WetlandsWetlandsThe Problems which They are Facing in Today’s The Problems which They are Facing in Today’s

World. World.

By: Dylan CrowellBy: Dylan Crowell

What are the Problems What are the Problems

Man MadeMan Made

Drilling Drilling

Global Warning Global Warning

Canals and Pathways Canals and Pathways

Mississippi River Gulf Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO)Outlet (MRGO)

Natural Disasters Natural Disasters

Hurricanes Hurricanes

Global Warming Global Warming

Erosion Erosion

Saltwater Invasion Saltwater Invasion

This picture shows how This picture shows how much of our country’s much of our country’s rivers affect the rivers affect the Mississippi River’s runoff, Mississippi River’s runoff, that created what is that created what is known as the Louisiana’s known as the Louisiana’s Wetlands. Wetlands.

Natural Disasters Natural Disasters

HurricanesHurricanes

They are helpful in a way and they are not They are helpful in a way and they are not in some.in some.

Hurricanes allow new silt to reach the Hurricanes allow new silt to reach the wetlands, and build up wetlands, and build up BUTBUT not enough. not enough.

Natural Disasters Natural Disasters

Saltwater InvasionSaltwater Invasion

Saltwater invasion Saltwater invasion started when the started when the canals were built for canals were built for barges carrying cargo barges carrying cargo and drilling rigs laying and drilling rigs laying pipelines.pipelines.

Erosion Erosion

Erosion has been Erosion has been caused by the rising caused by the rising sea level because of sea level because of the melting ice caps the melting ice caps as an effect of Global as an effect of Global Warming. Warming.

Global Warming Global Warming

Global Warming is caused by both natural Global Warming is caused by both natural and man made problems. and man made problems.

Global Warming is melting the ice caps and Global Warming is melting the ice caps and in turn the water levels rising and the in turn the water levels rising and the wetlands are already under sea level wetlands are already under sea level causing them to go under water.causing them to go under water.

Man Made Man Made

DrillingDrilling

The amount of drilling done in the last 50 The amount of drilling done in the last 50 years has caused the wetlands to fall years has caused the wetlands to fall further below sea level and are taking the further below sea level and are taking the depleting the nutrients they needed. Due depleting the nutrients they needed. Due to drilling, a large amount of wetlands to drilling, a large amount of wetlands were lost in the 1970’s. were lost in the 1970’s.

.

Canals and MRGOCanals and MRGO

Yes, canals show the Yes, canals show the ships can travel quicker ships can travel quicker than following the rivers than following the rivers bends. bends.

But they have allowed But they have allowed saltwater to be brought saltwater to be brought into the wetlands. into the wetlands.

MRGO has caused MRGO has caused more problems. more problems.

A fishing village named A fishing village named Shell Beach has been Shell Beach has been relocated because of relocated because of the MRGO. the MRGO.

, or do we want to live on the water and take a boat to school.

IdeasIdeas

Ideas have been presented to help save the Ideas have been presented to help save the wetlands, but no plan has been started. wetlands, but no plan has been started.

One of the ideas was opening the One of the ideas was opening the Mississippi River’s levees in some places so Mississippi River’s levees in some places so some of the silt would be dumped in the some of the silt would be dumped in the wetlands.wetlands.

It Does Work It Does Work

One Bayou or piece of wetland west of One Bayou or piece of wetland west of Baton Rouge has been looking more and Baton Rouge has been looking more and more green and loss is no where near this more green and loss is no where near this site because the Mississippi River is allow it site because the Mississippi River is allow it to flood this area.to flood this area.

Bibliography Bibliography Schmid, Randolph E. “ Studies Urges Schmid, Randolph E. “ Studies Urges

U.S. to Protect River” U.S. to Protect River” The The Associated Press Associated Press 16 October 16 October 20072007

Bourne, Joel SenEd. “City’s Faulty Bourne, Joel SenEd. “City’s Faulty Armor: Experts Questions Repairs Armor: Experts Questions Repairs to New Orleans Levees” to New Orleans Levees” National National Geographic MagazineGeographic Magazine 16 May 16 May 20072007

Coffee, Sidney “ Levees, Wetlands Coffee, Sidney “ Levees, Wetlands Must be Addressed Together” Must be Addressed Together” The The Daily AdvertiserDaily Advertiser

<http:dsc.discovery.com/news/<http:dsc.discovery.com/news/features/neworleans/features/neworleans/story_print.html>story_print.html>

Drye, Willie “ Katrina and Rita Actually Drye, Willie “ Katrina and Rita Actually Helped Wetlands, Study Shows” Helped Wetlands, Study Shows” National Geographic Magazine National Geographic Magazine September 21 2006September 21 2006

Schlesifstein, Mark “ Environmental Schlesifstein, Mark “ Environmental groups offer new plan to La Coast” groups offer new plan to La Coast” The Times Picayune The Times Picayune October 13 October 13 20072007

Bourne, Joel K. Jr. “ The Big Uneasy: Bourne, Joel K. Jr. “ The Big Uneasy: Gone With the Water “ Gone With the Water “ National National Geographic Magazine Geographic Magazine October October 20042004

Pictures are found in Google and Pictures are found in Google and Yahoo, and MSN search for Yahoo, and MSN search for wetlands.wetlands.