Wetland Video Clips

CWPPRA - Rebuilding Coastal Louisiana

What is CWPPRA? Learn about saving coastal Louisiana through the Coastal Wetlands Planning Protection and Restoration Act.

Marsh Creation - Step by Step

CWPPRA's efforts to save Marsh Island in south central coastal Louisiana

Coastal Louisiana: Impacts of Hurricanes on Salt Marsh and Mangrove Wetlands

This video describes research conducted by Dr. Karen McKee, USGS Research Ecologist, and her university partners, Dr. Irv Mendelssohn (Louisiana State University) and Dr. Mark Hester (University of Louisiana at Lafayette). They are studying the effects of hurricanes on marsh and mangrove wetlands in the Mississippi River Delta, which contains over 40% of the U.S. wetlands in the lower 48 states. Although hurricanes can have devastating effects on human communities, they may provide nourishing sediment to subsiding wetlands. This video describes an investigation to determine how much storm sediment from Hurricane Gustav (2008) was deposited in marsh and mangrove stands and if these different types of vegetation influence sediment capture. McKee and colleagues carried out their research by helicopter, which is the only way to sample the vast wetlands in coastal Louisiana. The results of their investigation will lead to a better understanding of how hurricanes may benefit coastal wetlands.

For more information visit Coastal Louisiana: Impacts of Hurricanes on Salt Marsh and Mangrove Wetlands at USGS.

McKee, K.L., 2010, Coastal Louisiana: impacts of hurricanes on salt marsh and mangrove wetlands [video]: U.S. Geological Survey.

Effects of Sea-Level Rise on Coastal Wetlands in the Mississippi Delta

This video describes research being conducted by Dr. Karen McKee, USGS Research Ecologist, and her university partner, Dr. Julia Cherry. Their goal is to better understand the effects of sea-level rise and other global change factors on coastal wetlands in the Mississippi River Delta. This region contains over 40% of the U.S. wetlands in the lower 48 states These wetlands support commercial fisheries, provide habitat for waterfowl and wildlife, and act as storm buffers, protecting several important ports and cities such as New Orleans McKee and Cherry are conducting field and greenhouse experiments to quantify how plant productivity contributes organic matter to vertical soil building, which helps to counterbalance sea-level rise. They are also investigating how elevated concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere may stimulate plant production and help marshes build vertically and avoid submergence. Their research is contributing to a better understanding of how coastal wetlands persist in the face of changing sea levels and how they may respond in the future.

For more information visit Effects of Sea-Level Rise on Coastal Wetlands in the Mississippi Delta at USGS.

McKee, K.L., 2010, Effects of sea-level rise on coastal wetlands in the Mississippi River Delta [video]: U.S. Geological Survey.