DOCSLIB.ORG

Eastern Mississippi Sound

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Eastern Mississippi Sound ~-T-85-001 C2 V 0<'~" SEDIMENTATION,DISPERSALAND PARTITIONING LQAN CO~ OF TRACEMETAI.S IN COASTALMISSISSIPPI- ALAEAMA.ESTUARINE SEDIMENTS F INAL TECHNICAL REPORT gmt'.NIPS<>"': QayneC. Isphording, Ph.D. assQSA! g@QSlLNt Principal Invest igator George M. Lamb Associate Investigator Robert Helton, Sheri George, Robert Brown, Lysi Payne,Gary Slouat, GregoryIsphording Undergraduate Assistants University of South Alabama Mobile, AL 36688 NATIONALSEA GRANT D":P'j~!~OI"Y PELL Lliii .-',-Y !! ',3'..'..':;. URI, NARRA'.'iH:'-lihi Y '-='-;:i~"US January 1980 March 1984 NARRAGANSETT,R l 02882 January 1985 MISSISSIPPI-ALABAMA SEA GRANT CONSORTIUM Grant No.: NASlhh-~0050 Project No.: R/ER-4 MAStP-83-035 This «ork is a result of research sponsored in part by NOhhOffice of SeaGrant, Department of Commerceunder Grant No.: MSlhh-D-00050, the Mississippi-k.labamaSea Grant Consort ium and the University of SouthAlabama. The U,S. Governmentis authorisedto produceand distribute reprinta for governmentalpurposes notwithstandingany copyright notation that Cay appear hereon+ SEDIMENTATION,DISPERSAL ANDPARTITIONING OFTRACE METALS IN COASTALMISSISSIPPI- ALABAMAESTUARINE SEDIMENTS LOAN Cppy ONLy FINAL REPORT @ATION-ALSEA 'RP;8T D PDal108Y PLI ~i I '-' -'ll" Bl ~L", iG .URI, NAI i ni- .>:TT Bile' ii;liPUS HARIiAGnhSETT,R I 0288? PRINCIPALINVESTIGATOR - Wayne C. Isphording ASSOCIATEINVESTIGATOR George M. Lamb UNDERGRADUATEASSISTANTS- Robert Helton, Sheri George, Robert Brown, Lyal Payne, GaryBlount, GregoryIsphording Project NumberR/ER-4 SubmiFinal ttedReport to: Mississippi-Alabama SEAGRANT Consortium Gulf Coast ResearchLaboratory OceanSprings, h1S39564 PURPOSEOF INVESTIGATION Thepurpose of this investigation wasto documentthechemistry, mineralogy andlithology of thebottom sediments of Lake Borgne andMississippi Sound. A secondobjective was to determinethemanner bywhich var ious metals were site partitionedin these sediments. Thelatter is ofparticular importance because a numberof recent studies have shown that, depending uponhow a metal is actuallyincorporated in bottom sediments, it may be in a formthat either 1!allows its laterrelease back into the water column or! is presentin a formthat permits its extractionandsubsequent incorporation intothe tissues of bottomdwelIing, filter-feeding organisms. LOCATION MississippiSound see Fig. 1! is anelongated lagoon separated fromthe Gulf ofMexico bysix barrier islands and,on the southwest, between HalfMoon Grand! Islandand Isle au Pi tre by marshy island remnants of the St. Bernard subdel ta . TheSound has a lengthof 130km, an average width of 15km and encompasses a tota'Iarea of approximately1,400square kilometers Lake Borgne adds an addi- tional430 square kilometers!. Four major estuaries arepresent along the northernmargin of the Sound andinclude St. Louis Bay, Biloxi Bay, and the drownedvalleys of thePearl and Pascagoula Rivers. Pascagoula Harbor and BayouCasotte areheavily industrialized andinclude ship building andrefit facilities,bulk storage and handling facilities, offshore oil andgas support facilities,oil andgas storage and tank farms and seafood processing plants. TheSound receives fresh water from two major rivers the Pearl and Pascagoula! andfour smaller rivers Tchoutacabouffa, Biloxi,Wolf and Jourdan!. These riversdrain watershed areastotalling some 50,000 square kilometers andhave anaverage combined flowrate of approximately 30,000cfs. Othersources of 'N a 0 0 ~ 0 K m rn9 8 Ijl Vl Eh 0 Ol gL Vl I O Ck 0 0 th T3 0 GL.D v /! Q KC e e 0 lh CD D ~ 0 e I L/! c+ W 'D N O yQ IIl Vl Q v C> fb