Areas Of Louisiana Research Articles

High Prevalence of Inappropriate Urine Drug Tests in a Pain Clinic for Patients with HIV: Table 1

Dear Editor, We read the article regarding compliance with opioid treatment guidelines for chronic noncancer pain by Sekhon et al. with interest [1]. Our clinic recently conducted a similar study in a primary care setting for persons with HIV and found similar results. The management of chronic pain in HIV-infected persons is particularly challenging as it is often complicated by comorbidities, addiction disorders, and mental illness. Universal precautions to mitigate the risk of substance misuse/abuse among individuals with chronic pain on chronic opioid therapy has been recommended; behavioral contracts, surveillance urine drug tests (UDTs), and review of prescription refills have been suggested to control potential misuse of opioids [2]. The HIV Outpatient Program (HOP) is a primary care clinic for persons with HIV who provide care to patients in New Orleans and surrounding areas in Louisiana. The clinic has had a specialized clinic dedicated for patients with chronic pain for several years. This clinic, held once a week, is staffed by a physician who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Treatment plans vary depending upon each condition, but include physical therapy referrals, corticosteroid injections, analgesics, opioids and adjuvant therapies. The pain clinic is open to all patients in the general HIV clinic, but requires a referral from the primary care provider. In 2011, …

KIS Approach to Data Management for Oil and Hazardous Material Response

ABSTRACT On August 28th, 2012 Hurricane Isaac made landfall on the lower peninsula of the state of Louisiana near the mouth of the Mississippi River. A FEMA mission assignment under Emergency Support Function 10 (Oil and Hazardous Material Response) was issued to the U.S. Coast Guard and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to mitigate hundreds of orphaned containers deposited throughout a 3200 square mile area of coastal Louisiana by flood waters associated with Hurricane Isaac. A team comprised of U.S. Coast Guard, EPA, NOAA, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, local Oil Spill Response Organization, EPA contractors and other Federal, State and Local personnel was assembled to manage the response. Beginning with the end in mind and understanding that a major challenge in oil or HAZMAT response is data management and timely collaboration of data, the team decided to “keep it simple” and leverage off-the-shelf, inexpensive and intuitive options to manage the response data.. The objective was to keep costs to a minimum while ensuring the average responder could use the systems selected. The Microsoft ACCESS and Google Earth platforms were selected and enabled the team to operate very efficiently. Ultimately the mission assignment was completed weeks ahead of schedule and several hundred thousand dollars under budget. This paper describes a budget conscious response approach to a large and dynamic area of operation; specifically, the efficient and successful operations that were executed through novel use of free GIS software, COTS GPS equipment, readily available interagency digital information sources, and efficient aerial surveillance planning. The organizational concepts necessary to integrate these techniques into Incident Command System (ICS) and the logistical considerations of managing a response effectively with these tools with minimally staffed personnel are also addressed.

Structural analysis of a salt-cored transfer zone in the South Timbalier Block 54, offshore Gulf of Mexico: Implications for restoration of salt-related extensional structures

The style of faulting in offshore Louisiana, Gulf of Mexico, is characterized by short, arcuate regional and counterregional growth faults, which commonly form complex transfer zones above shallow, Miocene level salt bodies. South Timbalier Block 54 (ST54) constitutes one such area where a basinward-dipping regional and a landward-dipping counterregional growth fault form a convergent transfer zone. Structural interpretation using three-dimensional (3-D) seismic and well data reveals that the eastern and western flanks of the structure contain salt in the footwalls of the main regional and counterregional faults. The salt rises to a much shallower stratigraphic level in the central part of the transfer zone, forming a symmetric salt diapir. Secondary antithetic and synthetic faults adjacent to the two main faults and extending into the transfer zone accommodate slip between the main faults. Kinematic restoration of a series of north–south-trending cross sections across the structure show that upslope evacuation of salt is the result of sediment loading and growth fault movement, and the location of the transfer zone is possibly controlled by the allochthonous salt. The entire area is characterized by down-to-basin movement, with the major regional and counterregional faults displaying footwall and hanging-wall fixed deformation, respectively. The presence of the crestal graben above the salt high and the timing of maximum salt evacuation from the flanks suggest that active or reactive diapirism occurred during part of the deformation history. A 3-D structural model using depth-converted horizons, balanced cross sections, and well tops accurately portrays the subsurface structure. Understanding the evolution of the structure in ST54 provides insight on similar structures in other areas in offshore Louisiana and the relationship between salt evacuation and transfer zone development.

