Restoring the wetlands around New Orleans will restore the first line of defense against storms. The trend for the past 150 years has been to destroy the wetlands.

To restore the wetlands what must be done? 1) Sufficient fresh water and sedimentation must be allowed to reestablish the wetlands 2) Canals allowing saltwater incursion should be closed and filled (including but not limited to Mr.GO)  3) Levees preventing the flow of fresh water and silt across the wetlands should be removed 4) Barrier islands protecting the wetlands from the open water must be rebuilt.

The current slew of projects like the Breaux Act and the Coast 2050 are not enough. The Corps of Engineers reaction to the Davis Pond suggests there still is not any real focus on rebuilding the wetlands (they are on record saying the goal of the diversion is not to rebuild land but simply to maintain salinity levels). Funding levels for the identified projects is too low to have any effect. The effort seems focused on slowing the rate of loss in the best of times.

Closing MrGO, removing the levees below Caernaveron and Belle Chasse and building the Donaldsonville super diversion would be a good start and should be a priority in 2006. All the other CWPPRA projects would be a good plan for 2007. OCS oil revenue would provide an obvious source of funding.

If the wetlands are restored to 1932 levels will that protect New Orleans? For how long? Remember the sea levels may be rising from warming. Warming breeds more and stronger storms. All the land is continuing to sink, including that upon which the city is built.