M QP Q 0 8 O M Vl I rt QJ~& ~ m <+ D Q CXIc+ D Q 0 h D +o g r~y n 0 g ! s Rm b b g m 0 C! P C e a g g 0 e freshwater inflow include water entering the eastern end of theSound from MobileBay, via Pass aux Herons, andthat flowing into Lake Borgne from Lake Pontchartrain. METHODOLOGY One-hundredninecores, averaging 1',meters in length were collected at eachof thesites shown onFigure 1. On-sitemeasurements werealso taken for surfaceand bottom pH, Eh, Salinity, Conductivity, temperature anddissolved oxygen.A portable glovebox was used toprovide a nitrogen environment in orderto preserve a surface sediment sample forlater site partitioning analysis. Allsamples werecollected in 7 cmdiameter, polycarbonate coringtubes. These werethen returned to the laboratory, each day, and stored at 40 Celsiusuntil processingwas initiated. Laboratory Analysis p ! thepore water fraction, ! theexchangeable phase,! the easily reducible phase,! the organic/sulfide phase,! the moderately reducible phase and ! theresidual structurally coordinated! phasewas carr~ed outusing the procedureoutlined inthe EPA "Redbook" Plumb,1981!. All site partitioning analysesandanalyses fortotal metal content ofspecific elements werecarried outon a Perkin-Elmer,Model460, Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer equipped with Auto-sampler and HGAGraphite Furnace. 1 y i «d treatingthe clays according tothe method recommended byCarroll 970!. All diffractionscans were run from 2 to36 degrees, two-theta, using a Philips X-raydiffraction system equipped witha graphite,single crystal monochrometer. Claymineral percentages wereestimated fromintegrated peakheight intensities with backgroundcorrections applied. andorganic carbon using the Wood's Hole procedure developed byHunt 1982,per- sonalcommunication!. A LECO Induction furnace equipped with automatedsulphur titrator was used for each analysis. SizeAnalysis.-- Size frequency distri butions were calculated for eachsample usinga combinationof hydrometer Boyocous! andsieve analyses. Replicate analysesfor somefine grainedsamples were run on a Sedigraph,Model 5000ET, X-rayparticle analyzer. Statistical parameterswere run usinga program developedby the investigator see Isphording, 1970! which calculates Inman, Folk and Ward and MomentMeasure descriptors. ANALYTICAL RESULTS Introduction In orderto comparespatial differences, the area investigated was arbitrarily brokenup into 4 "sub-regions".These are shown on Figure 1 andare defined as follows:Eastern Mississippi Sound - includes the area from the DauphinIsland bridgeto BayouCasotte channel; Central Mississippi Sound - from Bayou Casotte channel,west to theGulfport, Mississippi channel; Western Mississippi Sound- fromthe Gulfport channel to HalfMoon Island; Lake Borgne includes the lake itself andthe areaeastward to Half MoonIsland. Theregion definedas Eastern MississippiSound is thesmallest, in termsof area30 squarekilometers!, and is mostinfluenced by depositional sources from Mobile Bay and inflow from Petit BoisPass. No major rivers enter this portionof theSound. Central Mississippi Sound,in contrast,encompasses some510 square kilometers in areaand is the primarydepositional basin for theBiloxi, Tchoutacabouffa andPascagoula Rivers, Othermaterial is broughtinto this portionof the Soundby tidal currents operatingthrough Horn Island Pass, Dog Keys Pass between Ship and Horn Islands! and,to a lesserextent, the Ship Island Channel. Western Mississippi Sound is thelargest area 43 square kilometers! butis only,indirectly, influenced by riverinedeposition. TheJourdan andWolf Rivers empty into St. Louis Bay and this,in turn,discharges intothe Sound. Other sediment sources include