America's Wetland Foundation

Louisiana Coastal Facts

A brief document that lays out facts about the Louisiana Coast and the unique challenges it faces.  This fact sheet was created by Louisiana's Coastal Protection and Restoratoin Authority: 

The Economic Impact of Reduced Dredging of the Mississippi River, authored by Timothy P. Ryan, Ph.D

The Mississippi River is the highway to the vast central portion of the United States.Many of the commodities and goods produced in the heartland of the United States are brought to world markets via the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico and beyond to the world economies. Likewise, important products are transported from the rest of the world to the entire United States via the Mississippi River. Much of the Midwest grain and crop production can only competitively enter world markets via waterborne transportation through the Mississippi River. Any increase in costs to U. S. producers, especially farmers, would therefore lead to lost production to foreign competitors. In addition, a large portion of the United States gasoline supply is transported as foreign crude oil to oil refineries on the Mississippi River.

Jobs and Dollars: Big Returns from Coastal Habitat Restoration 

By 2025, 75% of Americans will live within 50 miles of a coast.1 Within this narrow band are estuaries-vibrant areas where freshwater mixes withsaltwater to create some of the most productive ecosystems on the planet.Estuaries provide food and refuge for diverse fish, birds, and mammals.They are environmental treasures and their productivity is vital to our nation's economy, supplying important natural resources and millions of jobs. 

Coastal Concerns

An article that appeared in the May 2010 issue of "State Legislature"  focuses on the unique coastal issues facing Louisiana, the Gulf of Mexico, and other coastal regions in the United States.

Comprehensive Master Plan For Coastal Restoration

The Louisiana Legislature approved the Integrated Ecosystem Restoration and Hurricane Protection: Louisiana's Comprehensive Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast on May 30, 2007. The plan is the first document to completely incorporate hurricane protection projects with projects aimed at rebuilding Louisiana's rapidly eroding coastal wetlands. The State of Louisiana is currently in the process of drafting the five-year update of the Comprehensive Plan due in 2012.

2007 Governor's Advisory Commission Report

The fifth report of the Governor's Advisory Commission on Coastal Protection, Restoration, and Conservation was written just after the state had adopted the Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast in 2007. The Master Plan presents a detailed vision of how a restored and protected coast could be achieved.  While several of its provisions are still subject to debate and have yet to be finalized, the plan does articulate the state's view of the challenge ahead.

Economics Restoration

Economics provides a framework for discussing and quantifying the effects that coasts and estuaries have on one aspect of personal wellbeing-our economic wellbeing. Unfortunately, the language of economics often is in terms we all know (value, impact, welfare), but the concepts that underlie economic terms often differ substantially from the meaning of these terms in everyday conversation. The quality of coastal and estuary areas and access to these areas influence all of these measures of economic well being.

America's Gulf Coast Report

The report recommends leadership in overseeing the transition as well as the immediate establishment of a new Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force. This intergovernmental structure will be lean, flexible, adaptive, and able to rapidly incorporate the ideas of the communities it is designed to serve.

Gulf of Mexico Facts

A brief document that details the value - economically and culturally-of the Gulf of Mexico.

Louisiana's Top Coastal Accomplishments Since Katrina & Rita

This fact sheet from the office of former Louisiana Senator Reggie Dupre highlights Louisiana's top coastal accomplishments since hurricanes Rita and Katrina.

America's WETLAND Summit Proceedings Report

This is a preliminary findings report based on the America's WETLAND Summit Series which was held in 2003 and 2004.

America's WETLAND Foundation List of Summits, Forums and Hearings

This document provides and synopsis of America's WETLAND Foundation Summits, Forums and Hearings from 2003 to 2011.