The Water Institute, the University of New Orleans (UNO), Nunez Community College, and the California Institute of Technology (CalTech), announced the launch of the Coastal Resilience through Effective Versatile Adaptation and Sediment Strategies for Sea-Level Rise Engagement (CREVASSE) initiative. The multi-institutional effort aims to accelerate innovative solutions for managing crevasses and support the communities and industries that rely on a healthy, resilient Mississippi River Delta.
The Mississippi River is one of the nation’s most important natural and economic systems. Its deep-draft navigation channels drive the U.S. economy, while its fresh water supports communities and ecosystems across southeast Louisiana. The river also supplies the sediment necessary to build and sustain the wetlands that buffer people, fisheries, and critical infrastructure from storms and sea-level rise.
As sea-level rise accelerates and natural crevasses and breaches in the river evolve, communities and decision-makers need adaptive, science-informed tools to manage these systems. The two-year CREVASSE initiative will develop engineered options for crevasse restoration, provide updated science on sediment pathways, and support workforce training for the next generation of coastal practitioners.
“The Mississippi River is a dynamic system, constantly reshaping the landscape and the communities that depend on it,” said Beaux Jones, President and CEO of The Water Institute. “Through CREVASSE, we have an opportunity to better understand those dynamics and work with our partners to turn that knowledge into practical solutions that enhance ecosystems, protect and improve navigation, and support the people who live and work along the river.”
The Water Institute will lead data mining and community engagement efforts, helping to ensure that decisions about managing the river’s natural crevasses are grounded in both the best available science and the lived experience of the communities who depend on the river every day.
“The science of how humans interact with and affect the processes that route water and sediment through lowland rivers is still very much a cutting-edge discipline. This effort takes on the challenge of defining that discipline, while simultaneously applying it to foster innovations that will enhance the benefits we all derive from the great river that flows past our doorsteps,” said Dr. Christopher Esposito, Research Geoscientist and project lead for The Water Institute.
“This work fills a critical gap in how we understand and manage the lowermost Mississippi River,” said Dr. Madeline Foster-Martinez, Assistant Professor at University of New Orleans, who is leading overall project management and coordination. “By aligning research, engineering, and community priorities, CREVASSE will help Louisiana make smarter, safer decisions about sediment, wetlands, and navigation for decades to come.”
Jacqueline Richard, Chair of Coastal Studies at Nunez Community College, will lead the workforce development component, creating pathways for local residents to participate directly in coastal restoration careers.
"Our first-ever National Science Foundation award is a major step forward for Nunez and demonstrates that we can play an integral and critical role in developing innovative, industry-aligned credentials in the coastal and environmental sphere,” said Dr. Tina Tinney, Nunez Community College Chancellor. “This investment opens new doors for our students while strengthening a workforce that our region and state direly need for a resilient future."
CalTech Professor of Geology Michael Lamb will lead efforts on data synthesis and translation, ensuring that insights from across the system are integrated into practical tools and recommendations.
Funded by the National Science Foundation, CREVASSE is also supported by several partners across government, industry, NGOs, and local communities, who will provide context for community workshops, advise on monitoring and engineering considerations, and contribute to long-term innovation.
“Through community workshops, field data collection, historical analysis, and coordinated technical research, CREVASSE brings together diverse expertise needed to help Louisiana adapt to sea-level rise, maintain safe and efficient navigation, and build a more resilient coast,” said Jones.
ABOUT THE WATER INSTITUTE
The Water Institute is driven by the mission to reduce the vulnerability of people, communities, ecosystems, and economies through transformative approaches to interconnected environmental and social challenges. As an independent, applied research organization, the Institute advances actionable research, technology, and planning to support science-informed decision making. The Institute serves as a thought partner, leveraging expertise in multiple disciplines and engaging across multiple sectors — government, private industry, academia, and communities. The Institute was founded in 2011 in the aftermath of devastating hurricanes and oil spills. Headquartered in Louisiana, the Institute draws on its roots in the Mississippi River Delta and the Gulf Coast, where water is both a strength and a vulnerability, to tackle challenges wherever they are. The Water Institute envisions a future where all of humanity can adapt and thrive alongside nature in a changing world. Learn more at www.thewaterinstitute.org.