Can Hurricanes Build Wetlands?

Most studies claim that hurricanes destroy wetlands, but some researchers have claimed that hurricanes Katrina and Rita dropped 130 million tons of sediment along the Louisiana Coast. If these estimates are correct, that would be 200 times the amount the river delivered before the levees prevented overflow. Wetlands need regular sediment deposits to stay healthy, but the origin of these deposits measured after the 2005 hurricane season remains unknown. The simple rearrangement of sediments from one wetland area to another is not exactly a viable restoration method.

Louisiana's coastal wetlands provide a thriving seafood industry, a percentage of the US oil and gas supply and protection to inland areas from storm surges. Despite the numerous benefits that these wetlands provide, they are continuously shrinking. Congress is considering numerous bills involving restoration efforts like diverting water from the Mississippi River and replanting cypress and other trees. Using EMIP trees for these projects would increase the chances of restoration success as air-pruned trees have a higher tolerance to flooding and produce seeds sooner for natural regeneration.