The Vanishing Wetlands
What natural material carried by the Mississippi River helps build Louisiana’s land?
Sediment
What structures were built to prevent the Mississippi River from flooding?
Levees and floodways
What natural role do marshes and swamps play during storms?
They absorb water like sponges
What tribe lives on the Isle de Jean Charles?
Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw tribe
What does the island symbolize for tribal members?
Home and identity
What natural process causes wetlands to sink and erode over time?
Subsidence
How do canals damage freshwater wetlands?
They allow saltwater to enter
How many miles of levees has Louisiana built since 2007?
250 miles
Why was the island originally supposed to be protected by a levee?
To keep water out and allow land to regenerate
What emotion did Chief Naquin compare losing the island to?
Losing a family member
Why are Louisiana’s wetlands shrinking instead of rebuilding?
Levees prevent sediment from reaching the marshes
Why is saltwater harmful to wetland plants?
Salt poisons plants like Cypress and Tupelo Gum
Why hasn’t Louisiana’s restoration effort been fully successful?
Land is disappearing faster than it can be rebuilt
Why did the 2002 relocation plan fail?
Residents could not vote unanimously
What value is emphasized throughout the tribe’s story?
Family and resilience
What happens to wetlands when sediment no longer replenishes them?
They shrink and eventually vanish
What happens after wetland plants die?
The land turns into open water
Name two reasons restoring the coast is important.
Protects people, wildlife, and the economy
Why were tribal elders reluctant to leave the island?
Emotional and cultural attachment
How does the tribe’s history prepare them for relocation?
They’ve survived displacement and disasters before
Why is Louisiana especially vulnerable when wetlands disappear?
Wetlands protect land from flooding and storm surges
How did river engineering unintentionally harm Louisiana’s ecosystem?
It stopped natural sediment flow and increased land loss
How is Louisiana’s economy connected to the coast?
Fishing industry & grain shipping through New Orleans
What events caused residents to reconsider relocation?
Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Gustav
What message does the story send about climate change and communities?
Environmental loss deeply affects culture and people