sessions 31-40
Wednesday, May 21 | 9:00 – 10:30 a.m.
Sessions
• #31 Decision Support & Application – What’s New for the 2029 Coastal Master Plan
• #34 Modeling and Monitoring to Inform Sustainable Fish and Shellfish Populations in Louisiana
Wednesday, May 21 | 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. | Room 286
#31 Decision Support & Application – What’s New for the 2029 Coastal Master Plan
The “Decision Support and Risk Modeling – What’s New for the 2029 Coastal Master Plan” session will provide updates on new information and methodologies that affect coastal Louisiana citizens. The Louisiana Coastal Master Plan has two stated goals: reduce coastal wetland loss while also reducing storm surge-based flood risk. This session will provide information on the new metrics and methodological decision-making approaches that are being considered for use in evaluating the projects proposed to meet these goals for the 2029 Coastal Master Plan.
In addition to exploring newly developed quantitative metrics that look beyond land area, incorporate deep consideration of restoration project outcomes, and reflect measures of community resilience, this session will provide information on the significant improvements in Coastal Master Plan modeling data storage, analysis, and visualization that increase efficiency and facilitate expanded and public use of products. The final presentation discusses the interplay between the consequential FEMA’s Risk Rating 2.0 flood insurance premium calculation changes and Coastal Master Plan flood risk reduction projects. This session will provide attendees with relevant information on how projects will be considered for the 2029 Coastal Master Plan and demonstrate efforts to connect decisions and information with the public.
Moderator: Ashley Cobb – CPRA
Presenters:
• Michael T. Wilson – RAND
• Eric White – CPRA & Valencia Henderson – CPRA
• Matt Yoder – Carnegie Mellon University
• Md Adilur Rahim – Louisiana State University
The Planning Tool is a key component in selecting projects and building robust alternatives for the Coastal Master Plan
Michael T. Wilson – RAND
Based on over a decade’s worth of data processing and multicriteria optimizing algorithms, as well as interactive visualizations, CPRA’s Master Plan Team is exploring new methodological approaches based on retrospective analysis of the 2023 Coastal Master Plan results. For example, the team is testing modifications of the Planning Tool that allow the consideration of: (1) a more realistic distribution of resources with different project-dependent streams of funding allocations, (2) the effects of specific constraints on project selection, and (3) additional what-if design parameters, such as offering a minimal level of protection coastwide. The preliminary findings discussed in this presentation will help inform whether there need to be additional implementation constraints to select various sets of optimal projects for the 2029 Coastal Master Plan alternatives.
New Metrics Being Considered for the 2029 Coastal Master Plan
Eric White – CPRA
Valencia Henderson – CPRA
Louisiana’s Coastal Master Plan serves as a prioritization guide for how the state will spend its funds most effectively in order to meet the Master Plan’s two stated goals of reducing coastal wetland loss and reducing storm surge-based risk. Every Master Plan cycle begins by reviewing feedback on the previous Master Plan process and incorporating recommended improvements. The 2029 Coastal Master Plan will further build upon the 2023 plan advancements and recommendations as we explore new project evaluation metrics for the 2029 plan update. In addition to these goals, there are less quantitative objectives the plan aims to improve, but has not explicitly used as decision criteria in the past. These objectives include, among others, providing diverse coastal habitats and utilizing natural processes for coastal restoration measures. The 2029 plan update developed quantitative metrics that represent these objectives and can potentially be used as new decision criteria for project selection. New metrics being considered include: measures of community resilience to better understand the greatest challenges/opportunities for storm surge-based flood risk reduction and how different coastal communities may experience future risk; incorporating deep consideration of restoration project outcomes; generating a “likelihood of land” surface which serves to collapse the dimensionality of the Master Plan analysis; and looking beyond land area to a “contiguity of land” metric to prioritize solid parcels of coastal wetland. Beyond land metrics, metrics developed as part of wetland value assessments have also been added to the Master Plan’s 2029 modeling outputs.
Smart and Lazy: Intelligent Data Storage for On-the-Fly Analysis and Visualization
Matt Yoder – Carnegie Mellon University
For the 2029 update to Louisiana’s Coastal Master Plan, the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center is working with the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority and Arcadis to develop a web-based portal for QA/QC and analysis of model results. The portal will support real-time comparison of model outputs and dynamic generation of interactive maps and charts without requiring additional post-processing steps. It will allow the modeling teams to inspect model results and discuss issues directly in a web browser without needing to download data.
To support real-time analysis and visualization, the team is implementing a new data storage strategy optimized for the expected access patterns. Past versions of the Master Plan stored model data in raw, unoptimized formats. These data formats required extensive post-processing, delaying the process of reviewing model results. The new data storage strategy employs “smart” data formats that support features like compression, indexing, and random access. It enables “lazy” analysis and visualization of the data in real-time, reducing the need for post-processing and making results available for review as soon as a model run completes. Combined with new APIs and the web-based portal, the data storage strategy will streamline the development of the 2029 Coastal Master Plan and simplify the process of sharing data with the broader research community.
2029 Coastal Master Plan: Flood Insurance Implications of Future Scenarios and Projects
Md Adilur Rahim – Louisiana State University
The National Flood Insurance Program’s Pricing Approach (Risk Rating 2.0, RR2.0), FEMA’s new flood insurance pricing methodology, has placed significant financial strain on coastal Louisiana residents with an average premium increase of 306%. The Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority actively mitigates storm surge-based flood risk in coastal Louisiana through the implementation of Coastal Master Plan restoration and risk reduction projects; however, understanding the interplay between RR2.0 and flood risk reduction during the planning process and selection of the projects has not yet been undertaken. As part of this initiative, this project focuses on understanding the implications of future environmental scenarios and master plan restoration and risk reduction projects on flood insurance premiums and affordability under FEMA’s RR2.0 framework. We will develop a RR2.0 model tailored for master plan projects that integrates predicted landscape data from the Integrated Compartment Model (ICM), master plan project attributes, and parcel-level asset and flood depth data from the Coastal Louisiana Risk Assessment (CLARA) model. The model will utilize existing tools developed by our team to extract geographical factors for each property. We aim to calculate full risk premiums at the individual property level, accounting for both current conditions and projected changes due to master plan projects. This integration allows for evaluating the potential impact of master plan projects on flood insurance costs and affordability, offering valuable insights for policymakers, insurers, and property owners.
