Coastal Erosion (1 Viewer)

[SaintsFan11]

Is anyone else sick to their stomach that our plight has all but disappeared from the national conscience? I recently was able to watch a remarkable documentary titled "Paradise Lost: The Fight for Louisiana" in which specific plans to save our coast were mentioned. It also highlighted the incredible impact that Louisiana has on the nation. What I can't figure out is why Congress hasn't allocated the relatively small sum of money it would take to solve this unparalleled crisis.

More than a year after Katrina and Rita, I can't help but feel a little frightened. We lost so much as a state, and we can't even begin to think about a long-term solution for New Orleans and the rest of coastal Louisiana without a significant investment from the federal government. If the devastating hurricanes which so ravaged our coast aren't serving as a wake up call to the government, what on earth will?

I hate to evoke the name of Bush in this thread, but it just seems like he honestly couldn't care less. The fate of Louisiana hangs in the balance, and I don't see any sense of urgency at all. For the sum of about thirty billion, Louisiana can be protected and saved. This seems like a no-brainer for a country that so relies on our extensive port system and energy and seafood resources.

I teared up watching that documentary, not because Louisiana is naturally destined to wash away, but because it seems like America has condemned it with their utter apathy.

/rant over

 

[BullDawg]

Well...I guess we'll see how the Dems handle the situation.

 

[Redfish]

Well we the USA sure haven't had an issue forking over billions or should I say multi trillions all over this world.

 

[blackadder]

Is anyone else sick to their stomach that our plight has all but disappeared from the national conscience? I recently was able to watch a remarkable documentary titled "Paradise Lost: The Fight for Louisiana" in which specific plans to save our coast were mentioned. It also highlighted the incredible impact that Louisiana has on the nation. What I can't figure out is why Congress hasn't allocated the relatively small sum of money it would take to solve this unparalleled crisis.

More than a year after Katrina and Rita, I can't help but feel a little frightened. We lost so much as a state, and we can't even begin to think about a long-term solution for New Orleans and the rest of coastal Louisiana without a significant investment from the federal government. If the devastating hurricanes which so ravaged our coast aren't serving as a wake up call to the government, what on earth will?

I hate to evoke the name of Bush in this thread, but it just seems like he honestly couldn't care less. The fate of Louisiana hangs in the balance, and I don't see any sense of urgency at all. For the sum of about thirty billion, Louisiana can be protected and saved. This seems like a no-brainer for a country that so relies on our extensive port system and energy and seafood resources.

I teared up watching that documentary, not because Louisiana is naturally destined to wash away, but because it seems like America has condemned it with their utter apathy.

/rant over

Too busy being world policeman.

Domestic needs don't rate unless profit from pork barrell spending is involved.

Schools, roads and infrastructure in disrepair across the country but still we borrow billions to pump out on boondoggles all over the planet that do not add to our domestic productive base and give us not broad economic return.

It's gonna catch up one day and people will wake up and ask "what happened?"

 

[varanook]

Too busy being world policeman.

Domestic needs don't rate unless profit from pork barrell spending is involved.

Schools, roads and infrastructure in disrepair across the country but still we borrow billions to pump out on boondoggles all over the planet that do not add to our domestic productive base and give us not broad economic return.

It's gonna catch up one day and people will wake up and ask "what happened?"

This is absolutely correct. We need to get our nation in order.
1. Huge infrastructure improvements nationwide are in order.
2. umpteen other things that the populace is interested in.
It is time to become somewhat xenophobic, I don't say this to ruin the rest of the world but to help our country make it another 200 years.
I imagine in 10-15 years we could be energy independent and have huge improvements nationwide.

 

[Eeyore]

What you need is another hurricane to bring the focus back on your plight.

 

[Rob Beaux]

Why its so hard to get money....without the politics of "world policemen"

Here is something thats been going on for about 3 to 4 weeks...and its slowly hurting our chances for "loads of money".

Event number 1....a LSU scientist wrote a paper showing more marsh accreation( soil on top of existing marsh) following Rita and Katrina. The data is correct and his analysis is correct. However his paper is short sighted. he compares the marsh accreation to the present activites tha twe are doing and showing a 10 fold increase by hurricanes. Now his paper did not address where that accreation came from....it came from more fragile marsh being "placed" on top of the more inland marsh. Thats is to say the Chandeleur Islands got washed into the Hopedale marsh.

Event number 2....A "big shot" Federal level politician read the paper( or staffer read) and the politician called a Federal scientist fighting to get money and said. "why do you want money for diversion and marsh creation when hurricanes do it naturally and better".

Event Number 3....Another group of scientists writes a counter paper that hasnt made it yet to publication.

Event number 4...(future likely to happen) Politicians read the counter paper adn decide..."you guys dont know enough for us to trust you with billions of dollars." here is a bit more money ( no treally enough) to do some more studies and test projects.

Event 5...rinse lather repeat.

While every one is worried about coastal restoration...not even the scientists who study the problem can agree on what the data means much less how to fix the problem. When I heard about the paper the guy wrote...I was shocked that he could find marsh growth. However after reading it...he is correct but its the things he doesn't say that cause his paper to be a problem for future LA wetlands restoration. The guy is a good scientist and a good guy...he just didnt think how others outside of the field would read and interput his paper.