Tragedy Strikes the Gulf
EDF redoubles efforts to aid Louisiana wetlands
Posted: 06-Jul-2010; Updated: 23-Jul-2010
One victim of the oil catastrophe: An oiled pelican washed ashore dead on the Louisiana coast. PHOTO: Yuki Kokubo
A decades-long mission to restore wetlands
Since the 1930s, Louisiana has lost 2,300 square miles of wetlands—an area larger than Delaware—and loses another football-field-sized parcel every 48 minutes. These losses are largely due to the dredging of navigation canals and the construction of levees, which starve wetlands of the sediment and fresh water they need.
For more than 20 years, EDF has worked to restore these wetlands, which act as buffers against storms like Hurricane Katrina. Now, we’ve called on the Obama administration and Congress to accelerate restoration efforts. An emergency appropriations bill now being considered in Washington could help pay for five restoration projects we helped develop.
"This is the time for Congress to fund restoration," says Paul Harrison, a senior director of EDF’s ecosystems program. "We should not countenance another acre of wetlands loss."
The sea of oil that poured from BP’s ruptured well in the Gulf of Mexico was a stark reminder that America’s reliance on fossil fuels is not cost-free, and a warning that we must make fundamental changes in our national energy policy.
"This is an unprecedented ecological and human tragedy," says EDF chief oceans scientist Dr. Douglas Rader. "It’s a body blow both to marine ecosystems and fishing communities."
EDF has worked in the Gulf for decades and responded immediately. We’re working with our local partners to aid recovery efforts and provide economic assistance to fishermen. We’ve joined federal and state agencies to accelerate the restoration of coastal wetlands. And in Washington, we’re developing tough guidelines which we want to apply to all 4,000 existing offshore oil rigs.
The massive oil slick threatens fragile wetlands that serve as nursery grounds for fish and shellfish. This area produces half of the nation’s wild shrimp, 35% of its blue claw crabs and 40% of its oysters. From whales to sea turtles to songbirds, the array of life that depends on a healthy Gulf and coastal estuaries is stunning.
"The impacts we see on the surface—oil-covered seabirds and dead sea turtles—are only part of the problem," says Rader. "Oil also threatens vulnerable but unseen life forms, ranging from fish larvae traveling on currents near the surface to ancient deepwater
It is especially sad that the spill threatens Gulf fishing communities, which are leaders in the effort to make ocean fisheries sustainable. Working with EDF, commercial snapper and grouper fishermen have adopted market-based systems to manage their catch, helping reef fish populations to recover.
"We have an obligation to put in place safeguards to prevent this kind of tragedy from ever happening again," says Elgie Holstein, our ecosystems senior director for strategic planning. "This disaster is a powerful reminder that America must make the transition to a clean energy future."
How you can help
- See videos, get the latest updates on the oil disaster from EDF experts and find out how to volunteer: edf.org/oilspillcrisis.
- Tell the Senate we need a strong climate and energy bill, now more than ever. Send messages from edf.org/cleanenergynow.
- Donate to help support our Gulf Coast Response Team: edf.org/gulfcrisis.