Racial Geography, Economic Growth and Natural Disaster Resilience

National Response Plans have emphasized the need for interoperability of plans, systems, technology, and command structures. However, much less emphasis has been placed on equally important at-risk populations’ response to those plans. This study attempts to characterize the impact on resilience (recovery) of metropolitan areas by the presence (or absence) of separate small communities within a larger jurisdiction. We tested the hypothesis that urban areas composed of aggregation of smaller, self-contained communities experience slower recovery from natural disasters than more integrated communities as part of an overall effort to define and build resilience to natural disasters. A resilience index was created following the Political, Security, Economic, Social, Infrastructure, and Informational (PMESII) framework, and was tested using the socioeconomic data from Katrina-affected areas in Mississippi and Louisiana. A correlation analysis then investigated the relationship between racial geography, economic growth and natural disaster resilience. Results indicate the existence of segregated micro ethnic communities negatively correlates with resilience, and that economic capability correlates positively. The positive correlation coefficients of the total number of general-purpose government and the total general revenue per capita of county governments with the resilience indices suggest the importance of government involvement and government capacity in resilience construction. Neither the intergovernmental transferred revenue nor the general revenue from total tax significantly correlated with the resilience indices, implying that both the financial assistance from federal and state government and the fiscal revenue supported by the private economy are vital. The quantitative indicators of natural disaster resilience provide guidance for vulnerable communities to improve their processes. We hope to provide insights to improve future plans by policymakers developing comprehensive plans to build resilient communities and examine the relationship between racial geography, economic growth and restoration of essential socioeconomic activities.

Consultant Perspectives on Weed Management Needs in Midsouthern United States Cotton: A Follow-Up Survey

A survey questionnaire was sent to cotton consultants of Arkansas and Mississippi through direct mail and Louisiana and Tennessee consultants through on-farm visits in fall of 2011. The survey was returned by a total of 22 Arkansas, 17 Louisiana, 10 Mississippi, and 11 Tennessee cotton consultants, representing 26, 53, 13, and 38% of total cotton planted in these states in 2011, respectively. Collectively, the area planted to glyphosate-resistant (Roundup Ready®, RR) cotton was 97%, glyphosate plus glufosinate-resistant (Widestrike®Flex, WRF) cotton was 30%, and glufosinate-resistant (Liberty Link, LL) cotton was 2.6% of the total cotton surveyed in 2011. Seventy percent of area in all states is still under continuous RR/WRF cotton. Average cost of herbicides in RR systems was $114 ha−1and in LL systems was $137 ha−1. Across the states, cotton planted under no-tillage, conservation tillage, and conventional tillage was 31, 36, and 33%, respectively, of total scouted cotton. Area under conventional tillage increased and conservation tillage decreased in Arkansas compared with a previous survey conducted in 2006. Palmer amaranth, morningglories, and horseweed in the order of listing were the most problematic weeds of cotton across Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee. In Louisiana, however, morningglories were the most problematic weed followed by Palmer amaranth and common waterhemp. Glyphosate-resistant (GR) Palmer amaranth infested only 13% of scouted cotton area in Louisiana compared with 75% in the remaining three states, and consequently, hand-weeding to control GR Palmer amaranth is practiced on only 2.5% of total scouted area of Louisiana and 49% of the scouted area of the remaining three states. Hand-weeding added an additional $12 to 371 ha−1to weed-management costs. One-half (50%) of the cotton consultants emphasized the need for more research on residual herbicides that can control GR Palmer amaranth effectively.

Abstract 4384: Discovery of CD146/Latexin as a novel pathway suppressing breast tumor invasion.