materialcarried eastward fromthe Pearl River, by longshore transport, andthat broughtintothe sound bytidal currents operating through CatIsland Channel/South Passand Ship Island Pass. The Lake Borgne region of thesound is unique, in manyrespects, bothin terms ofits physical parameters, mineralogy andchemistry. Theseaspects will be individually discussed laterin thereport but largely resultfrom the restricted circulation in the lake and the influence of the dischargeof the Pearl River and, to a lesserextent, material carried into LakeBorgne from Lake Pontchartrain through the Rigolets channel. Sediments A numberof factors have acted to controlsediment distribution within MississippiSound. These include thevarious rivers that empty into the Sound, reworkingofalder Pleistocene andHolocene sediments thatform the barrier islandchain, circulation patterns within the Sound, storm events and physico- chemicalconditions existing atthe time of deposition, Referring tothe sediment mapofthe Sound Fig.2! it canbe seen that the Lake Borgne areaconsists largely ofclayey-silt andsand-silt-clay mixtures, using Shepard's 954!classification. Thepredominance ofsilt isa directreflection ofmaterial contributed fromthe PearlRiver whereas clay-size sediment in the lake is derivedfrom not only the PearlRiver, but also reflects a Pontchartrainsourceand material brought into thelake from further east in the Sound bywestward-flowing tidalcurrents. The smallarea of sandy-siltshown bythe vertical bar-dotted pattern may represent remnantsediments froma formerMississippi River distributary source, A number ofother sites are present inthe Sound thatreflect erosion from older, relict Pleistocenefeatures. These include Deer Island atthe mouth ofBiloxi Bay, Round Cl CCJ! S- Cth GL Vl N 'I th 5- o 4- Island,between HornIsland and Pascagoula, GrassyIsland, west of Half Moon Islandand several small islands located inEastern Mississippi Sound. Thedis- similarityofthe Lake Borgne sediments withthose ofthe remainder ofthe Sound mayalso be seen inFigure 3 which showplots of the sand-silt-clay components forall fourregions. Western Mississippi Soundis less complex thanthe Central orFastern Sound portions, interms ofits sediments,andcan be seen tobe domi- natedbysand-silt-clay mixtures andsilty clays. Sands arepresent inthe vicinity of thebarrier
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Historical Changes in the Mississippi-Alabama Barrier Islands and the Roles of Extreme Storms, Sea Level, and Human Activities
    HISTORICAL CHANGES IN THE MISSISSIPPI-ALABAMA BARRIER ISLANDS AND THE ROLES OF EXTREME STORMS, SEA LEVEL, AND HUMAN ACTIVITIES Robert A. Morton 88∞46'0"W 88∞44'0"W 88∞42'0"W 88∞40'0"W 88∞38'0"W 88∞36'0"W 88∞34'0"W 88∞32'0"W 88∞30'0"W 88∞28'0"W 88∞26'0"W 88∞24'0"W 88∞22'0"W 88∞20'0"W 88∞18'0"W 30∞18'0"N 30∞18'0"N 30∞20'0"N Horn Island 30∞20'0"N Petit Bois Island 30∞16'0"N 30∞16'0"N 30∞18'0"N 30∞18'0"N 2005 2005 1996 Dauphin Island 1996 2005 1986 1986 30∞16'0"N Kilometers 30∞14'0"N 0 1 2 3 4 5 1966 30∞16'0"N 1950 30∞14'0"N 1950 Kilometers 1917 0 1 2 3 4 5 1917 1848 1849 30∞14'0"N 30∞14'0"N 30∞12'0"N 30∞12'0"N 30∞12'0"N 30∞12'0"N 30∞10'0"N 30∞10'0"N 88∞46'0"W 88∞44'0"W 88∞42'0"W 88∞40'0"W 88∞38'0"W 88∞36'0"W 88∞34'0"W 88∞32'0"W 88∞30'0"W 88∞28'0"W 88∞26'0"W 88∞24'0"W 88∞22'0"W 88∞20'0"W 88∞18'0"W 89∞10'0"W 89∞8'0"W 89∞6'0"W 89∞4'0"W 88∞58'0"W 88∞56'0"W 88∞54'0"W 88∞52'0"W 30∞16'0"N Cat Island Ship Island 30∞16'0"N 2005 30∞14'0"N 1996 30∞14'0"N 1986 Kilometers 1966 0 1 2 3 30∞14'0"N 1950 30∞14'0"N 1917 1848 Fort 2005 Massachusetts 1995 1986 Kilometers 1966 0 1 2 3 30∞12'0"N 1950 30∞12'0"N 1917 30∞12'0"N 30∞12'0"N 1848 89∞10'0"W 89∞8'0"W 89∞6'0"W 89∞4'0"W 88∞58'0"W 88∞56'0"W 88∞54'0"W 88∞52'0"W Open-File Report 2007-1161 U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • COMMON BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN (Tursiops Truncatus Truncatus) Mississippi Sound, Lake Borgne, Bay Boudreau Stock
