Restoring Coastal Louisiana Enhancing the Role of Engineering and Science in the Restoration Program

Report from America's Wetland Technical Summit, held New Orleans, Louisiana, October 16-17, 2003. Louisiana's coastal wetlands represent a significant natural and economic resource for the state and the nation but have been disappearing at a rate of 25 to 35 square miles each year. In the past 50 years, more than 1,500 square miles have been lost. The wetlands contain 95% of all marine species in the Gulf of Mexico, 30% of the nation's fisheries, and one of the largest habitats in the world for migratory waterfowl. More than 25% of all oil and gas used in the United States originates or passes through these wetlands, which also serve as a buffer for hurricanes. The State of Louisiana asked ASCE to convene a summit to discuss technical aspects involved in carrying out restoration programs and to report on the insights that could be drawn from the summit. This report provides conclusions and recommendations concerning the technical topics discussed at the summit as well as the Task Committee's recommendations for a path forward.