Land area shrinks, but rate of losses slows

Researchers collected data from 21 different observations between 1932 and 2016 (black dots) and used statistical analysis to chart the rate of loss that most closely tracks those observations. That solid red line shows that Louisiana's coastal wetlands declined sharply up until the 1970s, and continue to decline, but at a slower rate. Though some recent observations lie above the red line, earlier losses strongly influence the historical trend, which still shows a decline. There is a 95% likelihood that the actual trend lies within the dotted blue lines.