Transcript Land Area Change in Coastal Louisiana (1932 to 2010) D. Phil Turnipseed, P.E., D.WRE Director USGS National Wetlands Research Center U.S.

Land Area Change in Coastal Louisiana
(1932 to 2010)
D. Phil Turnipseed, P.E., D.WRE
Director
USGS National Wetlands Research Center
U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Department of the Interior
Photo by: Brady Couvillion
Louisiana Wetlands are Critical
 25% U.S. oil and gas production
 20% of U.S. waterborne commerce
 70% of migratory birds winter in Louisiana
Photo by: Brady Couvillion
Land Area Change in Coastal
Louisiana
1,883
square mile
decrease
Coastal Louisiana Lost 1,883
square miles from 1932-2010
This equates to losing:
 A land area the size of Delaware
over 78 years
 A land area greater than the
island of Manhattan every year
From 1985-2010:
 A football field every hour
 16.57 square miles every year
Lake Salvador
Shoreline Erosion
Barrier Island Land Change
Isles Dernières
Multiple Impacts
Birds Foot Delta
Delta Building
Wax Lake Outlet/Atchafalaya Delta
Extent of Mississippi River Sediment
May 27th, 2011
http://www.lacoast.gov/crms
http://www.nwrc.usgs.gov/