WWNO’s Listening Post community media project has mostly covered issues related to New Orleans. But WWNO’s signal reaches far beyond the city, and we want to explore what people along the Louisiana coast are thinking.
Naturally, our expansion is called the Listening Coast, and it has its own number: Text "hello" to 985-200-2433 (or call and leave a voicemail!) to get in touch.
To launch the Listening Coast, we asked for opinions on diversions as a method of coastal restoration. Do people think this is a good bet for building land and stemming erosion?
Lots of people wrote in:
Are you in favor of river diversions as part of coastal restoration? Why/Why not?
- I am in favor of river diversions only if they will include substantial amounts of sediment. River diversions might help fight saltwater intrusion, but the project must also include sediment diversions. We need land and not sure that river diversions will actually add land considering the manmade changes to these rivers (locks, dams, etc. that can affect whether sediment in the rivers actually makes it to South Louisiana). So yes, but I don't think water diversions will be enough.
- I am in favor of small to medium-sized freshwater diversions that support restoration efforts. I am NOT in favor of large-scale River diversion because I think they unnecessarily jeopardize communities and industries such as the seafood industry. Additionally I am NOT in favor of large-scale river diversions because I believe other types of restoration such as dredging and sediment delivery via long distance distance pipelines can build land and protect communities more quickly. We have no time to waste!
- I'm definitely in favor of at least TRYING diversions. The river is what built the land and barrier islands. We NEED to try something!
- Yes. It would help stop erosion and subsiding of our delta.
- I believe if the river wasn't diverted in the first place we would not be having this issue.
- Not sure ... I need to know more.
- No. I don't know enough about this to say yes---but I would have to assume people and possibly communities would have to be moved for this and I'm very much against that.
- Yes, it builds land.
- Yes... it's worth a try.
- In favor of. Supply and demand.
- I'm not sure what that is.
- Yes. The river is what built this land. It's the only thing that can fix it. Look at what's being done on the Atchafalaya River Basin. NEW LAND!!!
- No, because there is too much loss to vulnerable areas.
- Yes, to a degree. Some people depend on the river for their livelihood. I wouldn't want to have so much diversion that they would be disrupted.
- Yes. Its the only solution that would not require people to move that mimics the natural process of replenishing the land.
- I think we will have to use all means of restoration possible while managing any negative impacts best we can. If not...it will be time to move north, again... for some of us that have already moved to escape flood waters.
Credit Listening Coast / WWNO/WWNODead Cypress swamp seen on the bayou near Houma, sent in to the Listening Coast via text message.
What’s Next:
The Listening Coast is teaming up with the South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center for their Youth Summit. This two day affair brings together high school students invested in finding solutions to the environmental challenges their communities are facing. Stay tuned for what we learn in Houma about the future of the coast!
Support for WWNO's Coastal Desk comes from the Walton Family Foundation, Kabacoff Family Foundation and Greater New Orleans Foundation.
