Mitigating the Effects of

Natural Disasters Through

Coastal Wetland
Conservation

(Skitterphoto, 2017)

Society of Wetland Scientists

Joseph Kerby
Contents

Figures 1

Abstract 2

The Effects of Natural Disasters on the Coast 2

Hurricane Katrina 3

Swamps, Wetlands, and More 4

Saving the Wetlands 5

The Significance of Wetlands in Storm Mitigation 5

Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet 6

Conclusion 6

References 8

Figures

Figure 1: New Orleans Flooding after Hurricane Katrina 3

Figure 2: States with notable wetland loss, 1780-1980 4

Figure 3: Map of the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet 6

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Abstract
Swamps and wetlands cover approximately 7% of the Earth’s surface (Cassidy). This number is
almost half of what it was in 1900 however, as wetlands are being destroyed at alarming rates.
Without conservation efforts, population growth and the rise of sea levels could cause the entire
ecosystem to go extinct within 50 years (Cassidy). Luckily, conservation efforts have been started
and increasing awareness is turning the idea of swamps being dirty and uninviting to what they
really are: richly biodiverse ecosystems that provide benefits to millions of species every day. On
top of the ecological benefits, wetlands provide a first line of defense against flooding and storm
surges on the coast. They soak up rainwater and act as a buffer to slow the storm, which can help
reduce damage costs, decrease flooding, and help native wildlife thrive. Wetlands need to be at the
forefront of the conversation about storm mitigation in coastal communities, and in order to reap
the benefits of wetlands, conservation of them is important

The Effects of Natural Disasters on the Coast

Natural disasters can come in many forms along the coastline. Hurricanes, tropical storms,
tsunamis, earthquakes, and other disasters can all have devastating effects along coastal
communities. The most obvious impacts can come from high winds, rain, and large waves. High
winds can cause damage to buildings, power lines, and can cause fallen trees. Waves can cause
beach and cliff erosion, damage to coral reefs, and other damage to buildings. Heavy rainfall can
cause flooding. Storm surges can also happen, where the sea level will rapidly rise as hurricanes
move inland. This can cause extensive damage to buildings along the coast and amplify any
flooding (Cambers, 4-9).

Other impacts that might not be as apparent include algae blooms and economic pressures.
Harmful algae blooms occur when colonies of microscopic algae grow out of control (NOAA).
These blooms can produce toxins that can are harmful and can kill fish, birds, or even humans.
Other blooms may be nontoxic, but can consume oxygen as they decay, causing more problems
for fish or other seagrass. These blooms can discolor the water and be quite malodorous. These

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can all affect the tourism and fishing industry and have poor effects on the economy. On top of
algae blooms, any natural disasters can have a major effect on the economy. The fishing industry
will lose days due to unsafe conditions; hotels may be closed for a considerable period; schools
and businesses may be forced to temporarily shut down (Cambers, 4-14). All of these and just the
general cost to clean up and repair any damages can be a huge burden on the economy, costing
billions of dollars a year in some cases.

Hurricane Katrina

Hurricane Katrina is one of the most infamous hurricanes to hit the United States. In August of
2005, over 1.2 million people evacuated parts of Louisiana and Mississippi. Around 100,000
people remained in New Orleans, and of those, around 10,000 sheltered in the Superdome. Large
waves and storm surges in Mississippi caused heavy flooding and caused buildings along the coast
to be completely destroyed. Levees in New Orleans failed which led to flooding in over 80% of
the city. As a result of the storm, more than 1800 people were killed. Rapidly rising water caused
by storm surges forced people onto their roofs where they became trapped. Rescue efforts were
delayed for days due to the extensive flooding and an estimated 800,000 housing units were
destroyed, leaving many people homeless. The affect of the flooding can be seen below in Figure
1.This became the costliest hurricane in United States history, causing over $160 billion in
damages and rescue efforts. (Hurricane Science – “Katrina Impacts”)

Figure 1: New Orleans flooding after Hurricane Katrina (Shader – American Rivers)

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Swamps, Wetlands, and More
Swamps and wetlands can be used to describe any “in-between areas” or mixtures of water and
earth. (Wilson, 61). One of the more famous swamps is that of the bayou located in Louisiana,
which if properly cared for could do a lot to prevent storm damage. Not only that, but these
swamps, especially those on the coast, provide shelter for many marine creatures and an area for
birds and other animals to feed. They also slow coastal erosion, filter ocean water, and sustain a
rich biodiversity (Wilson, 102). Swamps are even an important step in the formation of peat, which
later leads to coal. Using this, bogs in Russia, the British Isles, and Scandinavia have been used as
natural energy sources for centuries (Wilson, 124). There are heaps of benefits to swamps that
need to be considered when discussing them as a solution to storm mitigation and in terms of using
them, conservation is key.

Although swamps have been destroyed at alarming rates, awareness has begun to come around in
recent years. People are beginning to understand the importance of wetlands and governments are
now taking steps to further protect them. This comes as some scholars believe that around 90% of
the world’s wetlands have been either damaged or destroyed, and in the United States alone,
wetlands have been reduced to around half since the colonial era (Wilson, 2252). Figure 2 below
shows a map where notable wetland loss has occurred in the United States since the 1780’s.

