Page 7 - USGBC Louisiana 2017 Green Report Online

The Louisiana coastline is the fifth longest in the country Coastline
and third longest in the contiguous United States. A
commonly-used statistic is that approximately one football Image source: Southeastern Louisiana University
field of dry land is lost every hour. While loss varies from
basin to basin, land continues to disappear at an
increasing rate. Nearly 40% of all land loss in the United
Sates is in Louisiana.

Natural causes of land loss include reduced sediment flow
from the Mississippi River and its tributaries, sea-level rise,
and subsidence. Human interference with natural
processes has also taken its toll on the coast’s rich
resources that drive Louisiana’s economy.

Populations, infrastructure, and diverse ecosystems are at
risk from the impacts of climate change. The wetlands are
critical to the protection of communities and their way of
life.

Numerous environmental organizations are working to
preserve, protect, and restore the coastal lands. The
Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration
Act of 1990 (CWPPRA) is federal legislation designed to
identify and fund coastal restoration projects. A Coastal
Master Plan has been developed and the state has
finalized the 50 year, 50 billion dollar plan, promising to
rebuild and revitalize the area economically.

Builders, designers, and planners are also responding to
the threats of climate change—urban cooling, air quality,
water quality, land drainage, and flood risks. Improved
building design, greening infrastructure and supply
systems, and better city planning will help mitigate climate
change outcomes.