Sediment Transport along the Southwestern Louisiana Shoreline: Impact from Hurricane Rita, 2005

The landfall of Hurricane Rita in 2005 significantly altered physical and morphological characteristics along the southwestern Louisiana coastline and interior marshes. An excessive storm surge event linked to Rita resulted in widespread, storm-induced overwash deposits in Cameron and Vermilion Parishes, Louisiana. These deposits superseded prior deposits and were aligned parallel to predominant flow patterns associated with the storm's counter-clockwise circulation. These responses became more pronounced farther west and culminating at eyewall impact. Excessive salinity levels resulting from salt-water intrusion severely impacted local vegetation several kilometers inland and over the longer term may exacerbate the loss of vegetation that retards coastal erosion and attenuates waves and storm surge during high-energy events. Massive water levels introduced onshore by surge remained locally ponded several weeks after the hurricane; however, morphological patterns along the coastline had begun facilitating the return flow of water and sediment to the Gulf of Mexico.