Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation

Significant threats to marine biodiversity, water resources, and coastal sustainability can be directly and indirectly linked to degraded river systems. It is possible that the restoration of the Gulf of Mexico due to chronic and episodic factors will be much improved if the power of the Mississippi River can be fully harnessed. Doing so will require the recognition of the river’s importance and the commitment of our entire nation to restore coastal Louisiana. Research conducted at the Bohemia Spillway, a 12-mile stretch along the eastern bank of the Mississippi, in southeastern Louisiana may provide some insights into how the River can be used as a tool for restoration. The purpose of this study is to gather observational, baseline data from a variety of parameters aimed at understanding the structure and function of the Bohemia Spillway’s ability to resist land loss. The conditions relative to the Bohemia Spillway are important for restoring coastal Louisiana but the solutions will need to come down from as far away as the Rocky Mountains, Appalachian Mountains, and everything in-between.