Coastal Study Shows Soaring Costs For Retaining Coast

By Eileen Fleming

New Orleans, La. – The report from the America's Wetland Foundation looks at 800 zip codes in coastal areas from Texas to Alabama. The group of government, energy and conservation groups says wetlands that protect inland areas are disappearing while storm damage is expected to get worse. Foundation managing director Val Marmillion (mar-MIL'-ee-un) says the study is a wake-up call.

"People are going to be somewhat shocked to know that where they live is going to cost in the next 30 years maybe 10 to 12 billion dollars more just to have every day go by and have your normal infrastructure. The nation should be put back on its heals because without this infrastructure you don't have energy security."

The group advocates building up wetlands with Mississippi River sediment now diverted away from marshes and dumped in deep Gulf waters.
For WWNO, I'm Eileen Fleming.