Entities
Organizations
- New Orleans District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers