You are a tourist in New Orleans, looking to escape the bustle of the city. You rode the streetcar to City Park, wanting to see for yourself the park’s ancient oaks and hidden gems. In the shade of crepe myrtles, you walk along Lelong Drive toward the New Orleans Museum of Art. You notice things are a little overgrown. Vines are overtaking trees. The grass is nearly up to your waist. To your right, the Big Lake is overflowing its banks. This can’t be normal, you say to yourself. Something is wrong.