Research Group

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Development of Gulf Coast Resiliency Management Plan Using Sentinel Species and Natural Infrastructure

Lauren Padilla

National Academies of Science, Engineering, Medicine: Gulf Research Program

Healthy Ecosystems 4

Hurricanes, including Katrina and Harvey, have demonstrated that oil and gas facilities are vulnerable to flooding-related damage – which can trigger the release of petroleum products and chemical contaminants into the air, water, and surrounding neighborhoods. This project will study the human and ecosystem health risks from toxics potentially released from industrial facilities following weather- and climate-related events. It will also examine possible use of Natural and Nature-Based Features (also known as green or natural infrastructure solutions), including constructed wetlands, to mitigate flooding-related toxic chemical releases. The team is focusing specifically on Galveston Bay in Texas, due to its proximity to vulnerable oil and gas facilities, but findings could also help inform industrial areas along the Louisiana coast.

Alex Adame
Data Scientist
Environmental Defense Fund

aadame@edf.org

Weihsueh Chiu
Professor
Texas A&M University

wchiu@cvm.tamu.edu

Elena Craft
Senior Director
Environmental Defense Fund, Inc.

ecraft@edf.org

Cloelle Danforth
Scientist
Environmental Defense Fund

cdanforth@edf.org

Jim Kaihatu
Professor
Texas A&M University

jkaihatu@civil.tamu.edu

Gioia Kennedy
Project Manager
Environmental Defense Fund

gkennedy@edf.org

Lauren Padilla
Senior Environmental Data Scientist
Environmental Defense Fund

lpadilla@edf.org

Garett Sansom
Assistant Professor
Texas A&M University

sansom@tamu.edu