Wednesday, May 21 | 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. | Room 287
#32 Waters, wetlands, and the coast: From the U.S. Supreme Court to the Louisiana district courts and everyplace in between
This session explores the evolving legal frameworks at the federal, state, and local levels that affect coastal protection and water resources. It traces the development of U.S. wetland regulations from the 1980s to the present, with particular focus on the regulatory impact of the 2023 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Sackett v. EPA, and how federal agencies have navigated these issues over time. At the state level, Louisiana’s Public Trust Doctrine has long served as a cornerstone of environmental protection, and the session also delves into its complexities and how it applies to the state’s water resources. Additionally, local governments have become increasingly involved in disputes regarding the scope of federal and state authority in coastal protection and restoration projects within their jurisdictions. This session reviews the implications of legal developments across all levels of government and offers insights into the future of policy, legislation, and litigation in these areas.
Moderator: Megan Terrell – Plauché and Carr
Panelists:
• Valerie Black – ROW
• David Peterson – Louisiana Department of Justice
• Ryan Seidemann – The Water Institute & Harry Vorhoff – Plauché and Carr
Organizer: Ryan Seidemann – The Water Institute
I have Trust Issues & you should too! Comparing federal and state public trust doctrines and whether they adequately protect water resources.
Valerie Black – ROW
Louisiana’s Constitution contains the Public Trust Doctrine in Article IX, which mandates “[t]he natural resources of the state, including air and water, and the healthful, scenic, historic, and esthetic quality of the environment shall be protected, conserved, and replenished insofar as possible and consistent with the health, safety, and welfare of the people. The legislature shall enact laws to implement this policy.” This presentation is a review of the public trust doctrine in several states and at the federal level, as well as a discussion of laws and regulations that are relevant to the state’s water resources.
The Post-Sackett Regulatory Landscape
David A. Peterson – Louisiana Department of Justice
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ interpretation of the Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency U.S. Supreme Court decision reflects a significant shift in how federal jurisdiction over wetlands and other water bodies is determined under the Clean Water Act. In the 2023 Sackett ruling, the Supreme Court narrowed the definition of “waters of the United States,” limiting federal regulatory authority to only those waters with a continuous surface connection to traditional navigable waters. This interpretation marks a substantial departure from the more inclusive definitions provided in earlier court decisions. In response to this decision, the USACE is working to revise its guidance and regulatory framework to reflect the narrower scope of jurisdiction as interpreted by the Court. Specifically, the Corps now applies a more stringent standard for determining whether a water body or wetland falls under federal regulation, requiring evidence of a clear and continuous surface connection to navigable waters. This interpretation is expected to reduce the scope of federal permitting and regulation for certain land development projects, potentially altering environmental protections for smaller or isolated water bodies. The regulatory shift aligns with the Court’s focus on limiting federal reach, while continuing to maintain oversight of traditionally navigable waters and adjacent wetlands critical to national water quality. This presentation explores the practical and regulatory ramifications of the new definition of “waters of the United States,” how that new definition is being implemented at a regulatory level, and the significance of the decision for coastal protection and restoration efforts in general.
“Waters of the United States:” Wetlands’ Contentious History Under the Clean Water Act—Riverside Bayview to Sacket and Beyond
Harry Vorhoff – Plauché and Carr
Ryan Seidemann – The Water Institute
Perhaps one of the most contentiously-fought components of the Clean Water Act since its inception in 1972 has been the extent of federal authority under Section 404 of that law. Congress provided for the protection against dredging and filling of “waters of the United States,” but provided no definition of that term. From 1985 through 2001, the enforcement agencies and the U.S. Supreme Court took a fairly expansive view of that provision, allowing CWA protections to extend into areas that may colloquially be referred to as “wetlands.” With the Court’s 2001 decision in the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, that expansive interpretation—one that had long benefitted conservation and habitat protection goals—began to be constricted, changing 30-years-worth of environmental protections into governmental takings. A succession of cases has further constrained the connection between “waters of the United States” and “wetlands,” culminating in the Sackett v. EPA decision in 2023. This presentation is a review of Sackett and its implications, the series of events that led from the CWA’s original language to its current interpretation, and the disconnect between scientific and legal understandings of water connectivity and its regulation on the other. We will present proposals for future “wetlands” and water protections in a post-Sackett world. with a particular focus on Louisiana’s “wetlands” regulatory scheme and the impacts of this history on the protection of these vital systems.
Wednesday, May 21 | 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. | Room 291
#33 RESTORE Act Center of Excellence for Louisiana: Using Novel Technologies to Advance Coastal Restoration and the Louisiana Coastal Master Plan
The mission of the RESTORE Act Center of Excellence for Louisiana (LA-COE) is to provide research directly relevant to the implementation of Louisiana’s Coastal Master Plan by administering a competitive grants program and providing the appropriate coordination and oversight support to ensure research goals are tracked and achieved. Since its establishment in 2016, LA-COE has provided more than $9.3 million in funding through three requests for proposal (RFP) cycles. That funding has supported 108 Louisiana undergraduates, graduates, and post-doctoral researchers, resulting in 26 published journal articles and 30 datasets made publicly available.
On June 24, 2024, LA-COE announced nearly $4 million in funding through RFP cycle 3 (RFP3) to support 12 2-year projects including three Graduate Assistantship Awards and nine Research Awards. In this session, four RFP3 Research Award recipients, including Dr. Madeline Foster-Martinez (University of New Orleans), Dr. Corina Barbalata (Louisiana State University), Dr. Navid Jafari (Louisiana State University), and Dr. Gary LaFleur (Nicholls State University), will present on their research that aims to use novel technologies to advance coastal restoration science and implementation. These technologies include an automated tool for water quality assessment, custom-built sensors for determining vegetation establishment thresholds, instrumented settlement plates enhancement for marsh creation monitoring, and innovative methods to measure flotant marsh extent and stability.
