Aerial view of the Wax Lake Delta in 2005

The Wax Lake Delta is a river delta in Louisiana that was formed by rapid deposition of sediment following the creation of a canal through Wax Lake off of the Atchafalaya River in 1941.^[1] It is located roughly 20 km upstream of Morgan City^[1] adjacent to the Atchafalaya Delta. It receives 34 million tons of sediment per year^[2]. In the 64 years between 1941 and 2005, Wax Lake was completely filled with sediment, and the delta prograded approximately 8 km into the sea^[2]. Because it was entirely created during an observable time-period and, other than the creation of the canal, was not altered by humans, it has often been in studies of deltaic formation^[1]. In the time since Hurricane Katrina, it has also served and as a model for delta regrowth in the Mississippi Delta region in order to restore habitat and protect against storm surge.^[1][2]

[edit] See also

• Atchafalaya Basin
• Atchafalaya River
• Mississippi River Delta
• Mississippi River
• River Delta

[edit] References