Every 100 minutes, Louisiana loses the equivalent of an American football field in coastal land, claimed by the Gulf of Mexico. This figure comes from a study by the US Geological Survey, led by Brady Couvillion and his colleagues, which tracked changes in the coastline from 1932 to 2016. During the most rapid phases of land loss, the equivalent of a football field was lost every 34 minutes, while in more recent, slower periods, it took 100 minutes. This loss is the result of human decisions made over the past century, particularly after the devastating flood of 1927, which led to the construction of extensive levees along the Mississippi River to prevent future flooding. These levees, built and reinforced over time, have protected people and farmland but also stopped the natural flow of sediment that once built up the delta. Without this sediment, the land has eroded, and open water has expanded. The sinking of the land itself has worsened the situation. The delta’s ground has been compacting naturally under its own weight, with no natural process compensating for this loss. Additionally, the extraction of oil and gas has had a significant impact. Since the mid-20th century, thousands of kilometers of canals have been dug through the marshes, facilitating the transport of hydrocarbons. These canals have allowed saltwater to intrude further inland, killing the vegetation that once held the land together and turning wetlands into open water. Between 1932 and 2016, Louisiana lost about 4,833 square kilometers of land—25% of its 1932 coastline. The rate of loss varied over time, with the most dramatic degradation occurring in the mid-1970s before gradually slowing down. Isle de Jean Charles, a small island in the bayou, exemplifies the impact of this land loss. Inhabited by the Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw tribe, the island has been gradually submerged by rising saltwater, with its once-fertile lands turning into marshes and then open water. In 2016, the state received a federal grant to relocate 37 families from the island to a new location, nicknamed "The New Isle," located about 65 kilometers north of the original site. While the relocation was financially supported, some residents have faced challenges with the quality of the new housing, including leaks and faulty appliances. The relocation highlights the complex reality of dealing with environmental degradation, even with financial assistance. To combat the land loss, Louisiana has begun implementing controlled diversions—periodic openings in the levees that allow the river to deposit sediment where it is most needed. These projects aim to mimic the natural seasonal floods that once built up the delta, without compromising the levees that protect cities. However, large-scale projects remain expensive, time-consuming, and controversial, especially among local fishermen who worry about the impact on their fishing areas. While the rate of land loss has slowed since 2010, this does not mean erosion has stopped. A major storm could reverse the progress made in a matter of hours. Despite the growing familiarity with the statistic of losing a football field every 100 minutes, officials stress that this should not diminish the urgency of taking action.