like most deltaic systems, the louisiana coast is sinking. the natural occurrence of subsidence was historically offset by new sediment from the annual overflow of the mississippi river. with construction of the river levees, this overflow was cut off, leaving the wetlands to continue sinking with no source of renourishment. since the early 1900s, storms and anthropogenic impacts have compounded with subsidence to cause drastic land loss in coastal louisiana. in the 20th century, louisiana has lost more than 1 million acres from its coast, 24 square miles annually, because of both human and natural factors that have disrupted ecological and economic stability. billions of dollars in seafood production, oil and gas revenue, and commercial shipping will be lost without louisiana’s coastal wetlands, which provide the basis and support for these industries. in terms of human life, the value of these wetlands is beyond estimation. healthy marsh provides a buffer against storms, and its ability to absorb high water and slow wind is key to survival for coastal communities. as land is lost, hurricanes and tropical storms hit shore ever closer to the two million people who live near the coast. every year as wetlands lose ground, these forces land closer to home. without intervention, this ecosystem will be erased from the national landscape.