Abstract CD146, also known as melanoma cell adhesion molecule or MUC18, was initially identified as a promoter of melanoma as well as prostate cancer progression and metastasis. Interestingly, however, CD146 appears to be a breast cancer (BC) tumor suppressor. The molecular mechanism of CD146 in cancer are still nascent and controversial. To address this discrepancy, we applied microarray gene expression profiling analysis, using a tetracycline (tet On)-inducible system of CD146 in the MDA-MB-231 BC cell line, and identified latexin (LXN) as a potential CD146-downstream signaling transcriptional target. LXN showed a 7 fold increase, which was confirmed in vitro by both time-course western blotting and RT-PCR analyses. In addition, NF-kappaB was identified as the molecular link between CD146 induction and LXN transactivation. More interestingly, we established the CD146-tet On inducible system in mouse BC xenograft model, and demonstrated that in vivo induction of CD146-inhibited breast tumor growth. Furthermore, breast tumor tissues from both Omani patients and patients from New Orleans area in Louisiana, were examined by immunohistochemistry for the expression of CD146 and LXN. Strikingly, the results revealed that the expression levels of both CD146 and its downstream target LXN showed parallel inhibition patterns in BC progression, with high expression in both normal and benign but low or no expression in malignant and metastatic breast tumor tissues. This study is the first to uncover a molecular link and provide evidence for a role of CD146/LXN-signaling in suppressing BC progression. Thus, reactivation of LXN through pharmacological manipulation holds particular promise for guiding the development of novel targeted-therapeutic strategies for BC. Citation Format: Allal Ouhtit, Zakariya Y. Abd Elmageed, Augusta Fernando, Rajiv Gaur, Ishita Gupta, Somya Shanmuganathan, Hamad Al-Riyami, Madhwa HG Raj. Discovery of CD146/Latexin as a novel pathway suppressing breast tumor invasion. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4384. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-4384

Implementing telestroke to reduce the burden of stroke in Louisiana

Cardiovascular diseases (heart diseases and stroke) are the leading cause of death in the United States. People living in rural areas have disproportionately high mortality rates due to stroke mainly due to lack of specialty services. Timely intervention is a critical factor in determining the prognosis for acute stroke and thousands of lives can be saved by recognizing/treating a stroke patient within an hour. This paper deals with telestroke, a unique intervention implemented in Louisiana that incorporated latest technology to integrate with advanced clinical protocols in treating acute stroke. People living in remote and rural areas of Louisiana were greatly benefited from this initiative and several lives saved as a result of timely intervention. Expanding these initiatives to larger populations and other states will greatly reduce the stroke mortality.

Abstract A73: In vivo evidence of TIMPv as a potential target of CD146-signaling inhibiting breast tumor invasion

Abstract CD146, also known as melanoma cell adhesion molecule (Mel-CAM, MCAM) or MUC18, was initially identified as a marker of melanoma progression and a promoter of melanoma and prostate cancer (PC) metastasis. In contrast, CD146 appears to play a tumor suppression role in breast cancer (BC). Here, we applied microarray gene expression profiling analysis, using a tetracycline (tet On)-inducible system of CD146 in the MDA-MB-231 BC cell line, and we identified TIMPv (a variant of Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases), showing a 7 fold increase, as a potential CD146-downstream signaling transcriptional target; this was confirmed in vitro by both time-course western blotting and RT-PCR. Furthermore, breast tumor tissues from both Omani patients and patients from New Orleans area in Louisiana, were examined by immunohistochemistry for the expression of CD146 and TIMPv. Strikingly, the results revealed that the expression levels of both CD146 and its downstream target TIMPv showed parallel inhibition patterns in BC progression, with high expression in normal and benign but low or no expression in malignant and metastatic breast tumor tissue. These findings support the hypothesis that the expression of both, CD146 and its downstream target TIMPv, is lost during BC progression and metastasis. Ongoing studies in our laboratory aim to shed light on the molecular components linking CD146 to the activation of TIMPv transcription. Citation Format: Allal Ouhtit, Zakariya Y. Abd Elmageed, Sunil Bhat, Pravrutha Raman, Suad H. Al-Jardani, Ishita Gupta, Somya Shanmuganathan, Hamad Al-Riyami. In vivo evidence of TIMPv as a potential target of CD146-signaling inhibiting breast tumor invasion. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Invasion and Metastasis; Jan 20-23, 2013; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(3 Suppl):Abstract nr A73.

The HEAL, Phase II Project: Enhancing Features of an Electronic Medical Record System to Improve Adherence to Asthma Guidelines

This article describes the implementation of an enhanced electronic medical record (EMR) system in three community health care centers in the Greater New Orleans area of Louisiana. This report may aid efforts directed at the implementation of enriched tools, such as decision support, in an EMR with the goal of improving pediatric asthma outcomes.

