1. Oyster Production in Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary:
Coastal Erosion in LA
Travis Warziniack
UT Economics

2. Background GIS in Economics (travel costs)
Natural Production Functions
Louisiana Coastal Erosion

3. Size of the Problem Louisiana contains 35% of nation’s wetlands
LA has lost 30% since 1900
Another 80% will be lost by 2083
$3 billion in estimated projects
Source:
U.S. Geological Survey

4. Problems to Oyster Production
Leases
Oyster leases are given by geographic location
Salinity
Oyster Harvest = f(salinity, ..)
Salt water encroachment
As coastline moves in/out salt water advances/retreats inland

5. Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary

6. Selected Gauging Stations
Quad 43
79 Leases
(3-939 acres)

7. Low Salinity

8. High Salinity – open to predators and disease

9. Estuary Salinity Levels
Low
Good
High

10. Eye to the Future Missing Piece - Leases Future Monitoring
Data and projects don’t overlap
Implications
Oystermen: which leases will be useless
Policy: can measure the FULL costs