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Current Status of Coastal Wetland Plants Research and Restoration Efforts

Herry Utomo

Coastal Wetlands Symposium

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Coastal wetland disappearance has been a major issue in Louisiana for more than a decade. Efforts are under way to develop superior and highly adaptive native coastal plants, seed-based technologies for large-scale restoration and innovative engineering revegetation techniques. These plant-based products and revegetation technologies are being developed by several laboratories and could be tailored into current construction engineering to develop more successful coastal wetland loss remediation.

The magnitude of Louisiana coastal marsh loss is unprecedented and occurs at the estimated rates of 65-91 km2 annually, representing 80% of the entire coastal wetland loss in the United States. This will necessitate large-scale revegetation efforts to reduce the loss and will require sophisticated approaches beyond a typical crop planting system.

Engineered structures and beneficial, pumped dredge materials used in new marsh creation can be used strategically to slow down the erosion rate and provide a firm base to reduce the effects of subsidence, sea level rise and man-made hydrologic modification, ditching and dredging. Genetically improved native species will help develop robust, healthy and sustainable wetland systems on currently degraded or newly created marshes to maximize ecosystem functionality.
11/21/2008 1:11:58 AM
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