Sea-level rise has passed a tipping point in the Gulf of Mexico.
Mark Schleifstein shares news of a study published in Science Advances that makes a dire prediction for the Louisiana coast: "[T]he remaining 5,800 square miles of Louisiana's coastal wetlands in the Mississippi River delta will disappear." The only question is when.
According to the authors of the study, the wetlands that run along the coast of Louisiana have already reached a tipping point, as sea-level rise trends consistent around the world supplement the local conditions created by the Mississippi River meeting the Gulf of Mexico.
The study's lead author, Torbjörn Törnqvist, a Tulane University geology professor, is cited in the article predicting that the future shoreline "will parallel what's known as the Baton Rouge Fault, an east-west line where land heights today are at about 15 feet above sea level."
"For the New Orleans area, that would be along the North Shore, somewhere near Interstate 12," writes Schleifstein.
FULL STORY: 'We're screwed': The only question is how quickly Louisiana wetlands will vanish, study says
Thousands of Miles of Mississippi Delta Lost to Sea Level Rise by 2100
By 2100, vast stretches of the Mississippi Delta will be lost to sea level rise, according to a recent study. More than 5,000 square miles could be lost, including much of New Orleans, researchers say.
Atlantic Coast Infrastructure at Risk from Sea Level Rise
New research reveals that some coastal areas are sinking by as much as 5 millimeters per year, which could threaten key infrastructure.
$50 Billion Coastal Master Plan Updated in Louisiana
Louisiana is losing coastal lands, quickly, along with the habitat and economic resources located there. A Coastal Master Plan plots $50 billion in spending to protect the coast.
Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Why Should We Subsidize Public Transportation?
Many public transit agencies face financial stress due to rising costs, declining fare revenue, and declining subsidies. Transit advocates must provide a strong business case for increasing public transit funding.
Paris Bike Boom Leads to Steep Drop in Air Pollution
The French city’s air quality has improved dramatically in the past 20 years, coinciding with a growth in cycling.
Why Housing Costs More to Build in California Than in Texas
Hard costs like labor and materials combined with ‘soft’ costs such as permitting make building in the San Francisco Bay Area almost three times as costly as in Texas cities.
San Diego County Sees a Rise in Urban Coyotes
San Diego County experiences a rise in urban coyotes, as sightings become prevalent throughout its urban neighbourhoods and surrounding areas.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
City of Santa Clarita
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service