RAPID COASTAL EROSION IN GRAND ISLE STATE PARK: BASELINE DATA WITHIN THE AREA OF THE BP DEEPWATER HORIZON OIL SPILL DEPOSITION

Grand Isle is a dynamic Louisiana barrier island suffering from rapid subsidence, coastal erosion. and the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill. This project documents the erosion and limited effectiveness of mitigating beach nourishment activities and oil spill restoration efforts within Grand Isle State Park. Since February 2008 when beach profile measurements by Tulane students began, there have been two beach nourishments separated by the erosive impact of two hurricanes. Despite these expensive efforts, sand continues to move off the island diminishing the width of the beach and integrity of the island’s spit, threatening park infrastructure. In addition, the 2010 oil spill and associated clean up efforts have had major impacts on the beach. This project monitors the position and elevation of the beach along fifty-nine transects spaced at 50 meter intervals stretching the length of the park using standard survey tools; stadia rods, sighting scopes, tape measures and GPS units. We present the history of the Grand Isle State Park beach since 2008, showing dramatic changes from beach nourishments, intervening hurricanes and the oil spill. The data from 2010 are especially important because they show the background position and condition of the beach prior to the oil spill, documenting the baseline to which cleanup efforts over the next 10-15 years will be compared as BP seeks to restore the beach to its original state against a backdrop of continued erosion. These records support the post oil spill cleanup as well as efforts to combat the erosion facing Grand Isle today.