Moderator: Jessica Henkel – RESTORE Act Center of Excellence for Louisiana
Presenters:
• Abby Eckland – University of New Orleans
• Gary LaFleur – Nicholls State University Biological Sciences
• Navid Jafari – Louisiana State University
• Corina Barbalata – Louisiana State University
Determining Vegetation Establishment Thresholds with Custom-Built Sensors
Abby Eckland – University of New Orleans
Building new land is a primary goal of the Louisiana Coastal Master Plan. To forecast land changes and the impact of projects, it is important to identify thresholds for vegetation establishment. Vegetation acts to kickstart the land building process by slowing flow, trapping additional sediment, and starting an ecological succession, and therefore, the timing of initial establishment can have an outsized impact on modeling results. Our approach is to observe the vegetation establishment process on the ground in two deltaic wetland environments, Bay Uhlan and Wax Lake Delta, and one marsh creation site. Five transects per site will be established and extensively monitored. The transects will be centered on the 10 cm below mean water level. We achieve the spatial resolution needed to accurately assess the water depth and duration of inundation at the plot scale by deploying three water level loggers per transect. The loggers have an arm-and-float construction and are custom-built for the conditions at each site. Through an intensive field campaign, we will record environmental conditions (e.g., salinity, wave activity), assess site characteristics (e.g., soil strength, sediment type), and non-destructively survey vegetation. Here, we will present data collected over the spring of 2025. This dataset will be used to improve models of deltaic wetlands and marsh creation projects.
Instrumented Settlement Plates Enhancement for Marsh Creation Monitoring
Navid Jafari – Louisiana State University
A key to the success of marsh creation projects is understanding and projecting the behavior of the dredged sediment, especially once it starts settling and forms a mudline. Field monitoring of the mudline allows for better quantification of settling and target soil elevations at the end of the project. Preexisting instrumented settlement plates (ISPs) consist of a total pressure cell and vibrating wire piezometer to provide an estimate of the initial slurry concentration. However, they lack the ability to determine the new mudline interface as self-weight consolidation begins. This study aims to enhance the existing capabilities of the ISPs by developing a proof-of-concept sensor (CHIRP 2™ and Raspberry Pi) to facilitate scanning and data retrieval, and a visualization of the mudline can be utilized to enhance the process of dredging. The CHIRP 2 sensor functions differently from conventional sonars by sending multiple frequencies per ping allowing for a varying balance of depth and detail. Although the CHIRP 2 was originally developed for commercial fishing, the small waterproof form factor along with the associated Fish Deeper app could make it viable to detect the mudline. The proof-of-concept studies will focus on the CHIRP sensor’s ability to detect changes in the mudline across different settling column experiments before being tested in the field. The settling column experiments will focus on sand and clay. Due to the CHIRP 2’s capability to measure into the mudline, the experiments will elucidate the depth of penetration and any possible sediment property. The CHIRP 2 will also be tested with a locally connected mobile device to validate sensor performance. Finally, the sensor will be configured for remote use. To facilitate intermittent and remote scanning, a Raspberry Pi running Android will be connected and accessible via secure remote connection.
Developing Methods to Measure Flotant Marsh Extent and Stability in the Barataria-Terrebonne Estuary System
Gary LaFleur – Nicholls State University Biological Sciences
Flotant marsh is an integral habitat of the marshes of Louisiana’s estuary continuum. The floating characteristic creates a tenuous stability that can be disrupted by stressors such as herbivory, eutrophication, increased salinity, water level rise, and storms. Reports of substantial damage to flotant marsh within the Barataria-Terrebonne Estuary System were common after Hurricane Ida, where several sites transitioned from marsh to open water. In our project we are using methods that will allow scoring flotant marsh from healthy and stable to being in danger of mat separation and breakup. We will enhance conventional in-situ monitoring with eDNA analysis and a combination of hyperspectral and lidar surveys. The eDNA sampling will allow us to document the presence of detrimental species such as plants like Chinese Tallow and Parrot Feather or herbivorous animals such as Apple Snails and Nutria. We will also collect hyperspectral and lidar imagery with uncrewed aerial vehicles. We have used hyperspectral data in the past to document growth cycles and plant health with normalized difference vegetation index. Lidar will allow us to measure the distance of the vegetative canopy to the surface of the water, and this will help us detect topographical features and structural fissures in the mat that may be hidden from satellite imagery. Our field sites include flotant marsh located near Lake de Cade, Lake Fields, and Lac des Allemands offering a range of profiles and assemblages across the BTES. This project will also build capacity through mentorship of three graduate students at Nicholls.
The Capabilities of Autonomous Marine Robots for Coastal Studies
Corina Barbalata – Louisiana State University
Louisiana’s freshwater lakes and bayous are vulnerable to nutrient enrichment processes that promote toxic and noxious phytoplankton blooms, including toxic cyanobacteria. The production of cyanobacteria toxins not only affects freshwater and brackish fisheries but also places a potential risk to human health as Louisiana’s fish and shellfish, a cultural icon, are consumed by millions of people. Therefore, it is vital to scientifically characterize the spatiotemporal distributions and successions of different cyanobacteria species and types of toxins produced and identify actors controlling cellular growth and production of toxins to mitigate and manage these natural resources properly. In this talk we will discuss the steps taken to develop a suite of tools aimed at measuring, quantifying, and forecasting Harmful Algae Bloom (HBA) in Louisiana’s coastal waters. The initiative utilizes an autonomous surface vehicle, equipped with environmental and optical sensors, to gather water parameters critical for identifying HABs. These autonomous technologies facilitate the detection and visualization of subtle shifts in water layer direction and magnitude. The data gathered with these marine robots is used to develop mathematical models to predict the future 3D movement of nutrients and particles within water currents. These enable rapid, comprehensive monitoring of large areas, facilitating early detection of environmental stressors. This proactive approach is crucial for maintaining the health of these vital ecosystems and ensuring the continued prosperity of the state.
