http:\/\/www.nola.com\/news\/gulf-oil-spill\/index.ssf\/2010\/07\/sand_berms_a_dubious_solution.html<\/p>\n
Sand berms a dubious solution:
\nA guest column by Len Bahr
\nPublished: Monday, July 05, 2010, 6:00 PM
\nContributing Op-Ed columnist Contributing Op-Ed columnist<\/p>\n
The coast of Louisiana occupies North America’s largest delta, which has
\nbeen rapidly shrinking and sinking for a century. River channelization,
\nflood levees, upriver dams and coastal oil and gas production continue to
\ntake their toll. But a decade from now, the unprecedented discharge of
\nperhaps 100,000 barrels a day of oil directly off our coast for months on
\nend may prove to have been as damaging to the delta as these historic
\nstressors.<\/p>\n
Obviously no handbook exists on effective responses to such a massive oil
\nrelease. This policy vacuum, combined with panic and desperation among
\ncoastal residents, created an irresistible opportunity for grandstanding on
\nthe part of our ambitious young governor.<\/p>\n
In this highly charged political climate it is not surprising that Bobby
\nJindal would opt for responses to the oil crisis based more on drama than
\neffectiveness. For example, he would likely prefer to be videotaped in front
\nof a massive, noisy dredge boat stirring up mud than observing small craft
\nsilently skimming the water surface.<\/p>\n
Thus, the governor’s most widely discussed response to the coastal oil
\nassault is to pile up defensive sand barriers. The rationale for this action
\nis to intercept the oil before it can contaminate the wetlands that hold
\ndelta sediments in place, nourish fish and wildlife and protect people from
\nstorms.<\/p>\n
About 80 miles of 6-foot-high sand berms are now under construction on the
\nlower east and west sides of the Mississippi River. The total quantity of
\nsand required to complete this project is said to be 56 million cubic
\nyards — the equivalent of 11.2 times the volume of the Superdome!<\/p>\n
Some of this (sacrificial) sand is being dredged from the lower river
\nchannel, but most is being mined from old barrier islands that have sunk
\nbeneath the sea. Although the dredging doesn’t leave a visible change at the
\nsurface, it alters the subsurface profile of an area and reduces the bottom
\nfriction that formerly absorbed hydraulic energy during approaching storm
\nsurges.<\/p>\n
On the basis of 22 years of academic training and experience in coastal
\nscience and 18 years of policy experience in the Governor’s Office of
\nCoastal Activities, I’m strongly opposed to the governor’s sand berm project
\nfor the following nine reasons:<\/p>\n
1) Absence of science: Vague plans for the sand barriers were hastily drawn
\nup by “outside experts” from Holland, with no input from Louisiana coastal
\nscientists. Project details subsequently released have been universally
\npanned by these scientists.<\/p>\n
2) Questionable justification: The sand dredging project was proposed by and
\nheavily lobbied by vested dredging interests, and it reeks of potential
\nconflicts.<\/p>\n
3) Opportunity cost: This emergency and temporary project will deplete and
\nwaste finite sand resources needed for a credible barrier shoreline
\nnourishment project.<\/p>\n
4) Environmental cost: Dredging holes in the very delta that we’re trying to
\nrestore is irrational.<\/p>\n
5) Changes to natural flow regime: Attempting to barricade tidal passes
\nspeeds up water velocity, causing barrier island erosion and potentially
\nsucking even more oil into the estuary.<\/p>\n
6) Lengthy construction time: The contractors project a completion date nine
\nmonths away, by which time deflecting BP oil could be a moot issue.<\/p>\n
7) Sand berm fragility: Sand-filled Hesco baskets (a type of sand berm)
\ncompleted three weeks ago by the Louisiana National Guard along Holly Beach
\nto protect against BP oil washed away like sand castles during a glancing
\nblow by Hurricane Alex.<\/p>\n
8) Dubious benefits: A huge volume of crude oil has already drifted into the
\nvery marsh areas that would supposedly be protected by sand barriers.
\nCompleted berms could trap rather than repel some of this oil.<\/p>\n
9) An alternative active response: Whether or not BP pays for the sand
\nbarrier project, there are more effective and risk-free ways to spend $350
\nmillion. For example, I estimate that for that amount 2 million tons of
\noil-absorbing hay could be spread on the oil by boats and planes, soaking up
\nperhaps 4 million tons of oil, then raked up by shrimp boats for onshore
\ndisposal.<\/p>\n
I’m not alone in challenging this project, although I can afford to be more
\nvocal than most of my science colleagues. Many of them, along with their
\nemployers, fear the financial consequences of alienating Gov. Jindal, who
\ntolerates no criticism of his sand berm fantasy.<\/p>\n
Len Bahr, Ph.D., is a former LSU marine sciences faculty member who served
\n18 years as a coastal policy adviser to Louisiana governors from Buddy
\nRoemer to Bobby Jindal. He edits LaCoastPost.com. His e-mail is
\nleonardbahr@gmail.com.
\nSpecial thanks to Richard Charter<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
http:\/\/www.nola.com\/news\/gulf-oil-spill\/index.ssf\/2010\/07\/sand_berms_a_dubious_solution.html Sand berms a dubious solution: A guest column by Len Bahr Published: Monday, July 05, 2010, 6:00 PM Contributing Op-Ed columnist Contributing Op-Ed columnist The coast of Louisiana occupies North America’s largest delta, which has been rapidly shrinking and sinking for a century. River channelization, flood levees, upriver dams and coastal oil and gas … Continue reading NOLA.com: Sand berms a dubious solution: A guest column by Len Bahr<\/span>