International Conference

Challenges in Coastal Hydrology & Water Quality

 

May 21 – 24, 2006

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA

 

 

CONFERENCE SPONSORS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LSU Foundation

 

 

 

 

 

PRINT MATERIALS

 

     - Coastal Hydrology and Processes (ISBN Number  1-887201-46-7)

     - Coastal Environment and Water Quality (ISBN Number  1-887201-47-5)

     For information on ordering the books, please contact Water Resources Publications, LLC, Highlands Ranch, Colorado

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Today, more than half of the world's population lives within 100 km of the coastline, and this number is expected to increase by 25% in the coming two decades. Population growth and urbanization have greatly altered coastal environments and the natural pathways of coastal water. With most of the water on land entering into the seas and oceans, man’s activities in both coastal and inland watersheds have led to increased loadings of sediment, nutrients, toxic substances and pathogens with subsequent eutrophication, algal blooms, and hypoxia. Recent climate change has also led to a rise in sea level resulting in loss of coastal wetlands and saltwater intrusion. Unpredictable transformations in weather patterns that the world is currently witnessing are also being attributed to climate change. The world’s coasts face increasingly serious environmental challenges, while comprehensive understanding and measurement of the complexities in coastal systems has yet to occur. Two recent devastating hurricanes, Katrina and Rita, that struck the coastal areas along the Gulf of Mexico - and more specifically the Louisiana and Mississippi coasts - in 2005, are a vivid reminder that man’s relationship with nature is not only exceedingly fragile, but also highly unpredictable. The level of destruction from these storms is so widespread and staggering, that it is hard to say if these areas will ever be able to regain their previous vitality and prominence.

 

This conference is being held at a time when large parts of coastal Louisiana and Mississippi are still in various stages of recovery and while we continue to look for strategies to prevent large-scale impacts of extreme weather events, such as Katrina and Rita, in the world’s coastal regions. This conference offers an opportunity to discuss a range of scientific and technical topics that are among the most critical issues in coastal regions. Some of these issues, such as wetland loss and restoration, climate change and sea level rise, and eutrophication and hypoxia in coastal waters, are of global significance. Located in the Northern Gulf of Mexico at the mouth of the Mississippi River, Louisiana is in a unique geographical location, ideal for attracting researchers, educators, practitioners, and industries working in coastal hydrology and water quality fields throughout the world to this conference. We hope this conference will help raise public and governmental awareness of a range of challenging environmental problems, such as erosion and land subsidence in coastal Louisiana.

 

 

 

TECHNICAL PROGRAM

 

Short Course

Hydrological Field Methods – Surface Water" will be offered Free of Charge on Sunday, May 21, at 9:00 a.m. on the LSU campus.

 

o       A classroom lecture series in the morning and a field demonstration near the beautiful University Lake in the afternoon. The instructors will demonstrate principles and applications of the methods commonly used in surface water hydrology and water quality monitoring. Students will be introduced to some of the most advanced field techniques and current technology equipment.

o       Transportation from the conference hotel to LSU and box lunches will be provided Free of Charge for attendees.

o       Course Registration Form

 

Technical Sessions

There are 24 oral presentation sessions and 2 poster presentation sessions. The subject matter of the conference is divided into the following topics encompassing virtually all major aspects of coastal water and environment:

 

o       Coastal Hydrologic Processes

o       Coastal Water Quality

o       Fluvial Processes and Sedimentation

o       Flood Control and Disaster Assessment

o       Surface Water and Ground Water Interaction in Coastal Regions

o       Freshwater Resources and Saltwater Intrusion

o       Eutrophication and Hypoxia in Coastal Waters

o       Coastal Erosion 

o       Coastal Wetlands and Floodplains

o       Coastal Wetland Restoration

o       GIS/Spatial Applications for Coastal Regions

o       Extreme Weather Events

o       Global Change Effects on Coastal Water Resources

o       Hurricane Katrina/Rita Impacts

 

Field Trips

There are 2 field trips on Wednesday, May 24, 2006

 

o       Mississippi River Diversion and Atchafalaya River Basin (Registration)

o       New Orleans Flood Damage (Registration)

 

 

 

ABSTRACTS and PAPERS 

 

Although the submission deadline for oral presentation and full-length paper has passed, the Conference Organizing Committee is still accepting poster presentation papers until May 1, 2006.

