wwltv.com
Recent study says southern Louisiana sinking an inch per year
08:39 AM CDT on Monday, May 16, 2005
Associated Press
As hurricane season fast approaches, a new federal study raises fears that Louisiana is in danger of what's being called a slow disaster. The study shows Louisiana is sinking much faster than originally thought, and the levees that protect the area are sinking with it.
For those who live along the bayous in southern Louisiana, they’ve watched their beloved marshes turn into lakes.
“The land is just gone. You can pretty much run with a small outboard—like I have—anywhere. You just see the marsh just fading away,” said resident David Lecompte.
A new study, recently released, puts some science behind what many already fear: south Louisiana is sinking; and a lot faster than many thought.
“What this report tells us very clearly is that the land is sinking,” said Denise Reed, UNO Coastal Expert.
Using over 2,700 benchmarks across the Gulf Coast, the federal study showed south Louisiana—including New Orleans and parts of coastal Mississippi—are sinking at up to an inch a year.
“The land is sinking and the water's coming up,” Lecompte said.
The sinking land, combined with coastal erosion and rising sea levels, threatens to swamp many Louisiana towns.
The study also provides valuable information to city planners on which areas are more prone to flood, helping them choose the best locations to build evacuation routes.
The report comes as Congress considers spending a record $2 billion to restore Louisiana's eroding coastline.
“We need to build up levees, hurricane flood protection, to protect our communities, but we also need to do the important coastal work,” said Sen. David Vitter.
The effect the sinking has on people and towns is clear, but what is unclear to scientists is exactly what is causing the land to sink.
Some blame oil and gas drilling; others say its natural fault movement.
“We have to try and understand ‘why this data’ and ‘why it's sinking’ in order to try and predict what's going to happen in the future. Just because it's been sinking so far, doesn't mean it's going to continue to sink,” Reed said.
Even so, many worry the damage has already been done.
Study: South Louisiana sinking inch per year
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This is amazing as well as scary. Just imagine the amount flooding that would occur if another Betsy makes landfall in SE LA.
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