The Louisiana coast : guide to an American wetland / Gay M. Gomez.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Gomez, Gay M. (Gay Maria), 1956-

Series:

Gulf Coast studies ; no. 15.

TAM nature guides.

Gulf Coast studies ; no. 15

TAM nature guides

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Natural history--Louisiana--Gulf Coast--Guidebooks.

Natural history.

Wetlands--Louisiana--Gulf Coast--Guidebooks.

Wetlands.

Landscapes--Louisiana--Gulf Coast--Guidebooks.

Landscapes.

Chenier plains--Louisiana--Gulf Coast--Guidebooks.

Chenier plains.

Coastal ecology--Louisiana--Gulf Coast.

Coastal ecology.

Gulf Coast (La.)--Guidebooks.

Gulf Coast (La.).

Mississippi River Delta (La.)--Guidebooks.

Mississippi River Delta (La.).

Gulf Coast (La.)--Environmental conditions.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (204 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

College Station : Texas A&M University Press, c2008.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Hurricane Katrina gave the nation an urgent reminder of the extent and value of Louisiana's wetlands when daily discussions of subsidence and sedimentation revealed how much ordinary coastal processes affect humanity--and vice versa. Now, with a native Louisiana naturalist as a guide, readers can learn how best to enjoy, appreciate, and protect this vanishing landscape. Part natural history and part field guide, The Louisiana Coast takes readers across one of only three major chenier plains in the world to the Atchafalaya Basin, the largest river basin swamp on the continent, and through the network of bayous, natural levees, cypress swamps, marshes, and barrier islands of the Deltaic Plain. Color photographs illustrate chapters on vegetation, wildlife, and the rich human culture that defines Louisiana. With the intimate knowledge of one whose life has been shaped by this remarkable environment, author Gay M. Gomez leads visitors to nature trails, wildlife refuges, Audubon sanctuaries, and parks. A visitor's guide at the end of the book features destinations open to the public for wildlife watching, photography, and even hunting, fishing, crabbing, and cast netting. Everyone who lives in or visits Louisiana and anyone interested in the conservation, ecology, natural history, and geography of the region will appreciate Gomez's exploration of the land, its people, its resources, and its vulnerabilities. "The Louisiana Coast" will encourage readers to share the author's love for this vital, distinct, and beautiful place.

Contents:

Prelude: Coastal roots

The Louisiana coast : vital, valuable, and vulnerable

Deltaic plain and Chenier plain landscapes

Coastal vistas : vegetation

Coastal vistas : wildlife

Coastal vistas : human activities

Wetland loss and restoration

Visiting the coast

Conclusion: Tenacity

Books and other resources to enhance your wetland experience.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references (p. [169]-181) and index.

ISBN:

1-299-05318-1

1-60344-271-5

OCLC:

659392407