Inglés

Cajun English is as dialectal variety of English spoken in western areas of Louisiana which shows a strong influence of French language. It appeared a century ago when French speakers were forced to change their language to English. Yet, after 1950s and because of racial segregation (Dubois and Horvath, 1999) and a political standardization of English language as main language for American speakers this dialect was about to disappear. Despite this fact, current situation of Cajun English is positive in sense that it has been recovered by youngest generations of speakers, who are proud of being Cajun. The aim of this paper, thus, is to present linguistic and social characteristics of Cajun Vernacular English. Concerning language, it presents peculiarities such as i) elimination of final consonants, which involves grammatical consequences in conjugation of verbs, ii) a reduction or absence of glides in four long stressed vowels (Thomas, 2004), iii) a heavy nasalization of vowels, iv) dropping of aspirated consonant aitch and replacement of interdental fricatives by stops, producing what is called the paradigm 'dis, dat, dese, dose' (Rubrecht, 1971) among others. Concerning social characteristics, this paper explores reasons why this dialect is mainly used for tourism purposes as stated by Dubois and Hovarth 2003.

The Impact of Hurricane Katrina on Trust in Government

ObjectivesTo explore the impact Hurricane Katrina on citizens’ trust in government. Of primary interest is the relationship between poor governmental performance in the aftermath of the storm and low levels of political trust. In addition, levels of trust are related to respondents’ predictions regarding the time it will take their communities to recover.MethodsRelationships are investigated through an analysis of data from a survey of residents in the Katrina‐affected areas of Louisiana and Mississippi. For this initial exploration, bivariate analysis is used to elaborate relationships between measures of trust in government and the experiences and attitudes of survey respondents.ResultsAnalyses reveal interesting and significant relationships among the variables. Negative experiences during and after Hurricane Katrina are correlated with low levels of political trust. Also, low levels of trust are associated with pessimistic predictions of the time it will take communities to recover from the storm.ConclusionsGiven the importance of political trust for the long‐term health of the political system, it is critical that governments at all levels enhance their effectiveness in dealing with such disasters.

Using GIS and Climate Risks Information to Analyze the Vulnerability of Coastal Counties in Louisiana and Mississippi

This research assesses the vulnerability of coastal areas in the South eastern states of Mississippi and Louisi- ana using climate risk information. Emphasis is on the issues, and evaluation of the trends. In terms of methods, the paper uses GIS and descriptive statistics to map the trends. In the last several years, climate change impact continues to be felt in the Southeast especially the coastal zones. It has been predicted by scientists that many people could be affected by the impact of climate change risks in the Southeast coastal zones mostly from storms, high and extreme temperatures and oth- ers. As one of the most sensitive and vulnerable systems, coastal zones' areas of concern include sea level rise, land loss, frequency of maritime storms, flooding and responses to sea level rise. Addressing the challenges associated with the threats of climate change in coastal areas of Mississippi and Louisiana, requires periodic assessment of the risks using geo- graphic information systems. Without access to sufficient climate risk information management tools to measure the pre- cise vulnerability of coastal zones areas, the ability of emergency managers and cities to mitigate the dangers posed to in- frastructure, human lives and the economy will be diminished. The results show a spatial diffusion and a growing risk in vulnerable coastal areas in the two states. Utilizing climate risk data and GIS techniques to analyze the dangers faced in coastal cities helps minimize their vulnerability. The paper suggests the need for constant assessment and mapping of the risks.

Atmospheric Correction and Vicarious Calibration of Oceansat-1 Ocean Color Monitor (OCM) Data in Coastal Case 2 Waters

