Volume 5, Number 3 • Winter 2003/2004
Restoring Coastal Louisiana
Louisiana’s coastal wetlands represent a significant natural and economic resource for the State and the Nation. This resource is under threat from continuing coastal erosion and subsidence. The State of Louisiana, faced with the monumental task of resourcing and implementing restoration, wanted to take advantage of the experience of engineers and scientists who have dealt with or are dealing with similar challenges. In September 2003, the State, acting through its public information campaign, America’s WETLAND, asked the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) through EWRI, COPRI and the Geo Institute to convene a Summit (held on October 16-17, 2003) to discuss technical aspects involved in carrying out restoration programs and to report on the insights that could be drawn from the Summit. A Final Report and a White Paper on America's Wetland authored by Gerry Galloway, Jr. PhD, P.E. for ASCE is available on the EWRI website.ASCE supports the efforts to reduce coastal land loss in the Louisiana coastal area, an area that has been named America’s Wetland because of its national importance. ASCE urges continued support of the existing program for Louisiana coastal wetlands, funded by the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Prevention, and Protection Act. ASCE also supports the ongoing effort to implement the comprehensive Louisiana Coastal Area Program, which will further reduce land loss and provide additional preservation and restoration
Visit http://www.ewrinstitute.org to read a copy of the White Paper and Final Report of the Coastal Louisiana Technical Summit and for more information about the America’s WETLAND Campaign visit http://www.americaswetland.com/