Degradation In Louisiana

There are plenty of factors that bring a rise to the problem of coastal degradation. For instance, harsh weather effects, deadly toxins, and even human interaction cause a rapid decline of the land. In the state of Louisiana, these situations are a deadly effect on its' coastline. Aside from these ongoing, or seasonal effects, a new threat has entered the group, and it goes by the name of the Nipponaclerda biwakoensis, or commonly known as 'the scale'. Louisiana is situated above the Gulf of Mexico, and along it's coastline are around 225,000 acres of marshes, or wetlands. These marshes consist of Roseau canes, which are a "bulwark" of tall, sturdy reeds that unites the coastline to withstand harsh conditions. It not only holds the soil in place, but it also builds up the land. "No other plant …show more content…
Although the scale bug is a huge pest towards the marsh, it is not the only threat. Another threat is the Nutria, a semi-aquatic rodent, that was brought in from South America. It chews on the marsh plant by its roots, damaging abut 6,000 acres per year. These invasive species are bad for the business in Louisiana. The canes are an aquatic habitat for the young redfish, which is the top fishing catch in the state. This fish attracts gamers which fuels $1.3 billion of Louisiana's recreational fishing industry. Not only is it affecting the recreational revenue, it is also affecting the two biggest industries in Louisiana: the shipping and oil industry. In the oil industry, the marshes surround and protect the oil wells. Due to the death of the marshes, the wells are clearly exposed. The appearance of the wells can increase the number of oil spills, possibly more spills than the year of 2016. Furthermore, in the shipping industry, the death of the marshes can reshape and clog the navigation channels. "If the bank disappears we're going to have a much harder time getting