La. marine lab at ‘ground zero’

Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium, which sits on a spit of coastal land in south Terrebonne Parish where researchers study problems related to coastal Louisiana, Gulf of Mexico, and ocean ecosystems. Because of its location outside the levee system, the marine lab has become ground zero for the very issues it is tasked with studying. The lab’s location is becoming more valuable each passing day with Louisiana losing more coastal wetlands than all other American states combined. The issues facing coastal Louisiana drive much of the research. “A lot of people now are starting to utilize us because we are sort of ground zero,” McClain said. “We have a front row seat to coastal loss and coastal change.” (Source: NOLA.com 03/21/18)