http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/7293660.html
Houston Chronicle
November 13, 2010
V. C. fossil fuel resources and use
VII. B. global warming
In Galveston, Texas the coastline is changing: the water is rising and the island is shrinking, beaches and wetlands are disappearing, and the barrier island is eroding at a fast rate. This is threatening wild life habitat and the eroding barrier island is reducing the protection it provides. According to this article, the water is rising because of warmer climate caused by carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gasses. Also the galvezton bay region is sinking because of pumping of groundwater, oil and gas extraction and natural forces such as faulting. This article is pro-environmental because they think that humans have caused the water rising and loss of wetlands. They also plan to rebuild the beaches and to move back houses from the coastlines and wetlands and to only allow high rise buildings to be built in the mainland.
These coastal areas prove to be the most beneficial of all of the aquatic lifezones, so despite the human necessity to capitalize on the real estate, it should truly be toned down.
ReplyDeleteThese coastal wetlands and sand barriers are very important to protect against storms and tidal surges, however people are destroying them by building houses. Although, these barriers aren't the only defense, but this destruction of them is pretty counter productive.
ReplyDeleteAs Max said, the destruction of these natural barriers are counterproductive, as well as being counterintuitive. They are naturally there for a reason. The old saying "Don't fix what's not broken" applies here.
ReplyDeleteThey have raised the beach before and the can do it again. Especially after this last hurricane hit the coast a lot of the of the piers are gone. It would be beneficial to have that as a joint program.
ReplyDeleteIt is likely that preserving the wetlands will have a far greater (if less noticeable) effect on Galveston's well-being than population growth. It is up to if Galveston's population would rather have short-term growth, or long-term stability.
ReplyDeleteGalveston needs to understand its natural limitations for its own well being. Also, with out the preservation of it's coast line and barrier island it can not grow in any form because Galveston as we know it will soon be destroyed.
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