U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological Survey

Land Area Change and Overview of Hurricane Impacts in Coastal Louisiana, 2004-08

By John A. Barras

Suggested citation:Barras, J.A., 2009, Land Area Change and Overview of Hurricane Impacts in Coastal Louisiana, 2004-08 U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3080, scale 1:250,000, 6 p. pamphlet.See pamphlet for references cited.

Presentation to accompanyScientific Investigations Map 3080

Land Area Change and Overview of Hurricane Impacts in Coastal Louisiana, 2004-08

Land Area Change and Overview of Hurricane Impacts in Coastal Louisiana, 2004-08

Deltaic Plain

Lake Pontchartrain

LakeBorgne

ChandeleurSound

BretonSound

BaratariaBay

EastBay

WestBay

TerrebonneBay

Gulf of Mexico

Land Area Change and Overview of Hurricane Impacts in Coastal Louisiana, 2004-08

Marginal Deltaic Plain

West CoteBlanche Bay

AtchafalayaBay

Vermilion Bay

Gulf of Mexico

Atch

afal

aya

Riv

er

Fres

hwat

er B

ayou

Gulf of Mexico

Land Area Change and Overview of Hurricane Impacts in Coastal Louisiana, 2004-08

Chenier Plain

Gulf of Mexico

Fres

hwat

er B

ayou

Sabi

ne L

ake

Gulf of Mexico

White Lake

Cal

casi

eu L

ake

Grand Lake

Figure 1. Net land area change by period and physiographic province in coastal Louisiana, 2004–08.

Figure 2. Net land area change in coastal Louisiana, 1956–2008. The net decrease in land area is estimated at 3,841 km2. Estimates of land area change from 1956 to 1978 and 1978 to 2004 are from Barras (2008).

Conclusion

Although the net reduction in land from 2004 to 2008 (849.5 km2) exceeds that from 1978 to 2004 (743.3 km2) (Barras, 2008), it is likely that the 2004–08 estimate will decrease given time for the coast to recover from those hurricane seasons. Nevertheless, it is likely that the cumulative loss from these hurricane seasons will remain significant. Estimation of permanent losses cannot be made until several growing seasons have passed and the transitory impacts of the hurricanes are accounted for.