Ecological restoration master planning
Cypress-Tupelo Swamp Ecological Restoration Plan
Bayou Bienvenue Wetland Triangle, Lower Ninth Ward, New Orleans, LA, 2008-2011
As a graduate student in the University of Wisconsin—Madison Water Resources Management and Landscape Architecture Programs, Lauren developed ecological restoration scenarios and implementation strategies for the 430-acre Bayou Bienvenue Wetland Triangle (BBWT) in New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward. Levee failure and saltwater intrusion during Hurricane Katrina’s 2005 storm surge had transformed the once-forested cypress-tupelo swamp into a shallow, brackish, open water “ghost swamp.”
Lauren’s research explored the interacting effects of Mississippi River deltaic subsidence, sea-level rise, the levee and canal systems, and climate change on the coastal ecosystem. Working with fellow practicum students, she conducted water-quality monitoring, engaged with local stakeholders and scientists, and helped design and lead a hands-on wetland demonstration project. The final thesis synthesized research into long-term restoration scenarios and implementation strategies to support local advocacy and community recovery.
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