    May 2015 COMMON BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN (Tursiops truncatus truncatus) Mississippi Sound, Lake Borgne, Bay Boudreau Stock NOTE – NMFS is in the process of writing individual stock assessment reports for each of the 31 bay, sound and estuary stocks of common bottlenose dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico. Until this effort is completed and 31 individual reports are available, some of the basic information presented in this report will also be included in the report: “Northern Gulf of Mexico Bay, Sound and Estuary Stocks”. STOCK DEFINITION AND GEOGRAPHIC RANGE Common bottlenose dolphins are distributed throughout the bays, sounds and estuaries of the northern Gulf of Mexico (Mullin 1988). Long-term (year-round, multi-year) residency by at least some individuals has been reported from nearly every site where photographic identification (photo-ID) or tagging studies have been conducted in the Gulf of Mexico (e.g., Irvine and Wells 1972; Shane 1977; Gruber 1981; Irvine et al. 1981; Wells 1986; Wells et al. 1987; Scott et al. 1990; Shane 1990; Wells 1991; Bräger 1993; Bräger et al. 1994; Fertl 1994; Wells et al. 1996a,b; Wells et al. 1997; Weller 1998; Maze and Wrsig 1999; Lynn and Wrsig 2002; Wells 2003; Hubard et al. 2004; Irwin and Wrsig 2004; Shane 2004; Balmer et al. 2008; Urian et al. 2009; Bassos-Hull et al. 2013). In many cases, residents predominantly use the bay, sound or estuary waters, with limited movements through passes to the Gulf of Mexico (Shane 1977; Shane 1990; Gruber 1981; Irvine et al. 1981; Shane 1990; Maze and Würsig 1999; Lynn and Würsig 2002; Fazioli et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Statewide Summary for Mississippi
    Statewide Summary for Mississippi By Cynthia A. Moncreiff1 Background this information, total discharge of fresh water into Mississippi Sound averages 882.4 m3/s (30,806 ft3/s), excluding inflow Although the coastline of Mississippi spans only 113 from Mobile Bay, Ala. linear kilometers (70 mi), the estuaries within its borders Areas that support seagrasses within Mississippi’s constitute a much larger area, roughly 594 km (369 mi) coastal waters include the Gulf Islands National Seashore (fig. 1). The primary body of water within the State’s (GINS), specifically Ship, Horn, and Petit Bois Islands, and boundaries that supports seagrasses is Mississippi Sound, Cat Island, which was partially purchased as an addition to which covers 175,412 ha (433,443 acres) at mean low tide the GINS. Two additional areas along the immediate coast, (Christmas, 1973). This body of water is immediately bounded one at the margins of the Grand Bay National Estuarine by the coast of Mississippi to the north; Mobile Bay, Ala., to Research Reserve at the eastern boundary of the State and the the east; a series of barrier islands that make up most of the other at the western edge adjacent to Buccaneer State Park, Gulf Islands National Seashore to the south; and Lake Borgne, complete the list of estuarine and marine areas within the La., to the west (fig. 1). State that support seagrasses. All of these areas fall within the Mississippi Sound is fed from the north by eight coastal boundaries of a single water body, the Mississippi Sound. mainland watersheds and drainage systems and from the south by tidal exchange with the Gulf of Mexico (through a series of five barrier island–bounded passes).