Figure 2: States with notable wetland loss from the 1780’s to the 1980’s (US Geological Survey)

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Saving the Wetlands

In order to save wetlands for the future, more awareness needs to be created. The environmental
protection agency lists out multiple options for improving the state of wetlands around the world.
New wetlands can be created, or existing wetlands can be improved, but all of it requires a level
of awareness or action by corporations. Restoration involves manipulating the physical, chemical,
and biological characteristics of an area that was once a wetland. Establishment does the same
thing, but to an area that did not previously exist as a wetland. Enhancement can be used to
intensify certain functions of a wetland, such as improving water quality or flood water retention.
Finally, protection and maintenance involve removing threats or preventing decline of wetland
conditions. This can be done by purchasing land to prevent construction, repairing water control
structures, or repairing structural protection such as a barrier island. (Environmental Protection
Agency, EPA)

The Significance of Wetlands in Storm Mitigation

Wetlands act as a sort of sponge during hurricanes and other disasters. They slow storm surges and
can stop water from making it onshore. As storms move inland, swamps can soak up torrential rain
and prevent flooding further in. They act as a kind of first line of defense in stopping the storm.
The benefits extend beyond stopping rain and waves from crashing ashore. A study by Scientific
Reports concluded that wetlands along the east coast helped reduce the cost of damages by 22
percent during Hurricane Sandy in 2012 (Akpan). Wetlands do not solve all the problems however.
They cannot soak up an infinite amount of water and therefore, the preservation of wetlands should
be seen as a first step. Other measures should be in place, but the wetlands can go a long way in
helping the problem.

Hurricane Katrina is an example of where wetlands could have been used to mitigate effects of the
storm. American Rivers, an organization pushing for river conservation, said “The flooding of
New Orleans that followed was a tragic and appalling disaster. But it was not a natural disaster.
Poor project planning, flawed project design, misplaced priorities, and the destruction of the city’s
natural flood protection – Louisiana’s coastal wetlands, were the root causes of the city’s ruin”

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(Samet and Wu, 4). Apart from poor planning and construction of levees, the city was missing a
large portion of its wetlands that used to exist. This led to much less storm protection than they
could have had and there is no telling how many lives or homes could have been saved if the
Louisiana wetlands were able to help soak up the storm.

Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet

One of the biggest failures that led to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina was the construction of
the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet, or MRGO, shown below in Figure 3. This was the creation of
navigational channel through 16,000 acres of marshland. Not only did it provide saltwater access
to the wetland regions, but the material dug out was also deposited in nearby wetlands, disrupting
those ecosystems, and killing wildlife inhabited there. When Hurricane Katrina hit the coast, the
MRGO essentially provided an open path for the storm to reach New Orleans. It’s estimated that
the storm surge increased by 300% due to the canal, and that without the MRGO, flooding could
have been decreased by almost 80% (Oveisi).

Figure 3: Map of the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet (Oveisi)

Conclusion
The destruction of swamps and wetlands poses a serious threat, not only to the ecosystems that
live and thrive off of swamps, but to coastal communities protected by them. Getting rid of
wetlands in order to build new infrastructure and houses has caused serious damage. So much so

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that almost half of the world’s wetlands have been depleted. When strong and powerful storms
come through the coast, people are less protected now than they used to be. Wetlands provide a
natural barrier to storms and can greatly reduce flooding. In examples like Hurricane Katrina, New
Orleans became almost completely flooded and over 1800 people were killed. In order to prevent
this in the future, an active conservation effort of wetlands must be pursued. Studies have shown
that active wetlands reduce flooding by great amounts and reduce damage costs in the long run.
Any system that protects people, the environment, and the economy is a system that needs to be
upheld and protected. In the case of hurricanes and tsunamis, this system is wetlands.

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Resources

Akpan, Nsikan. “Wetlands Stopped $625 Million in Property Damage during Hurricane Sandy.
Can They Help Houston?” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 31 Aug. 2017,
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/wetlands-stopped-650-million-property-damage-
hurricane-sandy-can-help-houston.

Cambers, Gillian. Coastal Hazards and Vulnerability. 2001,

https://www.oas.org/cdcm_train/courses/course1/Chapter%204-
Coastal%20Hazards%20and%20Vulnerability.pdf.

Cassidy, Emily. “Map of the Month: Where Are the World's Wetlands?” Resource Watch Blog, 4
May 2020, https://blog.resourcewatch.org/2019/04/17/map-of-the-month-where-are-the-
worlds-wetlands/.

Gibbens, Sarah. “The World's Wetlands Are Slipping Away. This Vibrant Wildlife Sanctuary
Underscores the Stakes.” Environment, National Geographic, 4 May 2021,
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/world-wetlands-are-slipping-
away-agusan-marsh-underscores-stakes.

“Katrina Impacts.” Hurricanes: Science and Society,

http://www.hurricanescience.org/history/studies/katrinacase/impacts/#:~:text=Besides%20t
he%20death%20toll%2C%20hurricane,billion%20(2005%20US%20dollars).

Oviesi, Nicole. “Remembering Hurricane Katrina.” Ubique,

https://ubique.americangeo.org/map-of-the-week/map-of-the-week-remembering-
hurricane-katrina/.

Shader, Eileen. “Preventing Another ‘Unnatural Disaster’ Ten Years after Hurricane Katrina.”
American Rivers, 17 May 2019, https://www.americanrivers.org/2015/08/preventing-
another-unnatural-disaster-ten-years-after-hurricane-katrina/.

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“Technical Aspects of Wetlands History of Wetlands in the Conterminous United States.”
History of Wetlands in the Conterminous United States, US Geological Survey,
https://water.usgs.gov/nwsum/WSP2425/history.html.

“Wetlands Restoration Definitions and Distinctions.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency,

https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/wetlands-restoration-definitions-and-distinctions.

“What Is a Harmful Algal Bloom?” What Is a Harmful Algal Bloom? | National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, https://www.noaa.gov/what-is-harmful-algal-bloom.

Wilson, Anthony David. Swamp: Nature and Culture. Reaktion Books Ltd, 2018.