Credits
WaterMarks is published three times a year by the Louisiana Coastal Wetlands Conservation and Restoration Task Force to communicate news and issues of interest related to the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act of 1990. This legislation funds wetlands restoration and enhancement projects nationwide, designating approximately $60 million annually for work in Louisiana. The state contributes 15 percent of total project costs.
Gabrielle Boudreaux Bodin
WaterMarks Co-editor
USGS National Wetlands Research Center
700 Cajundome Blvd.
Lafayette, LA 70506
(337) 266-8623
E-mail: Gabrielle_Bodin@usgs.gov
ABOUT THIS ISSUE’S COVER . . .
Once a tranquil vista of marsh grass stretching to the horizon, this segment of Louisiana’s coastal wetlands shows the damage wrought by hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the autumn of 2005. Although debilitated by the storms, wetlands are credited with reducing damage further inland by absorbing wave action and decreasing the height of storm surge. Scientists are monitoring the ravaged marshes to gauge their resiliency and estimate the length of time they take to recover.
Photo credit: Louisiana Department of Natural Resources