    [Show full text]
  • Mississippi Sound and the Gulf Islands
    Mississippi Sound and the Gulf Islands By Cynthia A. Moncreiff1 Background effects of human activities in the coastal marine environment. These activities include historical commercial uses and Seagrasses in Mississippi Sound were likely first present-day recreational uses of seagrass habitat in addition documented by H.J. Humm (1956), though there are earlier to a number of other factors which may directly or indirectly descriptions of marine angiosperms associated with the barrier impact seagrasses. Development may be a major factor, as islands of Louisiana and Mississippi (Loyd and Tracy, 1901). it often results in higher sediment loads, introductions of Prior to Humm’s work, it was believed that seagrasses, with contaminants, and elevated nutrient levels, which all can the exception of wigeon grass (Ruppia maritima), occurred contribute to a loss of water quality, thus affecting seagrass only very rarely between Bay County, Fla., and Aransas communities (see watershed of area in fig. 1). County, Tex. (Thorne, 1954). Humm (1956) described Land use and land-use changes in the eight watersheds extensive beds of seagrasses along the northern margins feeding into the Mississippi Sound which may have an effect of Mississippi’s barrier islands, dominated by turtle grass on seagrass resources include (1) a shift from the historical (Thalassia testudinum), and indicated that turtle grass was the focus on agriculture and forestry for the paper and lumber dominant seagrass in Mississippi Sound. He also documented industries to urban development related to the casino industry the presence of manatee grass (Syringodium filiforme), and (2) a shift in the State’s focus to port development, shoal grass (Halodule wrightii), and star grass (Halophila plastics, and chemicals as regional industries.
    [Show full text]
  • The Impact of Hurricane Katrina on Gulf Coast Libraries and Their Disaster Planning
    San Jose State University SJSU ScholarWorks Master's Theses Master's Theses and Graduate Research Spring 2011 The Impact of Hurricane Katrina on Gulf Coast Libraries and Their Disaster Planning Jeffrey Frank San Jose State University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/etd_theses Recommended Citation Frank, Jeffrey, "The Impact of Hurricane Katrina on Gulf Coast Libraries and Their Disaster Planning" (2011). Master's Theses. 3925. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31979/etd.wkbu-cu6k https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/etd_theses/3925 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Master's Theses and Graduate Research at SJSU ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses by an authorized administrator of SJSU ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE IMPACT OF HURRICANE KATRINA ON GULF COAST LIBRARIES AND THEIR DISASTER PLANNING A Thesis Presented to The Faculty of the School of Library and Information Science San José State University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Library and Information Science by Jeffrey M. Frank May 2011 © 2011 Jeffrey M. Frank ALL RIGHTS RESERVED The Designated Thesis Committee Approves the Thesis Titled THE IMPACT OF HURRICANE KATRINA ON GULF COAST LIBRARIES AND THEIR DISASTER PLANNING by Jeffrey M. Frank APPROVED FOR THE SCHOOL OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE SAN JOSÉ STATE UNIVERSITY May 2011 Dr. Debra L. Hansen School of Library and Information Science Dr. Patricia C. Franks School of Library and Information Science Dr. Susan Aber Emporia State University ABSTRACT THE IMPACT OF HURRICANE KATRINA ON GULF COAST LIBRARIES AND THEIR DISASTER PLANNING by Jeffrey M.