 

 

 

STUDENT TRAVEL AWARDS 

 

Thanks to our generous sponsors, we are able to provide a limited number of student travel awards. We encourage all student presenters to apply for this competitive award (up to $400 for travel reimbursement). Special consideration will be given to students from the Katrina, Rita and Tsunami affected areas. An application form can be downloaded at

 

        http://hydrology.lsu.edu/CCHWQ/2006CCHWQ_StudentTravelAward_Appl.doc

 

 

 

TRAVEL and ACCOMMODATIONS

 

Baton Rouge, the state capital of Louisiana, is a thriving city located on the Mississippi River near its mouth to the Gulf of Mexico. It represents the best of Louisiana’s unique history and vibrant culture. The conference will be held at:

 

            Holiday Inn Select & Executive Center (click on to see a location map)

            4728 Constitution Avenue

            Baton Rouge Louisiana

            www.holiday-inn.com (Code G28 for the International Conference on Challenges in Coastal Hydrology and Water Quality)

 

Also, see the Great Baton Rouge map and the Baton Rouge Downtown map.

 

 

 

INFORMATION ABOUT BATON ROUGE & SOUTHERN LOUISIANA

 

Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge Visitors & Conventions Bureau

New Orleans, New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau

Lafayette, Lafayette Convention & Visitors Commission

Louisiana Travel, Louisiana Office of Tourism

 

 

 

CONFERENCE CHAIRS

  Dr. Vijay P. Singh

  Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering

  Louisiana State University

  Baton Rouge, LA 70803

  Phone: +1-225-578-6697

  Fax: +1-225-578-6588

   Email: cesing@lsu.edu

 

Dr. Y. Jun Xu

School of Renewable Natural Resources

Louisiana State University

Agricultural Center

Baton Rouge, LA 70803

Phone: +1-225-578-0897

Fax: +1-225-578-4227

Email: yjxu@lsu.edu

 

 

 

CONFERENCE LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

    Ms. Pinki Diwan, Director of Donor, Corporate & Foundation Programs, Louisiana State University Foundation

    Mr. Bob Jacobsen, Senior Program Manager, URS Corporation

    Dr. Larry Rouse, Chair and Professor, Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University

    Ms. Toni Smiley, Convention Sales Manager, Baton Rouge Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

    Dr. Daniel Thomas, Chair & Professor, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Louisiana State University

    Dr. Clinton Willson, Associate Professor, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Louisiana State University

    Dr. Song-kai Yan, Senior Staff Consultant, The Shaw Group

 

 

CONFERENCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Dr. Len Bahr, Director of Applied Research, Louisiana Governor’s Office of Coastal Activities

Ms. Jan R. Boydstun, Environmental Scientist Senior, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality

Dr. Virginia Burkett, Member of IPCC and NSC on Water Resources, USGS National Wetland Research Center

Mr. Chris M. Chambers, Project Manger, The Shaw Group

Dr. Paul Coreil, Vice Chancellor and Director, Cooperative Extension Service, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center

Dr. John Day, Professor, Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University

Mr. Carlton Dufrechou, Executive Director, Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation

Mr. Gerald M. Duszynski, Acting Assistant Secretary, Louisiana Department of Natural Resources

Mr. Dwight Landreneau, Secretary, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

Dr. Pat Leahy, Acting Director, U.S. Geological Survey

Dr. Miguel Marino, President, American Institute of Hydrology / Professor, University of California at Davis

Dr. Brent A. McKee, Director, Tulane Center for River-Ocean Studies (CeROS), Tulane University

Mr. W. Britt Paul, Assistant State Conservationist WR/RD, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Dr. Nancy Rabalais, Professor, Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium

Dr. Jim Shepard, Professor and Head, Department of Forestry, Mississippi State University

Dr. Robert R. Twilley, Professor and Director, Wetland Biogeochemistry Institute, Louisiana State University