Coastal Louisiana Resource Information System

Monitoring Louisiana's barrier islands, beaches, and main shorelines: The Barrier Island Comprehensive Monitoring (BICM) baseline for assessing coastal change, protection, and restoration!

The form of Louisiana’s coast is a function of the dynamic balance between the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. Barrier Islands, beaches, and mainland shorelines constantly change in response to river discharge, sea level, waves, and the actions of man. Hurricane protection, unique habitats, and large estuaries exist due to the presence of these important coastal landforms. Louisiana's barrier islands, beaches, and mainland shorelines define the boundary of program is designed to monitor Louisiana's dynamic coastline. BICM will provide an important tool to plan and monitor the performance of coastal protection and resotration projects built to date and envisioned for the future. Important components monitored by BICM include Bathymetry, Topography, Shoreline Change, Habitats, and Strom assessment protocol.