To: Dr.

William Conner
From: Joseph Kerby
Date: 4/12/2022
Subject: Storm Mitigation and Wetland Conservation
Reference: Prior Email

This memo is to help bring to light current issues involving coastal wetland preservation. The Society of
Wetland Scientists is a worldwide community committed to help promote understanding, conservation,
protection, and restoration of wetlands and so it is people like you that need to help. Here is a plan and
actionable steps that need to be taken in order to see a resolution.
Summary
Wetland conservation is the first logical step in taking full control of the Earth’s resources for the
protection of Coastal Communities. As storms continue hitting the coast, damage will continue to happen.
Completely stopping the damage is next to impossible, but significantly reducing it is a matter of better
planning and resource usage. Wetlands and swamps are one of the most important resources in damage
mitigation, and they need help to be preserved.
The Effect of Storms on Coastal Communities
Coastal communities are in danger as hurricanes continue battering the coast and causing damage and
lives lost. Storm surges, flooding, and high winds all present dangers. On top of those, algae blooms can
happen that can produce harmful toxins and kill wildlife.
Days spent cleaning up from storms is days spent out of school, not running businesses, and not
stimulating the economy. There is a chain effect from the initial threat of storm to the cleanup that can
cause deaths and economic hardship. Although the storms cannot be stopped, they can be prevented or
lessened. The overall wellbeing of communities in these situations is dependent on mitigating storm
damage and increasing protection and a natural way to do this is by preserving wetlands.
The Significance of Wetlands
Swamps and wetlands provide a natural storm defense. As hurricanes and strong storms hit the coast, the
swamps provide a place to soak up rain and weaken the storm. They can stop waves from crashing ashore
and prevent flooding further inland.
Hurricane Katrina provides a notable example of the effectiveness of swamps in storm damage
prevention. It has been estimated that the storm surge from the hurricane could have been decreased by as
much as 300% if the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet were never constructed. The MRGO canal destroyed
approximately 16,000 acres of wetlands that could have decrease flooding by an estimated 80%. (Oveisi).
More than 1800 people were killed in this hurricane and about 800,000 housing units were destroyed,
causing over $160 billion in damages (Katrina Impacts). There is no telling how much of this devastation
could have been prevented with the wetlands still there.
Studies have shown that wetlands also reduce the cost of damages after major storms. For example,
wetlands along the eastern coast of the United States helped reduce damage costs by 22% during
Hurricane Sandy in 2012. (Akpan)
Since the colonial era, approximately half of the United States wetlands have been damaged, developed,
or otherwise destroyed (Cassidy). A stigma around swamps and their origins in horror and evil have
pushed people for decades and even centuries to think of swamps in a negative way. This led to a push to
develop over swamps and get rid of them. Over time, more swamps were destroyed, ruining the habitats
of thousands of species who thrive in the swamp.
In order to really take full use of our planet’s natural storm protection, wetlands need to be conserved
before they are all gone.
Conclusion
Preserving wetlands not only has a positive effect on coastal communities, but also on the diverse
ecosystem that lives within the swamps. Environmental protection has come a long way in recent years
and extending that awareness and level of protection to swamps and wetlands is extremely important.
Hurricanes and other natural disasters hit the coast every year and always have the chance to be
devastating. In order to rebuild the Earth’s most natural barrier to these storms, something needs to be
done to improve the state of wetlands.
Recommendations
1. Increase Awareness
a. Social Media is a great way to spread information to the public. Creating social media
accounts to help spread awareness about wetland preservation is a good first step in
combatting this issue.
b. Hosting fundraising events can be a good way to increase community involvement while
simultaneously raising money to further the cause.
c. Organizing community education events, especially in coastal communities, would help
educate people on wetland conservation and could help get the community involved in
the process given here.
2. Push for More Legislation
a. Laws and bills can be signed to protect wetlands as a national park or other government
property.
b. More awareness or increasing sustainability of current laws such as the Land and Water
Conservation Fund.
3. Corporate Action
a. Corporations or large organizations such as the SWS have the funds and the means
necessary to purchase land to prevent further construction.
b. They can also provide funds to repair existing water control structures or structural
protection such as barrier islands. These will help protect wetlands in the future.
4. Create More Swamps
a. Although this is a less actionable objective, it is possible to restore swamps or create new
swamps by manipulating the physical, chemical, or biological characteristics of an area.
(EPA)
References

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.

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/.

“Katrina Impacts.” Hurricanes: Science and Society,

http://www.hurricanescience.org/history/studies/katrinacase/impacts/#:~:text=Besides%20the%20d
eath%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/.

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

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

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