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Losing Louisiana
Over the last century, the World’s sea level rose 8 inches. Changes in coastlines have been
particularly pronounced in Louisiana. Since 1900, over one million acres of the State’s coastal
wetlands have been inundated and converted to open water, and the area of the State’s barrier
islands has been reduced by one-third. Since the 1970’s coastal retreat has become even more
pronounced, with 90% of Louisiana’s shoreline now retreating at a rate of 12 meters a year.
Floods - In a Flash!
Flash floods can take a little as a few minutes to develop, and up to half of all flash flood-related deaths happen in cars. Please remember that it is difficult to judge the depth of flood waters along streets and walkways, and it always best to find another route if you encounter flooding.
Cleaning Up
After flooding events, home and business owners will be faced with cleaning up. Please remember that floodwaters can contain bacteria, hazardous chemicals, floating trash and debris, and other public health hazards. Be sure to protect yourself!
Gulf Coast Tourism
White sand beaches, seafood, and warm weather all make the Gulf of Mexico region a popular vacation spot for people from around the U.S. and the world. There are over 620,000 jobs devoted to this industry, yielding over nine billion dollars in tourism and recreation wages paid each
year in the Gulf Coast region.
Commercial Fishing
The multi-billion commercial fishing industry of the Gulf region has long supported the
livelihood of its residents, and in 2006, three of the top six U.S. commercial fishing ports were
located in the Gulf of Mexico region. The industry averages 1.3 billion pounds of commercial
fishery landings each year, valued at around $662 million.
Gulf Formation
It's estimated that the Gulf of Mexico was formed more than 300 million years ago! While there
are different theories on how the Gulf formed, most scientists think that it formed when the sea
floor subsided.
Estuary Explanation
An estuary is a partially enclosed water body that occurs at a shoreline where saltwater from the ocean mixes with freshwater from a river or stream. Estuaries contain brackish water, which has a salinity between that of freshwater and saltwater. They are important water bodies because they protect against storm surge from tropical storms and act as nurseries for many marine animals' young. Mobile Bay, Galveston Bay, and Tampa Bay are examples of Gulf Coast estuaries.
Gulf Watershed
The area of U.S. land that drains to the Gulf of Mexico - more than 2.3 million square miles - contains more than 150 rivers that are part of 20 major river systems! Annually, about 280 trillion gallons of water flow into the Gulf, with 64% coming from the Mississippi River.
A Head Start
Life may have been present in oceans for billions of years before showing up on land - that's one possible reason for the high diversity of life in our oceans!
Marine Junk Food
Trash in the ocean kills more than one million sea birds and 100,000 marine mammals each year through ingestion and entanglement. Don't litter and recycle to help reduce these numbers.
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