Coastal Erosion Processes (Slide Show)

Coastal Erosion Processes

Louisiana's 3.5 million acres of coastal wetlands represent about 40% of the coastal marshes in the continental U.S. unfortunately, Louisiana has about 80% of the nation's annual coastal wetland losses. Prior to the 1900s, the coastal area had an overall net gain of wetlands; unfortunately since then, Louisiana has lost about 1 million acres of its coastal wetlands, and may well lose another million acres in the next 50 years. Since the 1970s, the loss rate is estimated to be 25 to 35 square miles per year.