Rationale for Research and Objectives Louisiana contains approximately 40% of the coastal wetlands of the lower forty-eight states. Louisiana has lost up to forty square miles of marsh per year for several decades (representing 80% of the nation's annual coastal wetland loss) (lacoast.gov). From a hydrological perspective, wetlands replenish aquifers, retain excess floodwaters from heavy rainfall, and provide protection from storms. The nation also benefits from Louisiana's coastal lands. Louisiana is responsible for much of the nation's oil and gas production, maritime trade, fishing, fur harvesting and oyster production, and accounts for more than 55,000 jobs and billions of dollars in revenue. Additionally, wetlands are wonderful recreational resources and are part of Louisiana's growing ecotourism business (http://www.lacoast.gov/new/About/Default.aspx?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter). The effects of erosion and loss of wetlands in the southern United States has devastating consequences on all of these benefits, both local and national. Land loss can be attributed mainly to subsidence, erosion and severe weather events. The USGS reports that a total of 118 square miles of land have been transformed into new aquatic areas in a 9,742 square mile area from the Chandeleur Islands to the Atchafalaya River. This loss of territory occurred from the fall of 2004 to the fall of 2005, after hurricanes Katrina and Rita (USGS, February 2006). Today, with our understanding of how fragile coastal areas are, there are many study and restoration projects underway. Since the implementation of the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act (CWPPRA) in 1990, there have been 151 coastal restorations…halfway through the document…causing resuspension in some tests. This is not detrimental to understanding the resuspension characteristics of the sample or to the ability to use such data for stress plots. However, it would be preferable to have stresses lower than observable resuspension levels. Differences between Lick's shaker experiments and these experiments: A sampling port for measuring sediment concentration was located 12.7 cm (5 inches) from the bottom of the cylinder. In order to reduce biological activity, Lick covered the samples and kept them in a dark room. Before testing, the depth of overlapping water within each sample was adjusted to 12.7 cm (5 inches). The grid was also adjusted so that the bottom surface was 5.08 cm (2 in.) above the sediment surface (the grid ranged between 5.08 and 7.62 cm above the interface).