Louisiana scraps coastal erosion project designed to rebuild the state's wetlands

Source: cbs



August 6, 2025 / 9:49 PM EDT / CBS News

New Orleans — Louisiana's coast is under threat as a quarter of the state's wetlands, an area about the size of Delaware, have disappeared in the last 100 years, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The wetlands are a critical buffer that shield Louisiana communities from monster hurricanes.

While massive flood walls and human-made marshes are helpful, coastal scientist Alisha Renfro and campaign director Simone Maloz with the nonprofit group Restore the Mississippi River Delta say say those projects alone are not enough to rebuild and counteract future projected land loss.

"You can reduce storm surge up to a foot with just a mile of coastal wetlands," Renfro told CBS News.

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Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/louisiana-scraps-coastal-erosion-project-designed-to-rebuild-wetlands/