    [Show full text]
  • Beneficial Uses of Dredged Material Along Coastal Mississippi” (Master Plan) Which Was Contracted by the U.S
    WBG053111143432NWO Executive Summary The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (DMR) has been working with federal, state and private partners for nearly a decade to promote the use of dredged material and concrete rubble for coastal land and habitat restoration. An important part of this effort was the development of the 2002 “Long-Term Comprehensive Master Plan for Beneficial Uses of Dredged Material Along Coastal Mississippi” (Master Plan) which was contracted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mobile District (USACE). The 2002 Master Plan helped steer the early development of a beneficial use (BU) program at DMR. Following hurricane Katrina, the BU concept attracted additional public and agency attention which is now being enacted through a new Beneficial Users Group (BUG) that formed in 2008. Now meeting monthly at DMR, the BUG is co-chaired by USACE and includes representatives of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Oceanographic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS), Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the Mississippi Secretary of State office, as well as staff from Senate and Congressional representatives. Local Ports and other private stakeholders are also encouraged to attend. One can never have “ One of the key actions of the BUG in 2010 was to write enough information for and have enacted new legislation that requires the BU making the “best” of dredge material when BU sites are available and the decision. However, in material is suitable. To help meet the intent of the law, the BUG and DMR have developed two BU sites: Deer most cases, adequate Island in Harrison County and Greenwood Island in information exists to Jackson County.
    [Show full text]
  • GULF ISLANDS WILDERNESS STUDY AREA Gulf Island National
    GULF ISLANDS WILDERNESS STUDY AREA Gulf Island National Wildlife Refuges Jackson County, Mississippi St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes, Louisiana WILDERNESS STUDY REPORT U. S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page 1 Introduction 1 2 Objectives 2 3 History 3 4 Location 4 5 Physical Characteristics 5 6 Resources 6 Wildlife 6 Fish 8 Vegetation 9 Recreation 10 Minerals 11 7 Socio-Economic Consideration 11 8 Development 14 9 Management 15 Summary and Conclusions 18 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION The Gulf Island National Wildlife Refuges, lying along the Mississippi and Louisiana coasts, have historically been areas of vital importance to colonial nesting birds and wintering waterfowl. Three refuges -- Breton, Horn, and Petit Bois -- are included in the Gulf Island Refuge complex. Breton was established as the second National Wildlife Ref- uge in 1904. Petit Bois and Horn were added in 1913 and 1958 respec- tively. These island refuges play an important part in the national wildlife conservation effort. During the summer months many thousands of shorebirds, gulls, and terns nest on the sandy beaches and interior areas of the islands. In the winter, waterfowl rest and feed in bays and sounds bordering the islands as well as in the fresh and brackish interior ponds on some of the islands. The refuges range in size from 749 acres on Petit Bois Island to 9,047 acres on the Breton Refuge. Horn Island Refuge contains 2,442 acres. The Chandeleur Islands, which are 35 miles long and average less than a half mile in width, make up the greater part of Breton Refuge.
