Katrina's Legacy
We have all heard how devastating Hurricane Katrina was on the
people and property in the Gulf Region. But what
lasting impacts has Katrina had on the non-human environment? Scientists
estimate that the effects of Katrina transformed more than 30 square
miles of marsh around the upper portion of Breton Sound to open
water, or 20 to 26 percent of this 133-square mile area. This land
loss potentially further reduces southeastern Louisiana’s natural
protection from future storms. Louisiana already had previously lost
about 1,900 square miles of coastal land, primarily marshes, since
the 1930s.
Loss of wetlands, islands fueled Katrina’s fury
Expert: Louisiana Now More Vulnerable
Natural Buffers Took a Beating
USGS Reports New Wetland Loss from Hurricane Katrina in Southeastern Louisiana
New Orleans Floodwaters Contaminated, EPA Tests Show
Stronger Hurricanes Becoming More Numerous
Before and after photos of some
of Louisiana's barrier islands which used to help protect the mainland
against damage from major storms.
Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Times (see Loss of Wetlands,
Islands Fueled Katrina's Fury, above)
