Can Science Save Coastal Development?
Nicholas School Faculty Members Play Key Roles in Documenting Threats and Offering Ways to Avoid Them p.4
In addition to reducing pollution and providing wildlife habitat, coastal wetlands may also play a role in protecting inland towns and cities from storm surge.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has hired Richardson to conduct an assessment to determine whether or not wetlands could have helped mitigate damage from Hurricane Katrina. Southeast Louisiana once supported enormous cypress forests that were nurtured by sediment from periodic flooding of the Mississippi River. When the river was channelized and floodwaters contained, the flow of sediment was cut off, the marsh subsided and much of the forests died due to salt water intrusion.
“Research scientists say a large number of towns and cities outside of New Orleans could have been protected from storm surge if the wetlands were intact,” Richardson says. “Our role with FEMA is to make recommendations as to where to put research funds related to wetland restoration.”
“The various Nicholas School researchers try to supply the best science they can with respect to the problems of coastal erosion and pollution,” says William H. Schlesinger, dean of the Nicholas School. “We can hope that their work will guide how coastal development unfolds.”
John Manuel is a freelance writer in Durham.
Photos: Larry Crowder; William Kirby-Smith; Mike Orbach; Orrin Pilkey; Curt Richardson