Between New Orleans and the continental shelf lies an interesting geography:

(Click here to zoom image.)"One mile of healthy wetlands can reduce storm surges by up to one foot, and surface friction reduces wind energy" - Ivan von Herde, Ph.D.

We simply cannot rely upon a levee system to protect our homes. Only by reducing the power of a killer hurricane with these multiple lines of definese can we then look in the mirror confident that we have done all we can do.

Maximizing the use of all natural and man-made barricades as storm buffers is the only way to reduce the height of tidal surge and reduce the strength of wave energies before a hurrican strikes New Orleans.

(Source: State of the Parish Year Ending 2005 ) Like it or not, New Orleans is closer to the Gulf of Mexico than it used to be. We must rebuild the natural defenses that nature gave us and take advantage of those created by man that may have been overlooked.

Rebuilding the natural coastline benfits the physical protection of the inland cities as well as protecting Louisiana Fisheries - the 2nd largest in the United States (Alaska is #1).

Not rebuilding the natural coastline results in decreased fisheries and decrease protection for our cities.

Is the choice clear? There is Crisis Opportunity and Choice here in abundance.

View their presentation (PPT) -- Discuss it in the forums here.