Wetlands and Hurricanes

^{General Lecture Outline}

I.  The Gulf Coast Environment

• The Mississippi River Basin
• Wetlands of the Gulf Coast
• Wetlands of coastal Louisiana
• New Orleans – layout and development

II.  Wetland functions

• Wetlands as buffers
• Wetlands loss along Louisiana Coast
  • Lack of sediment
  • Saltwater intrusion
  • Sea level rise
• Barrier islands protect coast

III. Hurricane Katrina

• Impacts on manmade structures
• Impacts on wetlands
• Impacts on Mississippi Delta
• Impacts on barrier islands
• Impacts on coastal forest

IV. Wetland Restoration

• Coast 2050 Wetland Restoration Plan
• Marsh terraces

V.  Summary

Module Description

Sample PowerPoint Slide with notes

Return to NCSR Wetlands Ecology and Management Series Description