Wednesday, May 21 | 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. | Room 292
#34 Modeling and Monitoring to Inform Sustainable Fish and Shellfish Populations in Louisiana
This session will explore the role of oysters and estuarine fishes in Louisiana’s coastal restoration efforts. Presentations will showcase innovative modeling techniques to simulate oyster larval transport and population dynamics, emphasizing the impacts of salinity and temperature on larval growth and settlement. Additionally, field monitoring data will be examined to assess the effects of habitat restoration on estuarine populations. These studies provide insights into the connectivity among habitats, the environmental drivers to determine the success of oysters and other key estuarine fish species, and the implications for designing effective restoration projects to support sustainable populations into the future for coastal Louisiana.
Moderator: Shaye Sable – Dynamic Solutions, LLC
Presenters:
• Zhengchen “John” Zang – Louisiana State University
• Timothy Stephens – Dynamic Solutions, LLC
• Shawn Doyle – The Water Institute
Low and variable salinity reduce eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) larval growth and settlement: a numerical modeling study in Barataria Bay, Louisiana
Zhengchen “John” Zang – Louisiana State University
The eastern oyster is an important bivalve species in coastal Louisiana due to its role as an ecosystem engineer and its high commercial value. Given the importance of larval growth, mortality, and transport to oyster population dynamics, we developed a coupled physical-larval transport, growth, and mortality model from 2014 to 2018 to examine the spatial pattern of oyster larval dispersal during spring spawning season and to explore the primary environmental drivers (i.e., temperature and salinity) affecting oyster larvae growth, survival, and settlement in Barataria Bay, Louisiana. Low salinity (< 10 PSU) during the spring spawning season is identified as the primary factor contributing to reduced larval growth and failure of larvae settlement. The idealized 0-D oyster larvae growth simulations indicate that increased salinity variability can further exacerbate the negative impact of water freshening on larvae growth. High failure rates of larval settlement due to unfavorable temperature and salinity conditions limit the connectivity between oyster habitats within Barataria Bay. Given the profound impacts of climate change and anthropogenic disturbances on salinity and other water quality parameters in Barataria Bay, a better understanding of the relationship between oyster larval growth, survival and settlement to spatio-temporally dynamic stressors would inform management decisions and help forecast the outcomes of proposed restoration.
Modeling larval transport to support oyster reef restoration
Timothy Stephens – Dynamic Solutions, LLC
Process-based modeling approaches that incorporate the spatial and temporal connectivity between individual shellfish reefs fill a critical gap to inform oyster restoration decisions. We are developing a metapopulation model that tracks oyster larvae from release through settlement as spat on reefs, and then tracks daily mortality, growth, and reproduction on the reefs to simulate the full oyster life cycle over multiple years within an estuary. This study presents results from the oyster larval transport component (release to settlement) in Barataria Bay, LA from 2014–2018. We modified a prominent offline transport model, the Lagrangian TRANSport model (LTRANS) to include representative biological behavior functions from the Dekshenieks (DEK) oyster larval model. The offline LTRANS model is driven by ROMS hydrodynamic output, and simulated daily egg production from oyster reef point models throughout the basin drive larval release scenarios. We quantified connectivity between larval source reefs and designated settlement regions, settlement success rates, and histories of larval exposure to salinity and temperature. Results revealed spatial and temporal differences in success rates due to larval transport patterns and the impacts of salinity and temperature on larval growth and reef specific reproduction (particle releases). These methods advance process representation in an efficient and transferable metapopulation modeling framework for simulating oyster population dynamics, provide useful information to address key management questions, and support restoration efforts.
Original Proposal Number: #204
Assessing the Localized Impact of Coastal Restoration on Estuarine Nekton in Louisiana
Shawn Doyle – The Water Institute
Coastal Louisiana has experienced significant habitat loss from storms, subsidence, levee construction along the Mississippi River, and oil spills, leading to extensive restoration efforts, including marsh creation and barrier island reconstruction. We evaluated the impacts of these restoration projects on estuarine nekton populations at sub-basin scales, using long-term (2005–2022) fisheries-independent monitoring data from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Fisheries-Independent Monitoring Program (FIMP). We examined the response of nekton to habitat restoration using generalized additive models while controlling for environmental variability by including salinity, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity as predictors. Significant restoration effects were detected in 37 of 102 models, though responses varied across species, life stages, and sampling gears employed. Habitat fragmentation at multiple spatial scales also influenced nekton distributions. In some cases, we found long-term monitoring data can detect restoration impacts at sub-basin scales, even though the FIMP monitoring design was not developed to evaluate the effects of restoration. Though the strongest drivers of nekton catch per unit effort were temporal factors (e.g., seasonality), we observed that both restoration efforts and habitat fragmentation can significantly influence nekton distributions. The results underscore the importance of spatial scale in understanding nekton-habitat relationships and provide a foundation for future efforts to develop restoration targets and reference ranges for programmatic restoration evaluation as well as design of effective restoration monitoring.
Wednesday, May 21 | 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. | Room 290
#35 Integrating Multi-Hazard Resilience into Louisiana’s 2024 State Hazard Mitigation Plan: Innovations and Challenges
As climate change intensifies, Louisiana faces growing risks from natural hazards such as hurricanes, flooding, coastal erosion, and extreme heat. The 2024 Louisiana State Hazard Mitigation Plan (SHMP) is a comprehensive update designed to address these escalating challenges by fostering a multi-hazard approach to resilience.
This panel discussion will explore the process, innovations, and challenges involved in developing the 2024 SHMP, with a focus on integrating new scientific data, addressing equity, and prioritizing community-driven mitigation strategies. Panelists will discuss the role of advanced tools such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing in improving hazard mapping and risk assessment.
A key theme will be stakeholder engagement: panelists will highlight how collaboration with local governments, community organizations, and residents ensured the plan reflects diverse priorities and promotes sustainable, equitable solutions.
Through case studies, best practices, and lessons learned, this session will provide insights into the evolving landscape of hazard mitigation planning in Louisiana and its importance for building long-term resilience in the face of climate challenges.
