Perspectives on the Restoration of the Mississippi Delta

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xx

   PDF

2. Introduction: Perspectives on the Restoration of the Mississippi Delta

   • John W. Day, G. Paul Kemp, Angelina M. Freeman, David P. Muth

   Pages 1-7

3. The Once and Future Delta

   • David P. Muth

   Pages 9-27

4. How Deltas Work: A Brief Look at the Mississippi River Delta in a Global Context

   • Liviu Giosan, Angelina M. Freeman

   Pages 29-32

5. The Last Naturally Active Delta Complexes of the Mississippi River (LNDM): Discovery and Implications

   • Richard E. Condrey, Paul E. Hoffman, D. Elaine Evers

   Pages 33-50

6. Adapting to Change in the Lowermost Mississippi River: Implications for Navigation, Flood Control and Restoration of the Delta Ecosystem

   • G. Paul Kemp, Clinton S. Willson, J. David Rogers, Karen A. Westphal, S. Ahmet Binselam

   Pages 51-84

7. Using What We Have: Optimizing Sediment Management in Mississippi River Delta Restoration to Improve the Economic Viability of the Nation

   • Samuel J. Bentley, Angelina M. Freeman, Clinton S. Willson, Jaye E. Cable, Liviu Giosan

   Pages 85-97

8. Fisheries in a Changing Delta

   • James H. Jr. Cowan, Linda A. Deegan, John W. Day

   Pages 99-109

9. The Influence of Nutrients on the Coastal Wetlands of the Mississippi Delta

   • James T. Morris, J. Andy Nyman, Gary P. Shaffer

   Pages 111-123

10. Complexities of Resilience: Adaptation and Change within Human Communities of Coastal Louisiana

    • Conner Bailey, Robert Gramling, Shirley B. Laska

    Pages 125-140

11. The Importance of Mississippi Delta Restoration on the Local and National Economies

    • David Batker, Sarah K. Mack, Fred H. Sklar, William K. Nuttle, Mary E. Kelly, Angelina M. Freeman

    Pages 141-153

12. The Threats to the Value of Ecosystem Goods and Services of the Mississippi Delta

    • David Batker, Isabel de la Torre, Robert Costanza, John W. Day, Paula Swedeen, Roelof Boumans et al.

    Pages 155-173

13. The Impact of Global Climate Change and Energy Scarcity on Mississippi Delta Restoration

    • John W. Day, Matthew Moerschbaecher

    Pages 175-184

14. Summary and Conclusions: The Cost of Inaction and the Need for Urgency

    • John W. Day, G. Paul Kemp, Angelina M. Freeman

    Pages 185-192

15. Back Matter

    Pages 193-194

    PDF

Human impacts and emerging mega-trends such as climate change and energy scarcity will impact natural resource management in this century. This is especially true for deltas because of their ecological and economic importance and their sensitivity to climate change. The Mississippi delta is one of the largest in the world and has been strongly impacted by human activities. Currently there is an ambitious plan for restoration of the delta. This book, by a renown group of delta experts, provides an overview of the challenges facing the delta and charts - a way forward to sustainable management.

• Mississippi Delta
• climate change
• coastal sciences

From the book reviews:

“This impressive collection of papers deals with ‘the once and future delta,’ highlighting the current tumultuous state of the Mississippi River and its watershed.  … Chapters contain illustrations, many in color, and provide ample reference lists for further study. … Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above; two-year technical program students.” (P. R. Pinet, Choice, Vol. 52 (7), March, 2015)

• Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, USA

  John W. Day

• School of Coast and Environment, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, USA

  G. Paul Kemp

• Environmental Defense Fund, Washington, USA

  Angelina M. Freeman

• Mississippi River Delta Restoration Camp, National Wildlife Federation, New Orleans, USA

  David P. Muth

Policies and ethics