Wetlands: Key to Protecting New Orleans NOLA ...
The Mississippi River is a strong contributor to sustaining the coast of Louisiana, by creating a rich wetland. The river delivered water, sediments, and nutrients to the wetlands on the coast of 
Louisiana, prior to human intervention. ...
... "Major causes of land loss in Louisiana have been identified. Dams and diversions along the Mississippi River and its tributaries have greatly reduced the amount of sediment that reaches coastal Louisiana, and levees force the remaining sediment so far offshore that it falls directly onto the outer continental shelf and beyond, where it no longer contributes to sustaining or building coastal lands. By blocking natural flooding cycles, levees prevent fresh water and nutrients from the Mississippi River from nourishing and sustaining wetlands. Ten major navigation canals and more than 9,000 miles of pipelines servicing approximately 50,000 oil and gas production facilities in coastal Louisiana result in a large direct loss of land and also contribute to wetland loss from saltwater intrusion and dredging. " ...