Moderator: Robert Rohli – LSU
Panelists:
• Monica Farris – UNO-CHART
• Meggan Franks – LSU AgCenter
• Carol Friedland – LaHouse Research and Education Center, LSU AgCenter
• Jeffrey Giering – GOHSEP
• Rubayet Bin Mostafiz – Louisiana State University Agricultural Center
Organizer: Rubayet Bin Mostafiz – Louisiana State University Agricultural Center
Wednesday, May 21 | 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. | Room 289
#36 Processing Social-Ecological Change: Adapting Cities, Communities, and Ourselves
This session brings together diverse perspectives from engineering, design, psychology, and anthropology to reflect on the challenges that environmental changes pose to communities. With topics ranging from urban design and flood risk management to the community-building power of grief and anxiety, the session examines how we process change and how that change can translate into growth and adaptation. Twenty Years After Katrina recalls the failures exposed during Katrina and highlights the improvements and remaining challenges we face regarding flood risk management. The New Orleans Public Space Project researches holistic designs for distributed and multi-functional infrastructures in public spaces that address challenges facing New Orleans. 504-907: Navigating Change through the Lens of Two Landscapes, a comparative photographic project, bridges the landscapes of Southern Louisiana and Interior Alaska, drawing attention to how cultural identity and daily life evolve amid shifting environments. Finally, Normalizing Ecological Grief and Anxiety examines our emotional responses to environmental loss and the existential threat of climate change and how processing these emotions can help us rebuild community. Together, these presentations offer multidisciplinary perspectives on how we can process and grow from our collective traumas, fears, and losses, to adapt our cities, communities, and ourselves with intention, kindness, and beauty.
Moderator: Michael Biros – CRCL
Presenters:
• Bob Jacobsen – Bob Jacobsen PE, LLC
• Miles Jordan – Louisiana State University
• Amy Kennedy – ALongNewThread.com
• Sean Fowler – Tulane School of Architecture
Twenty Years After Katrina: Fundamental Flood Risk Lessons We Must Finish Learning
Bob Jacobsen – Bob Jacobsen PE, LLC
Flood risk management has witnessed many astounding advances since the catastrophic inundation of New Orleans in August 2005. Nevertheless, there are fundamental lessons yet to be fully adopted. Escalating climate change demands accelerating wider understanding of ten basic topics: comprehensive flood exposure; flood hazard and risk metrics; evolving flood science; uncertainty; property-stakeholder due diligence; insurance pricing; insurance participation; cost-effective risk mitigation; the limitations of risk mitigation; and equity. This presentation addresses key lessons under these topics—recalling severe failures exposed during Katrina, highlighting twenty years of improvement, and emphasizing remaining challenges.
504-907: Navigating Change through the Lens of Two Landscapes
Miles Jordan – Louisiana State University
The 2025 State of the Coast Conference theme, Our Changing Coast, resonates deeply with my project, 504-907, which explores the dynamic interplay between Southern Louisiana and Interior Alaska through diptych compositions. Both regions embody the notion that change is the only constant—an idea familiar to those who live and work along our coastlines. This project, shaped by personal experiences and critical events such as Hurricane Katrina and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, aims to reveal the daily rhythms and cultural nuances that define these landscapes. By employing traditional street and documentary photography techniques, I capture the essence of life in New Orleans and Fairbanks. The diptych format serves as a narrative device, juxtaposing elements of everyday life—people, homes, and urban details like graffiti—to illuminate the intricate connections and distinctions between these places.
At its core, 504-907 is a meditation on the longing for connection and the preservation of cultural identity amid ongoing change. It evokes a shared nostalgia and sense of belonging, reflecting cherished traditions while acknowledging the inevitable transformations that shape our communities. In doing so, the project seeks to contribute to the Southern fine art tradition, drawing inspiration from iconic photographers like William Eggleston and William Christenberry as we collectively navigate the complexities of our coastal environment.
Normalizing Ecological Grief and Anxiety
Amy Kennedy – ALongNewThread.com
While there are many forums for people to talk about the climate crisis from a scientific, engineering, or political perspective, there aren’t many spaces that allow us to examine our emotional responses to environmental loss and the existential threat of climate change. Many attendees leave events feeling overwhelmed and looking for a way to debrief and connect with others over their shared fear and sadness.
Unfortunately, some of the most explicit and powerful ideas that could help us make sense of our feelings about the climate crisis are trapped in the convoluted verbiage and puzzling syntax of academia. With this presentation, I will explicitly introduce the concepts of ecological grief and anxiety and discuss the community-building power of these universal emotions. Separating the 15 minutes into 3 main components, I will present: 1. The most common reasons people avoid thinking about/discussing ecological grief; 2. A list of 3-5 foundational concepts from eco-criticism and environmental psychology; 3. Ways to build and strengthen emergent communities rooted in the regular discussion of ecological grief and anxiety. My presentation will lean on the research of clinical psychologist Renee Lertzman, adrienne maree brown, Timothy Morton, and Glenn Albrecht.
Ecological grief and anxiety are the elephants in the room during many discussions about climate change, formal and informal. The more tools–and language–we have to process our own fear, anger, and grief about what Louisiana has already lost, the more prepared we will be to protect what we can still save.
The New Orleans Public Space Project: An urbanism research studio projecting urban reform for continued habitation
Sean Fowler – Tulane School of Architecture
The New Orleans Public Space Project is an ongoing research project and associated multi-year design studio by the Tulane School of Architecture addressing urban challenges facing New Orleans and exacerbated by climate change. Addressed issues include stormwater management, loss of ecology, urban heat islands, shade, inequitable park access, mobility and transit, traffic pollution, food access and affordable housing.
The project began with a proposal to manage stormwater with distributed and nature-based systems in, along and under residential streets. Parks and stormwater lots are commonly used for this function, but in many of the most impacted neighborhoods, the right-of-way is the only open and public space available for intervention. A system of multi-functional, performant and distributed infrastructures within the public way could capture, store and infiltrate stormwater to reduce burdens on the existing drainage system and support additional local ecology through nature-based solutions.
