The Coastal Index: The Problem and Possibility of Our Coast

In 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil platform blew up and sank 45 miles from Plaquemines Parish, spilling millions of barrels of oil into the Gulf. The spill added to the ongoing deterioration of our coasts, and although it remains a working coast of national economic importance, residents are moving inland. At the same time, the billions of dollars being spent to protect and restore the coast can add to a firm economic foundation established by a long history of working and living with water. A promising “water management” sector is developing that can diversify the economy and bolster Southeast Louisiana’s sustainability for the long term.