After the Storm: Restoring America’sGulf Coast Wetlands

Gwen Arnold, editor. 2006. EnvironmentalLaw Institute, Washington, D.C., 62 pp.,$24.95, ISBN 58576–100–1 (paperback)

A fter the Storm: Restoring Ameri-ca’s Gulf Coast Wetlands is

a compilation of 18 perspectives onthe impact of hurricanes Katrinaand Rita on the landscape, people,and wetlands of coastal Louisiana.It is also about the hopes, dreams,and goals of restoring and protect-ing coastal wetlands and the southLouisiana culture embedded withinthem. Compiled and edited byGwen Arnold, After the Storm enlistsscientists, natural resource managers,nongovernmental organizations, andelected officials to describe the effectsof Katrina and Rita on their personallives, their response in the storm’saftermath, and the potential solutionsto avert future catastrophes.

Several essays appropriatelyfocus on New Orleans and its rela-tionship with wetlands throughoutits history. Colten provides histori-cal perspective on the importance ofwetlands to the economic prosperityof New Orleans and how wetlandloss to development following theSecond World War contributed to themassive flooding following Katrina.In his essay, Boesch dispels some ofthe myths associated with New Or-leans (the French colonists establishedNew Orleans in a risky place—actually,the French Quarter is on highground and did not flood duringKatrina). In addition, he commentson the environmental threats (subsi-dence, saltwater intrusion, canals)to the region and opportunities forlarge-scale coastal restoration.

Other essays describe the ob-stacles that must be overcomebefore the Louisiana coast and itswetlands can be restored or rehabili-tated. Houck writes that Louisianacan’t ‘‘have its wetlands and eat’em

too.’’ He goes on to describe how, onthe one hand, Louisiana spends mil-lions of dollars each year to restorewetlands while, on the other hand,it promotes economic policies thatdestroy them, such as expandingnavigation channels and pipelines.The Mississippi River Gulf Outlet,the navigation channel that connectsNew Orleans with the Gulf, is men-tioned in many essays as contribut-ing to the flooding in the city and tohistoric wetland loss in Bretonsound east of New Orleans.All is not lost though. In his essay,

Izzo suggests that the time is rightfor an integrated and comprehen-sive effort to protect and restore theLouisiana coast. This task must beshared by federal, state, and localgroups and ‘‘each must know itstasks and carry its weight.’’ Further-more, protection and restorationefforts must be prioritized in thisera of limited financial resources.The idea of a comprehensive planwith clear priorities is articulatedagain by Reed and Sarthou. Reedsays that a clear vision is needed tounderstand the benefits, costs, andtrade-offs of various restorationstrategies. For example, althoughwetlands can be restored by divert-ing freshwater and sediment fromthe Mississippi River, such diver-sions have adverse effects on oystersand commercial oyster harvests inthe affected area. In her essay,Sarthou asserts that we need to thinkabout new ways of protecting andrestoring the coastal landscape andnot rely entirely on the old ways ofdoing business. In other words,don’t just build bigger levees butthink about where, on the land-scape, future development shouldand shouldn’t be directed.On a personal level, St. Pe, of

the Barataria-Terrebonne NationalEstuary Program, describes the impactof Katrina on the people of Baratariaand Terrebonne bays in the aftermathof Katrina. Let us also not forget thesuffering in places like the lower ninth

ward of New Orleans because, as af-firmed by Miller-Travis’ essay, full andcomplete restoration of the regiondepends on strategies that will benefitall members of society, black andwhite, rich and poor.

After the Storm provides aninteresting glimpse into the livesof people who are intimately con-nected to the health and future ofcoastal Louisiana, the impact ofhurricanes Katrina and Rita onthem, and their hopes to sustaintheir way of life and ties to thewetlands following the passage ofthe storms. Although a comp-rehensive plan for restoring theregion’s society and wetlands isuncertain at this time, I believethat our nation will not let thenatural resource, economy, andculture that is coastal Louisianadisappear beneath the waves.

To obtain a copy of the book,please contact the EnvironmentalLaw Institute, 2000 L Street NW,Suite 620, Washington, D.C. 20036.

Christopher Craft, School of Pubilc andEnvironmental Affairs, Indiana University,

1315 East 10th Street, Bloomington, IN.

Email ccraft@indiana.edu

Book Reviews

SEPTEMBER 2006 Restoration Ecology 483