Office of Coastal Management

NEW YORKER SOUNDS ALARM TO SAVE LOUISIANA MARSHES

—Book released this summer—

His book is entitled, "Holding Back the Sea: The Struggle for America's Natural Legacy on the Gulf Coast" and while he hails from New York, he tells a compelling, true story about the land and the people of the Bayou State.

The author, Christopher Hallowell, is both a freelance writer (contributing to Time Magazine and other national publications) and director of the journalism program at Baruch College, a division of City University of New York.

Hallowell describes many real people of Louisiana, like the government official dealing with coastal erosion projects or the fishermen concerned with his latest catch. The book takes you to many eventful occasions within the past few years. He also nails the background information answering the who, what, when, where and why Louisiana is struggling to save these precious wetlands from vanishing. His concern and sensitivity is clearly evident, particularly when he acknowledges that the rest of the nation depends upon this unique and bountiful product of nature. He said that his occasional visits to south Louisiana led him back more frequently because the true picture of wetland loss here was too big to ignore.

State Department of Natural Resources Secretary Jack Caldwell spent some time helping Hallowell research and prepare for his book. Caldwell insisted that he see the land loss from the air and pointed out areas where open water was once a barrier of land.

Louisiana is currently losing between 25 and 35 square miles a year. With efforts already underway in fighting coastal subsidence and other such problems, the forecast is still a notable $14 billion to sustain the cultural and economic well-being of coastal Louisiana.

Holding Back the Sea was recently released by HarperCollins publishers (hardback is $26) and is available in bookstores across the country. Hallowell was invited to Baton Rouge just last week by Governor Mike Foster to speak at the state's Coastal Summit. Governor Foster, who praised Hallowell's interpretations, also told Summit participants that he sent President George W. Bush a copy of the book the day after he finished reading it.

Editors: For more information, please contact DNR Public Information Officer Phyllis F. Darensbourg at 225-342-8955