Using this earlier proposal as a framework, the research studio has further researched potential designs for distributed and multi-functional infrastructures in public spaces which address challenges facing New Orleans. This New Orleans Public Space Project has developed into a larger-scale program of urban reform with the thesis that a holistic design for the future can address current challenges and future challenges further exacerbated by climate change.
This presentation will share current pedagogy, results of the first two years and future student-engaged research.
Wednesday, May 21 | 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. | Room 288
#37 Resilience Lessons Learned Beyond Louisiana
Speakers will offer a wide range of perspectives on resilience work in Jacksonville, Miami Dade, Texas, and the United Kingdom. Innovative approaches will be discussed, including the Resilient Jacksonville strategy, which drew from lessons learned from the Louisiana Coastal Master Plan and the New Orleans Resilience Strategy. Novel aspects of Jacksonville’s resilience program will be discussed, including separating the city into development types for place-based implementation, a consequence analysis of future growth patterns, and a cutting-edge compound flood model. Additionally, panelists will share lessons learned from a collaborative effort between Miami-Dade County and the Army Corps of Engineers on the Miami-Dade Back Bay Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study. The result of this study was a plan that incorporates nature-based solutions and non-structural solutions. Ducks Unlimited will discuss their work in Texas, where they have been working to identify, prioritize, plan, design, permit, and construct sites for the beneficial reuse of dredged materials; this planning process is building consensus for projects from Port Arthur to Brownsville. Panelists from the UK will share a strategic coastal risk management framework which developed through Shoreline Management Plans will be shared; this framework has evolved with tailored applications in multiple locations globally, including Belize, the USA, Abu Dhabi and Singapore. Another planning effort from the UK that will be highlighted is the Thames Estuary 2100 Plan, which sets a long-term approach to managing risk, and was designed with climate change at its core. Panelists from the UK will report rates of organic carbon accumulation in restored saltmarshes and will discuss financial modelling results comparing the income from blue carbon to construction and operation costs for projects with implications for future blue carbon saltmarsh projects. This diverse panel will provide insight into resilience work globally.
Moderator: Anne Coglianese – City of Jacksonville
Lightning Presenters:
• Anne Coglianese – City of Jacksonville
• Colleen McHugh – The Water Institute
• Andrew Wright – SCAPE Landscape Architecture
• Matthew Martinec – CSRS
• Adam Hosking – Jacobs
• Aaron Horine – Anchor QEA, Inc.
• Lynette Cardoch – Moffat & Nichol
• Charles Schelpe – Jacobs, TEAM2100
Innovations in Resilience Planning and Policy in Jacksonville, FL
Anne Coglianese – City of Jacksonville
Colleen McHugh – The Water Institute
Andrew Wright – SCAPE Landscape Architecture
Matthew Martinec – CSRS
Jacksonville, Florida is the largest city by land mass in the continental United States, and its position on the Atlantic Ocean and St. Johns River makes it susceptible to compound flooding. This session will discuss recent work in Jacksonville to improve resilience planning and policy to address flooding. Panelists will discuss the recently published Resilient Jacksonville strategy, which drew from lessons learned from the Louisiana Coastal Master Plan and the New Orleans Resilience Strategy. Novel aspects of the Resilient Jacksonville strategy will be discussed, including separation of the city into development types for place-based actions and a consequence analysis of future growth patterns, comparing current vs. resilient practices. This session will also discuss how resilience is being incorporated into policies and practices, including updates to land development regulations to encourage infill in areas that are at low risk of flooding and are well connected to transportation infrastructure. Updates have been coordinated with a team of consultants and an advisory group made up of developers, development attorneys, engineers, and other stakeholders, including affordable housing advocates. A cutting-edge compound flood model is being used to identify lower risk areas for targeted infill development. A score card will allow developers to qualify for incentives, such as density and height bonuses for resilient design plans. The panel will highlight how Jacksonville is incorporating science and data into planning and decision making for resilience. Lessons learned from resilience work in Jacksonville are applicable to resilience efforts in other flood prone coastal regions, including Louisiana.
An Adaptive Pathway to Coastal Resilience
Adam Hosking – Jacobs
The sustainability of our coastal communities and economy is depend upon extensive systems of human and natural infrastructure. These systems need to be reliable, resilient to extreme events and adaptive to future changes in economic and environment conditions as well as adaptable to potential future climate change.
The strategic coastal risk management framework which developed through Shoreline Management Plans (SMP) in the UK, has evolved with tailored applications in multiple locations globally, including Belize, the USA, Abu Dhabi and Singapore. These approaches each have a slightly different focus, with the outcomes for existing and future development always a key consideration. This development and infrastructure, and the associated communities, require confidence in their future flood and erosion exposure.
In making long term decisions, it is important to make and implement choices that are robust and adaptive. This paper considers approaches being adopted to deliver confidence in coastal management decision making, while providing the scope to adjust course as necessary in the face of future climate.
Texas-Sized Planning Effort for Beneficial Use of Dredged Material
Aaron Horine – Anchor QEA, Inc.
Millions of cubic yards of sediment are dredged from federal channels, which are critical to maintaining Texas’s maritime commerce, each year along the vast coast of Texas and are subsequently “lost” from sediment starved systems. Most of this dredged material goes to either confined or open bay Placement Areas (PAs), many of which are nearing capacity and provide little environmental benefit. This common method of disposal of dredged material is an unfortunate, lost opportunity for our coastal wetlands and other coastal assets, which are being impacted by sea level rise and other coastal hazards.
A solution to this problem is Beneficial Use (BU) of Dredged Material. BU efforts help to retain material within the geomorphological system and restore coastal wetlands while augmenting the United States Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE’s) effort to shift at least 70% material dredged from federal channels to a beneficial use by 2030 (70/30 Target).
Ducks Unlimited (DU) has been leading a multi-year effort in Texas to identify, prioritize, plan, design, permit, and construct BU sites. The lynchpin of this effort is an ongoing RESTORE Act-funded Texas Master Plan for the Beneficial Use of Dredged Material (Master Plan) project. This planning process is coordinating efforts, building consensus, identifying and prioritizing sites of future BU projects from Port Arthur to Brownsville. The planning effort is relying on input from key stakeholders that represent state and federal agencies, NGOs (Non Governmental Organizations), municipalities, and private landowners.