The Ocean Color Monitor (OCM) provides radiance measurements in eight visible and near-infrared bands, similar to the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor (SeaWiFS) but with higher spatial resolution. For small- to moderate-sized coastal lakes and estuaries, where the 1 × 1 km spatial resolution of SeaWiFS is inadequate, the OCM provides a good alternative because of its higher spatial resolution (240 × 360 m) and an exact repeat coverage of every two days. This paper describes a detailed step-by-step atmospheric correction procedure for OCM data applicable to coastal Case 2 waters. This development was necessary as accurate results could not be obtained for our Case 2 water study area in coastal Louisiana with OCM data by using existing atmospheric correction software packages. In addition, since OCM-retrieved radiances were abnormally low in the blue wavelength region, a vicarious calibration procedure was developed. The results of our combined vicarious calibration and atmospheric correction procedure for OCM data were compared with the results from the SeaWiFS Data Analysis System (SeaDAS) software package outputs for SeaWiFS and OCM data. For Case 1 waters, our results matched closely with SeaDAS results. For Case 2 waters, our results demonstrated closure with in situ radiometric measurements, while SeaDAS produced negative normalized water leaving radiance (nLw) and remote sensing reflectance (Rrs). In summary, our procedure resulted in valid nLw and Rrs values for Case 2 waters using OCM data, providing a reliable method for retrieving useful nLw and Rrs values which can be used to develop ocean color algorithms for in-water substances (e.g., pigments, suspended sediments, chromophoric dissolved organic matter, etc.) at relatively high spatial resolution in regions where other software packages and sensors such as SeaWiFS and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) have proven unsuccessful. The method described here can be applied to other sensors such as OCM-2 or other Case 2 water areas.

Boll weevil blues: cotton, myth, and power in the American South

Between the 1890s and the early 1920s, the boll weevil slowly ate its way across the Cotton South from Texas to the Atlantic Ocean. At the turn of the century, some Texas counties were reporting crop losses of over 70 percent, as were areas of Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi. By the time the boll weevil reached the limits of the cotton belt, it had destroyed much of the region's chief cash crop - tens of billions of pounds of cotton, worth nearly a trillion dollars. As staggering as these numbers may seem, James C. Giesen demonstrates that it was the very idea of the boll weevil and the struggle over its meanings that most profoundly changed the South - as different groups, from policymakers to blues singers, projected onto this natural disaster the consequences they feared and the outcomes they sought. Giesen asks how the myth of the boll weevil's lasting impact helped obscure the real problems of the region - those caused not by insects, but by landowning patterns, antiquated credit systems, white supremacist ideology, and declining soil fertility. Boll Weevil Blues brings together these cultural, environmental, and agricultural narratives in a novel and important way that allows us to reconsider the making of the modern American South.

Registration of ‘L 03‐371’ Sugarcane

‘L 01‐371’ (Reg. No. CV‐147, PI 660126) sugarcane (a complex hybrid of Saccharum officinarum L., S. barberi Jeswiet, S. spontaneum L., and S. sinense Roxb. amend. Jeswiet) was released on 5 May 2010 by the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center in cooperation with the USDA‐ARS and the American Sugarcane League, Inc. L 03‐371 was released because of its high sugar and cane yields, good ratooning ability, and disease resistance. The cross (XL98‐282) for L 03‐371 was made on 9 Oct. 1998, which had CP 83‐644 as the female parent and ‘LCP 82‐89’ as the male parent. Clonal selection in the early stages of the program was done as single stools in 2000 followed by selection in the first‐clonal‐line trial stage in 2001, selection in the second‐clonal‐line trial stage in 2002, and permanent cultivar assignment in 2003. Testing in replicated yield trials was conducted throughout the sugarcane growing area in south Louisiana from 2004 to 2009. Cumulative data indicated that L 03‐371 produced 9% higher sugar yield, 4% higher cane yield, and 5% higher sucrose content than HoCP 96‐540 when averaged across all crops. The new cultivar is resistant to brown rust disease (caused by Puccinia melanocephala H. & P. Sydow), smut (caused by Ustilago scitaminea Sydow & P. Sydow), leaf scald [caused by Xanthomonas albilineans (Ashby) Dowson], and strains of Sorghum mosaic virus and is susceptible to the sugarcane borer (Diatraea saccharalis F.).

Nekton density patterns and hurricane recovery in submerged aquatic vegetation, and along non-vegetated natural and created edge habitats

We compared nekton habitat value of submerged aquatic vegetation, flooded non-vegetated natural and man-made edge habitats in mesohaline interior marsh areas in southwest Louisiana using a 1-m2 throw trap and 3-mm bag seine. When present, SAV habitats supported close to 4 times greater densities and higher species richness of nekton as compared to either natural or man-made edge habitats, which supported similar densities to one another. Three species of concern (bayou killifish, diamond killifish, chain pipefish) were targeted in the analysis, and two of the three were collected almost entirely in SAV habitat. During the course of the study, Hurricanes Ike and Gustav passed directly over the study sites in September 2008. Subsequent analyses indicated significant reductions in resident nekton density 1-mo post hurricanes, and only limited recovery 13-mo post-hurricane. Possible alteration of environmental characteristics such as scouring of SAV habitat, deposition of sediment over SAV, edge erosion and marsh loss, and extended high salinities may explain these lasting impacts.

Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Mental Health Effects on Residents in Heavily Affected Areas

Mental health issues are a significant concern after disasters such as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. This study was designed to assess the mental health effects on residents of areas of southeastern Louisiana affected by the oil spill. Telephone and face-to-face interviews were conducted with residents (N = 452) assessing concerns and direct impact. The results show that the greatest effect on mental health related to the extent of disruption to participants' lives, work, family, and social engagement, with increased symptoms of anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress. Given the location of the oil spill affecting communities that had been devastated by Hurricane Katrina, results also revealed that losses from Hurricane Katrina were highly associated with negative mental health outcomes. Conversely, the ability to rebound after adversity and place satisfaction were highly associated with better mental health outcomes. Enhanced understanding of mental health effects after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill will help in determining directions for much-needed mental health services after the disaster and in contributing to the knowledge of complex traumatization and the ability to rebound after adversity.

Watershed land use and river engineering drive wetland formation and loss in the Mississippi River birdfoot delta

The Mississippi River basin was developed for agriculture at an unprecedented scale and intensity within the last 200 yr. These changes favored erosion and sediment transport, which were subsequently reduced by soil conservation practices, the trapping of sediment behind large reservoirs, and channel engineering. We discuss the relationship between sediment loading and the growth, loss, and stability of wetlands in the Mississippi River birdfoot delta (MRBD). We report an anthropogenically driven increase in mean suspended sediment concentrations in the Mississippi River below New Orleans, from a modeled 350 mg L−1 (174 × 109 kg yr−1) at the end of the 18th century to a measured maximum of 675 mg L−1 (348 × 109 kg yr−1) in the late 19th century, followed by a sharp reduction, and then a period of stabilization at 157 mg L−1 (91 × 109 kg yr−1) after 1962. Changes in wetland area of the MRBD over the past two centuries reflect variations in sediment supply during periods of increasing, decreasing, and stable sediment loading, and are distinct from wetland loss patterns in other areas of coastal Louisiana. The rapid growth of the MRBD until the 1930s, which has been used as a reference for one of the world's largest wetland restoration efforts, may not be a suitable archetype for the majority of the coast. Additionally, future variation in sediment supply to the MRBD would likely change the total wetland area of the MRBD.

A Response to Perttula and Cast

Perttula and Cast (2011) have questioned continued use of the term Caddoan in respect to mound building societies in eastern Oklahoma arguing that the term Caddo is more appropriate. I have responded briefly to the issues they raise. The points I address include: differences in the knowledge base for eastern Oklahoma and the three-corners area of Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas; the problem with the use of a single tribe cultural affiliation where there is limited historical context; and the need for a bigger stage for such a discussion.

Using Multitemporal Remote Sensing Imagery and Inundation Measures to Improve Land Change Estimates in Coastal Wetlands

Remote sensing imagery can be an invaluable resource to quantify land change in coastal wetlands. Obtaining an accurate measure of land change can, however, be complicated by differences in fluvial and tidal inundation experienced when the imagery is captured. This study classified Landsat imagery from two wetland areas in coastal Louisiana from 1983 to 2010 into categories of land and water. Tide height, river level, and date were used as independent variables in a multiple regression model to predict land area in the Wax Lake Delta (WLD) and compare those estimates with an adjacent marsh area lacking direct fluvial inputs. Coefficients of determination from regressions using both measures of water level along with date as predictor variables of land extent in the WLD, were higher than those obtained using the current methodology which only uses date to predict land change. Land change trend estimates were also improved when the data were divided by time period. Water level corrected land gain in the WLD from 1983 to 2010 was 1 km2 year−1, while rates in the adjacent marsh remained roughly constant. This approach of isolating environmental variability due to changing water levels improves estimates of actual land change in a dynamic system, so that other processes that may control delta development such as hurricanes, floods, and sediment delivery, may be further investigated.