NEW ORLEANS, La. (May 13, 2021) – Join The Water Institute of the Gulf and partners to learn about a cooperative endeavor to develop a project area in Bay Denesse that connects coastal managers and coastal researchers to help advance science and the management of coastal restoration and protection projects. Funding for this webinar and for the research and panel discussions that preceded it was provided by the Gulf Research Program of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
Bay Denesse is located on the east bank of the Mississippi River in Plaquemines Parish and includes a network of distributary channels that bring freshwater and sediment from the river into the marshes. The Natural Resources Conservation Service has a project to plant vegetation in about 200 acres of this area in 2022. Over the last couple years, researchers and coastal project managers have come together to discuss ways to use this planting project opportunity to connect both disciplines for better outcomes.
The concept of a "Living Lab" is built around the idea that while members of the research community are skilled at controlled experimentation, they do not usually have the ability to alter landscapes and ecosystems at scale. Restoration coastal managers have the ability to alter the landscape, but they don't have the time or budget to do the scientific research that could enhance future projects. Collaborating around a central "Living Lab," in this case the Bay Denesse area, would allow coastal project managers and researchers to combine efforts to produce science-based and practical approaches to better coastal management.
Participants are currently working to secure funding to make the “Living Lab” concept a reality.
Learn more about this effort and join in the discussion during a webinar and Q&A from 1 to 3 p.m. May 20.
Webinar
Time: 1 to 3 p.m. CDT
Date: May 20
Register: Register here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
About The Water Institute of the Gulf
The Water Institute of the Gulf is an independent, non-profit, applied research institution advancing science and developing integrated methods to solve complex environmental and societal challenges. We believe in and strive for more resilient and equitable communities, sustainable environments, and thriving economies. For more information, visit www.thewaterinstitute.org.