New Orleans is sinking...

[mikelewis]

Just came across an article from 2001
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BJK/is_15_11/ai_68642805/pg_2

The Lost City of New Orleans?
Louisiana's marshlands, the only buffer for hurricanes that come out of the Gulf, are slipping into the ocean at an alarming rate. New search indicates that just one major hurricane could put New Orleans under water.

The Big Easy is in big trouble. New Orleans is sinking. And fast. But what's the big deal? Local businesses and residents have heard it all before. They've built levees to control the raging Mississippi. They've developed pumping systems to deal with rain and flooding. They've dug canals to move the water out of the city. And still they survive, wearing the battle scars earned from each hurricane and each flood as badges of honor.

New research by the U.S. Geological Survey, however, indicates that New Orleans is sinking faster than many realize and could be under water within 50 years. The city is facing a series of issues--disappearing wetlands that protect from hurricanes, levees that are too low to hold back flood waters, rising water tables, to name a few--that if not addressed soon could have New Orleans suffering the same fate as Atlantis."

[FreedomAngel82]

1. This is so horrible

But also in a horrible way amazing.

[buddysmellgood]

2. It makes me wonder, if this is just the beginning of global warming storms

and NO is sinking, it should not be rebuilt as it was. Everything should be built taller and flood proof, or not at all.

[SoCalDem]

3. Those wetlands didn't just "disappear". they were destroyed by greedy

people who saw no value in them.. Same for the barrier islands. wetlands and barrier islands PROTECT coastlines.. They ARE the buffer for storms..

Humans think they can control Mother Nature.. She laughs loudest and last..:(

[Berserker]

Listen to

Seminole Winds by John Anderson it will bring a tear to your eye.

[mikelewis]

6. Don't have to, I know it by heart but it's usually my singing that....

make me cry.:cry:

[jean]

4. maybe a Dutch expert would have an opinion on NO's condition

The Netherlands certainly has dealt with its proximity to the ocean, I wonder if they have a different perspective than the people we have looking at the dilemma.

[Bluerthanblue]

5. they aren't prone to hurricanes though are they?

and they have windmills and dikes.-

[jean]

8. maybe not but they are absolute wizards at water management and

at holding their ground, literally, against the ocean. They also have waterways throughout the country, as well as dikes and windmills.

[zulchzulu]

7. This isn't a new story...

I worked at WWL in New Orleans over 10 years ago and we did a documentary series about this issue. It certainly is scary. I'm afraid that Katrina jump started the process. New Orleans could be like Venice in less than 30 years.

[mikelewis]

9. I've always wanted to go to Venice

[Bluerthanblue]

11. Just found this article- VERY dire predicitions... not Venice...

NO will be 'no more' if the COAST 2050 plan happens-

long article but well worth the read-

"In 1999 the Corps was authorized by Congress to study the feasibility of various proposals for protecting the city against such devastating storms. An obvious possibility would be to raise the current levees to a height deemed acceptable by an AdCirc analysis. That, however, would also require widening the levees, which may not be possible in many areas because of the proximity of homes. Among other alternatives, Naomi will investigate the possibility of creating an immense wall between Lake Pontchartrain and the gulf to keep water out of the lake during a severe storm. Such a project would involve constructing massive floodgates at the Rigolets and Chef Menteur passes, where storm surge would enter the lake.

According to Naomi, any concerted effort to protect the city from a storm of category 4 or 5 will probably take 30 years to complete. And the feasibility study alone for such an effort will cost as much as $8 million. Even though Congress has authorized the feasibility study, funding has not yet been appropriated. When funds are made available, the study will take about six years to complete. “That’s a lot of time to get the study before Congress,” Naomi admits. “Hopefully we won’t have a major storm before then.”







http://www.pubs.asce.org/ceonline/ceonline03/0603feat.html

[wli]

10. not what Francis Bacon had in mind for "The New Atlantis" n/t

[WiseButAngrySara]

12. BillMoyers NOW did a documentary on New Orleans a while ago...

Titled appropriately, The City in a Bowl. The link to the transcripts is below.

http://www.pbs.org/now/transcript/transcript_neworleans.html