    [Show full text]
  • Inflow of Shelf Waters Into the Mississippi Sound and Mobile Bay Estuaries in October 2015
    Inflow of shelf waters into the Mississippi Sound and Mobile Bay estuaries in October 2015 Mustafa Kemal Cambazoglu Inia M. Soto Stephan D. Howden Brian Dzwonkowski Patrick J. Fitzpatrick Robert A. Arnone Gregg A. Jacobs Yee H. Lau Mustafa Kemal Cambazoglu, Inia M. Soto, Stephan D. Howden, Brian Dzwonkowski, Patrick J. Fitzpatrick, Robert A. Arnone, Gregg A. Jacobs, Yee H. Lau, “Inflow of shelf waters into the Mississippi Sound and Mobile Bay estuaries in October 2015,” J. Appl. Remote Sens. 11(3), 032410 (2017), doi: 10.1117/1.JRS.11.032410. Downloaded From: http://remotesensing.spiedigitallibrary.org/ on 07/31/2017 Terms of Use: http://spiedigitallibrary.org/ss/termsofuse.aspx Inflow of shelf waters into the Mississippi Sound and Mobile Bay estuaries in October 2015 Mustafa Kemal Cambazoglu,a,* Inia M. Soto,a Stephan D. Howden,a Brian Dzwonkowski,b,c Patrick J. Fitzpatrick,d Robert A. Arnone,a Gregg A. Jacobs,e and Yee H. Laud aThe University of Southern Mississippi, School of Ocean Science and Technology, Division of Marine Science, Stennis Space Center, Mississippi, United States bUniversity of South Alabama, Dauphin Island, Alabama, United States cDauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, Alabama, United States dMississippi State University, Stennis Space Center, Mississippi, United States eThe U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Stennis Space Center, Mississippi, United States Abstract. The exchange of coastal waters between the Mississippi Sound (MSS), Mobile Bay, and Mississippi Bight is an important pathway for oil and pollutants into coastal ecosystems. This study investigated an event of strong and persistent inflow of shelf waters into MSS and Mobile Bay during October 2015 by combining in situ measurements, satellite ocean color data, and ocean model predictions.
    [Show full text]
  • Hurricane Dennis & Hurricane Katrina
    Hurricane Dennis & Hurricane Katrina Final Report on 2005 Hurricane Season Impacts to Northwest Florida Florida Department of Environmental Protection Division of Water Resource Management Bureau of Beaches and Coastal Systems April 2006 Foreword The Bureau of Beaches and Coastal Systems of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is responsible for protection and management of Florida’s sandy beaches fronting the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean and the Straits of Florida, and the regulation of coastal development adjacent to those coastal beaches. The monitoring and assessment of hurricane impacts to Florida’s beaches and coastal construction and the preparation of post-storm recovery responses and management strategies are important elements of the Bureau’s responsibilities. This report provides documentation of the impacts of Hurricanes Dennis and Katrina on the coast of northwest Florida. The report also provides recommendations for post-storm response activities. This report was prepared by the Coastal Engineering Section for the Bureau of Beaches and Coastal Systems. The report was written by Ralph R. Clark, P.E., P.L.S., with major contributions and preparation of graphics by James LaGrone, Coastal Engineer. Field data of beach and dune erosion and structural damage were obtained by Ralph Clark, James LaGrone, Robert Brantly, P.E., and Junaid As-Salek, P.E. Post-storm high water surveys and beach and dune surveys were obtained by Thomas Watters, P.L.S., Ernest Besse, Guy Weeks, and James LaGrone. Aerial videography and oblique aerial photography were provided by Stacey B. Roberts of PBS&J and Camera Copters, Inc. STATE OF FLORIDA, DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION _________________________________ Michael R.
    [Show full text]
  • Vertebrates of the Mississippi Gulf Coast
    KATHY'S JOURNAL: VERTEBRATES OF THE MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST By DELLA McCAUGHAN and ZAN SKELTON Book VI: Marine Discovery Series 1984 Produced by Della McCaughan - Marine Education Specialist Biloxi Senior High School and The Department of Wildlife Conservation Bureau of Marine Resources Terese P. Collins, Special Projects Officer ILLUSTRATORS Tuan Vu Joseph Jewell Steve Britt Franklin Kyle Robert McLauren Chivi Dagg Steve Scott Martin Wilson CONTRIBUTORS Jamie Ugrinich Joan Ugrinich Monique Christensen DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION BUREAU OF MARINE RESOURCES PORTIONS OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE REPRINTED FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY WITH WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES This publication was funded in part through a grant from the Office of Coastal Zone Management under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended. DEDICATION This booklet is dedicated to all elementary teachers--who give so much of their time, energy, expertise, and love to their students. Their professional contributions and dedication to their students are responsible for the quality of education in this country, which produces a society based on the belief that all individuals can seek--and accomplish--their goals. PURPOSE This elementary booklet has been written on a sixth grade level. It will be appropriate for use with the upper fifth grade level and with the seventh grade life science program. The material has not been written from the standpoint of a highly scientific publication; rather, it has been presented to give students an overview of the characteristics of the major marine vertebrates of the Mississippi Gulf Coast and to show students how different characteristics are used to identify groups of animals with similar anatomical traits.
