Louisiana Costal Wetlands: Save the Big Easy Across the United States, there are over six million acres of wetland, that shelter countless species of fish, birds, and animals. The nation’s largest coastal wetlands are located in the southern part of the country along the entire Louisiana shoreline. “Louisiana wetland is the perfect habitat for oysters, shrimp, crabs and home to the most abundant fisheries in the world. Louisiana accounts for about thirty percent of the countries’ seafood harvest; providing jobs to thousands of men and women. (Oliver-Cabrera). However, Louisiana coastal wetlands are in serious trouble. The wetlands are disappearing at alarming rates, due to human activity and natural processes. If nothing is done to
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covering more than 20,000 km. Louisiana wetlands also have a high economic value from fishing, oil and gas industries, making human activity the main cause for the disappearance. Although, infrastructure development is a necessary to improve human life, the construction of levees, canals, and flood control walls are destroying the wetlands. Digging and filling in the wetlands by humans also contribute to the destruction of the wetlands. Over the past century gas and oil companies have dug up about eight thousand miles of canal and pipelines along the Louisiana shoreline. As a result, seawaters has destroyed vegetation and grass that provide shelter and food to animals. Construction of channel and levees are used to modify wetlands for flood control, drainage, mosquitoes control, irrigation, timber harvest, navigation transportation and industrial activity all increases the speed of water and also changes the hydrology of the wetlands. Louisiana has become a “sacrifice zone” for the countries’ energy …show more content…
The loss of Louisiana wetlands has to be a national issue. The United States has over six million acres of wetland that all need to be protected. The Federal Government can do more to reduce the impact that humans have on the wetlands. Building levees and dams to control flood waters are issues that are understandable but when human use wetlands as dump sites and waste land human interference is unacceptable. In fifty years, the city of New Orleans will become a coastal city and in a hundred a memory. One day the city that created jazz will cease to exist it will be a place in the history books. We are all Louisiana. According to the USGS, the U.S cannot keep up with the loss of wetland across the country. “Over a four-year span, the United States has a lot more than 360,000 acres of fresh water and salt water wetlands.” (Petrolia, 2014). The loss of wetlands is not only a state issue it is a national
covering more than 20,000 km. Louisiana wetlands also have a high economic value from fishing, oil and gas industries, making human activity the main cause for the disappearance. Although, infrastructure development is a necessary to improve human life, the construction of levees, canals, and flood control walls are destroying the wetlands. Digging and filling in the wetlands by humans also contribute to the destruction of the wetlands. Over the past century gas and oil companies have dug up about eight thousand miles of canal and pipelines along the Louisiana shoreline. As a result, seawaters has destroyed vegetation and grass that provide shelter and food to animals. Construction of channel and levees are used to modify wetlands for flood control, drainage, mosquitoes control, irrigation, timber harvest, navigation transportation and industrial activity all increases the speed of water and also changes the hydrology of the wetlands. Louisiana has become a “sacrifice zone” for the countries’ energy …show more content…
The loss of Louisiana wetlands has to be a national issue. The United States has over six million acres of wetland that all need to be protected. The Federal Government can do more to reduce the impact that humans have on the wetlands. Building levees and dams to control flood waters are issues that are understandable but when human use wetlands as dump sites and waste land human interference is unacceptable. In fifty years, the city of New Orleans will become a coastal city and in a hundred a memory. One day the city that created jazz will cease to exist it will be a place in the history books. We are all Louisiana. According to the USGS, the U.S cannot keep up with the loss of wetland across the country. “Over a four-year span, the United States has a lot more than 360,000 acres of fresh water and salt water wetlands.” (Petrolia, 2014). The loss of wetlands is not only a state issue it is a national