In order to provide a pragmatic and sustainable future for coastal Louisiana, a solution must emerge from an
understanding of and participation with the processes of this urban delta. The Giving Delta reaches beyond our natural
state of human adaptation and conceives of change on a scale considerate of transformation within the basins of the
Mississippi River. This accommodating regard prevents the forfeit of assets, infrastructure, and economic rewards that
stimulate the vitality of the area for the state, the nation, and the globe. Efforts to bolster the physical environment against
the threats of relative sea level rise require acknowledgement of long term economic and social alternatives that allow the
people, businesses, and industries of Southern Louisiana to thrive.
The Louisiana Coast has an opportunity to assist in combatting the threatening effects of global climate change that most
other coastal settlements are lacking: the communities and industries inhabit the territories of a dynamic river. Therefore,
this edge condition can be continuously replenished as a rich estuarine zone benefitting from strategic freshwater pulses
for sediment capture and riverine flooding. While other cities are exposed to rising seas on fixed coastal edges, Louisiana
and the nation can leverage the Mississippi River to sustain a thriving wetland that protects and promotes its industrial
economy, sustains ecosystem productivity, and nourishes human occupation.
PROJECT COMPLETED AS A PART OF THE MOFFATT & NICHOL | WEST 8 | LSU CSS FINALIST TEAM