Agricultural runoff from the Mississippi watershed washes damaging levels of nitrogen and phosphorus into the Mississippi River and ultimately into the Gulf of Mexico. The continuation of present trends creates a future where decades of accumulating nitrogen and phosphorus levels from industrialized farming practices in the Midwest exacerbate the decline of marine life and ecosystems that serve as foundational elements of the coastal culture and economy of Louisiana. As cultural keystones disappear from the coastal environment, the population of the coastal region will begin to relocate north to nearby economic hubs along the I-10 corridor.
Baton Rouge experiences an annual population growth of 1.46%. This number is expected to dramatically increase as the economic viability of the coast deteriorates. The influx of coastal residents will primarily consist of families with lower levels of income and education. The population increase presents several challenges and opportunities worth considering when developing plans for future conditions. First, the additional population presents an opportunity in the form of an experienced, unskilled workforce, which may increase economic capacity in the Baton Rouge area. Additionally, there will be an increased demand for affordable residential developments. With residential development, the energy grid, infrastructure system, and public services will all need to be considered when anticipating the future needs of a larger population.
Our group's plan consists of a three-pronged approach of investing in green energy projects in and around Baton Rouge to provide both construction and maintenance jobs suitable for the projected demographic. Redevelopment of the Baton Rouge urban centers and infrastructure before dramatic population growth would begin creating opportunities for current residents. The investment in the energy grid and infrastructure would be combined with levee beautification projects and advanced city-scaping to create a city-specific identity for the population to adopt as their own as they integrate into a new community due to the unfortunate circumstances of the unchanging trends in the Gulf of Mexico.
Collaborators. Alexis Albert, Lija Lewis, Landon Neal, Morgan Mills, Fairuz Sowma, Jennifer White
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