Restoring the Barrier Islands in Louisiana

Barrier islands protect about 10% of the world's coastlines, serving as critical buffers against storm surges, sea-level rise, and coastal erosion. However, Louisiana’s barrier islands have experienced a significant loss of over 40% of their land area in the past century due to intensified wave-induced storm action, rising seas, and unbalanced sediment transport. Various storm-induced events, including Hurricanes Katrina, Isaac, and the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, have exacerbated erosion, further highlighting the need for sustainable restoration strategies in the region. Such severe erosion compromises their function as natural protective barriers, heightening the vulnerability of nearby coastal communities.

Past restoration efforts have focused on vegetation planting and structural interventions, but these approaches often fail to adapt to the dynamic geomorphological processes influencing the islands. This research aims to develop regenerative, bio-based strategies that integrate natural sediment migration patterns induced by wave to enhance island resilience. By investigating these patterns, this study seeks to design adaptive sand-accumulation systems that stabilizes soil and promotes long-term resilience. Methodologically, the study employs a multi-scalar approach using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations to analyze sediment transport, material prototyping for bio-based stabilization, and physical sand simulations to assess patterns after wave action. Initial GIS-based spatial analysis maps historical net sediment loss-gain, soil erosion, wind speed based wave exposure index and vegetation decline. While tools like USGS Topobathy Metric Lidar DEM Models and Grasshopper-based simulations using Docofossor and Dune Worm aid in designing sediment accumulation strategies and analyzing their effectiveness to reduce erosion.

By aligning bio-based design strategies with natural sedimentation processes, this research aims to restore the ecological and protective functions of the Chandeleur Islands while offering scalable solutions for other vulnerable coastal systems facing similar challenges worldwide.