Mark Armbruster ’23 Reflects on Coastal Erosion Field Trip

Article written by Mark Armbruster ‘23.

During the majority of January, our eighth-grade World Geography and English classes learned about Louisiana’s rapidly eroding coast. Louisiana’s coast is very important to our state and to the rest of the country; however, it is eroding very quickly due to saltwater intrusion, water erosion, etc. In our classes, we talked about ways we could prevent land loss or gain new land. In English class, we read specific passages about humans interacting with the environment. My passage was about a group of volunteers planting oyster grasses in the marshes of Bayou Lafourche. Though the volunteers in the passage were only restoring a small portion of Louisiana’s coast, this is a good example of how we could possibly help save our homeland little by little.

In World Geography class, we learned about the geography of the coastal region and about different ways we can protect the coast. Later in the month, our World Geography classes took a field trip to the LSU Center for River Studies in Baton Rouge. At the center, we learned about all of the projects Louisiana is currently doing to help save and protect her coast. We also learned about the significance of our land and about volunteer opportunities that can contribute to land restoration. My favorite part was the huge physical model of the Mississippi River delta area. While looking at it, we learned where specific projects are and where some are planning to be located.

A few days after that, Madelyn Smith, a senior at Louisiana State University in the Ogden Honors College who is studying Natural Resource Ecology and Management, came to speak to the class. She is also the author of the book, Louisiana Gone, which contains photographs and interviews with people who are affected by Louisiana's disappearing coast. She talked to us about the rapid land loss of Louisiana’s coast and the importance of some smaller cities and cultures that are endangered because of the lack of land in those areas. This whole mini unit on coastal erosion has taught me the significance of Louisiana’s coast and how quickly it is disappearing. It has also taught me what we are doing and how we can help to protect our communities, homes, and economies.

Article written by Mark Armbruster ‘23.

Geography LSU-CPRA Field Trip
Geography LSU-CPRA Field Trip
Geography LSU-CPRA Field Trip
Geography LSU-CPRA Field Trip
Geography LSU-CPRA Field Trip
Geography LSU-CPRA Field Trip
Geography LSU-CPRA Field Trip
Geography LSU-CPRA Field Trip
Geography LSU-CPRA Field Trip
Geography LSU-CPRA Field Trip
Geography LSU-CPRA Field Trip
Geography LSU-CPRA Field Trip
Geography LSU-CPRA Field Trip
Geography LSU-CPRA Field Trip
Geography LSU-CPRA Field Trip
Geography LSU-CPRA Field Trip
Geography LSU-CPRA Field Trip
Geography LSU-CPRA Field Trip
Geography LSU-CPRA Field Trip
Geography LSU-CPRA Field Trip
Geography LSU-CPRA Field Trip
Geography LSU-CPRA Field Trip
Geography LSU-CPRA Field Trip
Geography LSU-CPRA Field Trip
Geography LSU-CPRA Field Trip
Geography LSU-CPRA Field Trip
Geography LSU-CPRA Field Trip
Geography LSU-CPRA Field Trip
Geography LSU-CPRA Field Trip
Geography LSU-CPRA Field Trip
Geography LSU-CPRA Field Trip
Geography LSU-CPRA Field Trip

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