Life among the levees: A historical analysis of community adaptation in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana

This paper aims to understand how the work around the Larose to Golden Meadow Hurricane Protection System has affected South Lafourche's communities, settlement patterns, and the region's economy. Historical context is key. The adaptations of communities to past changes offer valuable insights into potential future challenges.

Ultimately, the future of South Lafourche depends on solutions that combine infrastructure with community-driven resilience strategies. This includes addressing social vulnerabilities, bringing down the cost of flood insurance, diversifying the region's economy, and investing in workforce development for a growing coastal protection and restoration industry. Part of this effort relies on consistent and streamlined federal funding for disaster preparedness, recovery, and - in worst case scenarios - community-driven relocation