    [Show full text]
  • Mississippi Coast Book
    THE MISSISSIPPI COAST AND ITS PEOPLE A History for Students Written by C. Paige Gutierrez Book VIII: Marine Discovery Series 1987 Produced by C. Paige Gutierrez and The Department of Wildlife Conservation Bureau of Marine Resources ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to acknowledge the following educators and other advisors for their part in the preparation of this book: Mary Ruth Bodron, Nanette Burke, Connie Carpenter, Terese P. Collins, Robert Fabiano, Susan Hunt, Dianna Kopszywa, Della McCaughan, Jerry Mitchell, Tam Pitalo, Murella H. Powell, Brian Quave Thanks to the following for help with photo acquisition: Biloxi Public Library Hancock Bank Mississippi State Port Authority Office of History, Keesler Technical Training Center, KAFB Joe and Colleen Scholtes Seafood Industry Museum This publication was funded in part through a grant from the Office of Coastal Zone Management under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended. Marine Discovery Series, 1987. Portions of this publication may be reprinted for educational purposes only, with written permission of the Department of Marine Resources. Department of Marine Resources 1141 Bayview Ave., Suite 101 Biloxi, MS 39532 The Mississippi Coast and Its People A History for Students INTRODUCTION Why have people over the centuries decided to live on the Mississippi Gulf Coast? Let's look at our history to find out. As you read this booklet, you will notice that over the years many groups of people from different lands have chose the Gulf Coast as their home. The natural resources of the Coast have made it possible for newcomers to make a living and to enjoy a lifestyle that is special to people who live near the Mississippi Sound.
    [Show full text]
  • The Mississippi Oyster Industry'
    The Mississippi Oyster Industry' UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE BUREAU OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES Fishery Leaflet 607 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Stewart L. Udall, Secretary David S. Black, Under Secretary Stanley A. Cain, Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, Clarence F. Pautzke, Commissioner BUREAU OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES, H. E. Crowther, Director The Mississippi Oyster Industry By BRUCE W. MAG HAN Fishery Leaflet 607 Washington, D.C. December 1967 CONTENTS Page Introduction .. Reef location. 3 Harve$ting methods and equipment 6 Statistical evaluation........ 8 Causes of fluctuations in fishery . 9 Acknowledgment. 11 Literature cited. 11 I I iii The Mississippi Oyster Industry By BRUCE W. MAGHAN, Fishery Biologist Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Exploratory Fishing and Gear Research Base Pascagoula, Mississippi 39567 ABSTRACT Mississippi coastal waters have beena source of oysters since precolonial days. The Eastern oyster reaches marketable size in 2 years in Mississippi. Al1 reefs are within the limits of the Mississippi Sound, and the Mississippi Marine Con­ servation Commission has jurisdiction over reef rehabilitation, preservation, and expansion. This report describes how productive areas are maintained and how certain reefs are lost because of municipal and industrial wastes. It explains methods and equipment used in harvesting oysters since establishment of the fishery and shows annual landings, their value, and the number of fishermen in the fishery from 1928 to 1965. INTRODUCTION Weatherby 1 notes that when moved to deepe r water and thinned out, "coon" oysters grew This report is based on literature research rapidly to marketable size.
    [Show full text]