Miami-Dade County’s Journey of USACE CSRM Innovation
Lynette Cardoch – Moffat & Nichol
Miami-Dade County (MDC) and the Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) engaged in a first of its kind process with the Miami-Dade Back Bay Coastal Storm Risk Management (CSRM) Feasibility Study. This study, originally authorized in 2018, encountered a brief pause after the 2020 Tentatively Selected Plan (TSP) and 2021 Recommended Plan was found to not align with MDC’s vision. With purposeful communication between MDC the Assistant Secretary of the Army, the Study entered into a one-year restart period in which parties worked to develop alternatives that reduce risk and enhance the natural & urban environment. This one-year restart period was the first of its kind in the realm of USACE studies and placed MDC in a unique position to be integrated into the alternative development process and advocate for solutions that were pursuant to their needs and also pursuant to the changing USACE framework, including the federal guidance to prioritize nature-based solutions and the introduction of Comprehensive Benefits. Increased public engagement supported by comprehensible visualizations was key to success of the one-year restart. A new study was released in 2024, culminating with a signed Chief’s Report in August 2024. It awaits WRDA authorization. This TSP is unique in that it proposes a new comprehensive framework that sets the philosophy for future work and recommends 2 additional programs. One is the nature-based solutions pilot program, recommended at $180 million for implementation. The other is advancing non-structural solutions of more complex building types for $6 million.
Thames Estuary Asset Management Adaptive Pathway Strategy
Charles Schelpe – Jacobs, TEAM2100
The Thames Estuary is an international hub of cultural, commercial and economic activity. Over £321 billion worth of property and 1.4 million people are protected from flooding by a vast and complex network of tidal defences. The tidal defence network is made up of 330 kilometres of flood walls, embankments, nine major barriers, pumping stations, and flood gates. These structures are all having to work harder as climate change accelerates. Alongside climate change, the population continues to grow. This growth will not be sustainable if it is not protected from flood risk.
The Thames Estuary 2100 Plan sets a long-term approach to managing this risk, and was designed with climate change at its core. By taking an adaptive approach, we can better anticipate and respond to a range of future climate scenarios, ensuring we are investing in the right flood risk management actions at the right time, to ensure the resilience of the estuary and its communities.
There are significant social, environmental and economic benefits that could be delivered through reshaping our riversides to manage rising sea levels, including reaching net zero and tackling climate change. Partnership working will be key to the success of the Thames Estuary 2100 Plan. No organisation is big enough to do this alone. Individuals, businesses and government need to work together to create a resilient Thames Estuary.
This presentation will provide a summary of the strategic approach taken by the Environment Agency to manage the long-term tidal flood risk in the Thames estuary, London.
Wednesday, May 21 | 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. | Room 285
#38 Observations and Numerical Modeling of biogeomorphic and salinity dynamics in the Lower Mississippi River and the birdsfoot delta complex: a MissDelta Session
The Mississippi River is a major source of water and sediment to the Gulf of Mexico. An estimated 79 to 92% of freshwater, with the associated sediments and nutrients, enters the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) from the Mississippi River system heavily influencing the stability of the coastline and the health of the marine ecosystems. The topic of this session is a component of the larger Mississippi River Delta Initiative (MissDelta). This session cuts across several activities of the larger MissDelta initiative. This session includes four diverse presentations; a) a summary of field observations of sediment, salinity, and water discharge measurements in birdsfoot delta and the major Lowermost Mississippi River outlets; b) investigation of the ecogeomorphic feedback in the Mississippi River Delta using integrated morphodynamic and vegetation modules within the Delft3D suite; c) salinity trends and adverse salinization effects in coastal Louisiana; and d) analysis of drought events in the Lower Mississippi River using statistical analysis and numerical modeling. MissDelta, supported by the National Academies Gulf Research Program, seeks to explore the geomorphic and human future of the Birdsfoot Delta of the Mississippi and surrounding region, and to expand the diversity of the coastal scholar community.
Moderator: Ehab Meselhe – Tulane University
Presenters:
• Claire Kemick – Tulane University
• Ahmed Khalifa – Tulane University
• Muhammad Sohail – UL Lafayette
• Sherif Ahmed – Tulane University
Assessing the Sediment, Salinity, and Discharge Budgets in the Birdsfoot Delta of the Lowermost Miss
Claire Kemick – Tulane University
The Lowermost Mississippi River (LMR), also known as the Birdsfoot Delta, is a vulnerable region facing significant land loss and saltwater intrusion during low flows. Understanding the sediment and salinity distribution in the Birdsfoot Delta is crucial for informing sediment diversion decisions and improving the accuracy of numerical models. Between 2008 and 2010, only 19% of the total suspended sediment load and 1.4% of the sand load of the mainstem river, upstream of the Birdsfoot Delta, reached the Gulf of Mexico (Allison et al., 2012). Since then, the Birdsfoot Delta has exhibited significant streampower losses, partially attributable to growing outlet capacities, highlighting the need for an updated sediment budget (Allison et al., 2023). Additionally, when the LMR experiences low discharges, saltwater can enter the river from the Gulf of Mexico as a saltwedge. The salinity budget, in conjunction with streampower losses, during low discharge has not yet been established. However, the outlets of the LMR could significantly influence the progression of the saltwedge from the Gulf of Mexico. Through field investigations involving Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) discharge data, sediment samples, and Conductivity Temperature Depth (CTD) profiler salinity casts along the mainstem and outlets of the LMR, we evaluate the distribution of salinity and sediment. The key goals of this study are to (1) identify the relationship between the mainstem river and its outlets and (2) quantify how the outlets impact the salinity and sediment budget of the delta.
