LSU faculty get $1.5M to study Louisiana's coast

LSU has been awarded $1.5 million from the National Science Foundation to investigate whether southern coastal Louisiana has reached the tipping point, becoming too costly to sustain.

The interdisciplinary research project will investigate the sustainability of coastal communities that are especially vulnerable to natural resource loss and natural hazards. Nina Lam, professor of environmental science and principle investigator, said Tuesday it's the first study to look at both environmental factors and the human element.

Research will focus on the Lower Mississippi River Basin in Louisiana. Lam's group will look at areas north of Lake Pontchartrain and compare to portions south of the lake. Officials say the project's findings will inform policymakers and the public on how to increase the region's resilience and provide scenarios for a sustainable plan.