Since 1900, approximately 4,900 square kilometers of wetlands on the coast of Louisiana have been lost at high rates. Because of Louisiana's location in relation to the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico, its seafood industry brings in more than $1 billion per year. It is inevitable that the state's coast will experience some degree of erosion. Current influences, however, increase the extent of the erosion and affect the region's wildlife and resources.
The area around New Orleans and the Mississippi River is known as the Mississippi Delta. Deltas usually slowly grow in size because of sediment brought from the river. The dams and levees built to protect human settlements from flooding have caused rapid erosion in the Mississippi Delta, helping to make it the fastest-eroding coast in the United States.
Louisiana's wetlands are also facing destruction due to the creation of canals throughout the area. The canals serve as access points to gas and oil wells. Storms travel through the canals and cause more erosion inland. Salt water also travels up the canals and destroys the vegetation that keeps the wetlands together. The wind that blows along the paths of the canals creates waves that lap against the shore and further erosion.
Human impact is not entirely to blame for erosion of the Louisiana coastline. All bodies of water experience erosion caused by natural processes. The simple action of moving water slowly erodes shorelines. Louisiana's location is also more prone to erosion due to more extreme storms, weather patterns and vulnerability to hurricanes. A rise in sea level also contributes to the erosion of the region.
The Mississippi Delta and other areas along the Louisiana coast now experience large populations residing in the area along with visitors and tourists wanting to see the natural beauty of the area. Boating is extremely common, which adds another human influence to the list of causes of erosion. Humans also use the wetlands as grazing ground for livestock, as well as irrigation ditches that alter the natural landscape. Agriculture and development also contribute to the shifts in the course of the Mississippi River, which causes further erosion in several areas.