Towards Understanding of Drought Events in the Lower Mississippi River Using Statistical Analysis and Numerical Modeling
Ahmed Khalifa – Tulane University
Reduced freshwater discharge in deltaic rivers, such as the Lower Mississippi River (LMR), allows saltwater to penetrate through river crevasses and outlets. The density difference forces the saltwater to form a wedge that moves up the mainstem of the river as the low freshwater discharge persists and continues to decline. In the LMR, this intrusion poses a threat to riverine ecology and the drinking water supply for Southern Louisiana parishes. Historically, when the LMR discharge fell below 300,000 cfs, the saltwater wedge would begin to advance into Southwest Pass and as the discharge continued to drop, the wedge would progress upstream (Fagerburg and Alexander, 1994). However, dredging and increasing leakage through the river’s outlets has weakened the river’s stream power (Mead et al, 2012), which could contribute to the intensity of the two recent droughts, compounded by sea level rise (SLR) from the Gulf of Mexico. While the droughts of 1988, 1999, and 2012 have contaminated the mainstem of the LMR, the consecutive contamination events, such as 2022 and 2023, are uncommon. In these years, the duration of low freshwater discharge (under 300,000 cfs) at Tarbert Landing, river mile 306.3, lasted 104 and 142 days, respectively, making these two of the shortest drought events contaminating the mainstem of the river. This study reviews the history of low river discharge in the LMR to better understand the relationship between the duration of droughts, stream power, and saltwater wedge intrusion. In addition, it isolates the impact of leaking outlets, SLR, and thalweg dredging through development of a 3D Delft-FM numerical model.
Salinity Trends and Adverse Salinization Effects in Coastal Louisiana
Muhammad Sohail – UL Lafayette
Salinity intrusion has been cited as one of the primary contributors to the well-documented land loss problem in coastal Louisiana for nearly a century. However, prior analyses of historical records revealed significant trends of opposite signs and with no apparent large-scale spatial pattern. These mixed findings are paradoxical given that coastal Louisiana is experiencing some of the highest rates of relative sea level rise (RSLR) in the United States (U.S.). This study investigates key factors affecting the degree to which trend analysis can accurately capture salinification in a coastal region. The findings are based on a review of historical drivers of adverse salinity regimes in Louisiana, a coast-wide statistical analysis of salinity and streamflow trends, and a re-analysis of simulation data from RSLR scenarios from a calibrated 2-dimensional (2D) depth-averaged hydrodynamic and salinity model. The nonparametric trend analysis suggested that mean yearly salinities in coastal Louisiana are generally experiencing a downward trend despite the high rates of relative sea level rise. The results further indicated that yearly salinities are strongly correlated with upland runoff. However, the 2D simulations revealed that the sea-level induced salinity intrusion signature is highly localized in coastal Louisiana with permanent waterbodies exhibiting a substantially different response compared to adjacent floodplains due to upland migration of the intertidal zone. Significant differences in the sea-level induced salinity response – particularly during intrusion events – were noted at locations exhibiting no apparent regional salinification response to relative sea level rise.
Investigating Ecogeomorphic Feedback in the Mississippi River Delta Using Coupled Hydrodynamic and Vegetation Models: Implications for Restoration and Landscape Stability
Sherif Ahmed – Tulane University
The Mississippi River Delta (MRD) exhibits complex ecogeomorphic dynamics influenced by vegetation, hydrodynamics, and sediment transport. This study employs an idealized numerical model using Delft3D-FM coupled with the Dynamic Vegetation Model to explore the feedback mechanisms between vegetation and geomorphology in the MRD. Focusing on four dominant marsh vegetation types, Phragmites australis, Colocasia edentula, submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), and mixed communities, the research investigates the effects of vegetation on flow localization, sediment trapping, soil stabilization, and accretion. Through field data and numerical simulations, we evaluate the influence of vegetation type, patch characteristics, and spatial configurations on water and sediment transport, and landscape stability. The Dynamic Vegetation Model is refined using field-based vegetation dynamics, incorporating factors like growth, mortality, and interactions with hydrodynamic forces. Model simulations, considering salinity-induced vegetation changes, provide insights into long-term delta evolution and inform restoration strategies. By modeling vegetation-sediment interactions at decadal timescales and small spatial scales, this study contributes to understanding delta resilience and supports informed management decisions, such as strategic sediment placement for stabilizing vegetated areas and mitigating erosion in the MRD.
Wednesday, May 21 | 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. | Room 284
#39 Resource Planning for the Future of Energy in Louisiana Coastal Zone
As Louisiana’s energy landscape evolves, coastal areas must plan for the integration of diverse energy resources. This panel will explore the challenges and opportunities associated with coastal land use, water resource management, and energy transmission. Experts will discuss how to account for environmental constraints while ensuring sustainable and resilient energy development in the coastal zone. Join the conversation to understand how strategic planning can balance ecological needs with energy growth.
Moderator: Leo John Arnett – Greater New Orleans, Inc.
Panelists:
• Haley Gentry – Tulane Institute on Water Resources Law and Policy
• Brad Ives – Louisiana State University
• Davante Lewis – Louisiana Public Service Commission
Organizer: Cameron Poole – GNO, Inc.
Wednesday, May 21 | 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. | Room 283
#40 The Future of Louisiana’s Coast: Restoration, Resilience, and Justice
Louisiana’s coast, a vital ecosystem that supports local livelihoods, industry, and cultural heritage, is disappearing at an alarming rate. The forces of coastal erosion, compounded by climate change and sea-level rise, threaten to displace entire communities, particularly Indigenous and low-income residents. Alongside these environmental challenges, the oil and gas industry continues to leave a damaging legacy of pollution and industrialization, while efforts to restore and protect the coast face numerous technical, financial, and social hurdles.
To address these pressing issues, we propose a panel discussion that will examine the interrelated themes of coastal restoration, the role of the oil and gas industry, environmental justice, and the long-term resilience of communities and ecosystems. The event will bring together diverse voices from scientific, policy, community, and advocacy backgrounds to explore practical solutions, highlight local initiatives, and inspire broader action to protect Louisiana’s coast and the communities that depend on it.
Moderator: Megan Poole – University of Texas
Panelists:
• James Hiatt – A Better Bayou
• Scott Eustis – Healthy Gulf
• Alyssa Portaro – Habitat Recovery Project
• Travis Dardar – Fishermen Involved In Sustaining Our Heritage
Organizer: Megan Poole – University of Texas