2009
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Characterization Report
Louisiana State Reservoir Priority and Development Program
Basin Characterization Report for the Pearl River Basin
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) is responsible for reviewing and prioritizing proposed reservoir projects for which State of Louisiana (State) funding is being sought, and then recommending projects to the State Legislature. To support reservoir project review, prioritization, and recommendation efforts, DOTD has prepared characterization reports of water resources conditions in each of the nine principal surface water Report Topics Page basins in the State. These characterization reports provide an overview of water uses, Basin Overview...... 2 needs, and concerns, and can be used by applicants for State funding, and by State Land Use and Legal Entities...... 4 agencies as they evaluate the applications. The basin characterization reports also Physiographic and Climatic contain extensive references that interested parties can use to find more information Information...... 5 from Federal, State, and local agencies or other sources. The reports represent a Water Use...... 6 “snapshot” of conditions in early 2009 (or when the references cited in the reports Surface Water...... 8 were published). Groundwater...... 12 Flooding...... 14 Based on available data, this basin characterization report provides an overview of the Environmental and Cultural Issues...... 15 water uses, needs, and key water resources concerns for the Pearl River Basin (PRB) Recreation, Navigation, and (Map 1). Additional technical information on important issues may be provided in Hydropower...... 17 separate technical reports. Interbasin and Interstate Issues...... 17 Summary of Water Resources Needs...... 18 Abbreviations and References...... 20
Red Bayou River ARKANSAS Macon Ouachita River Legend *# Major Cities
%&'# Interstate
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Bayou a
y D Arbonne
o Major Streams
u Lake
D
o
r
c River Basins
h
e a
t ATCHAFALAYA- TECHE-VERMILION Shreveport *# ¨¦§20 CALCASIEU-MERMENTAU Lake r LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN- LAKE MAUREPAS Bistineau ve Ri f n eu o S o c MISSISSIPPI RIVER DELTA a Wallace B a bi n Lake M R e iv O e u u OUACHITA RIVER r a o y c r R h a e i e d ta B v i PEARL RIVER R R R i i v v s e e r r a s Saline n RED RIVER D e Lake ug T Clear de SABINE RIVER R mo Lake iv n r e a e r v i R TENSAS RIVER
i p p i s s i s s i Toledo ¨¦§49 M 010 20 40 60 80 Bend Reservoir Miles Catahoula Lake MISSISSIPPI Red River
TEXAS Cocodrie Lake Tangipahoa
C B o a Whiskey River c y Chitto o ou d Pearl r Creek i r e e v i River R
e n i b a S
P e a r Baton Rouge l *# 12 R A §¨¦ iv t e Calcasieu River c 55 r h ¨¦§ a Amite f a la River y a 10 R *# Lake § i Lake ¨¦ v Lake Pontchartrain Mermentau River e M r is Maurepas Charles sis sip pi Ri B ve a r yo Vermilion u *# New Te River ch Orleans Sabine Calcasieu Lake Grand Lake e Lake Lac Des Allemands
White Lake Lake Salvador
Gulf of Mexico
Map 1. Major Surface Water Basins of Louisiana1
1 Basin Overview The PRB is located in southeastern Lake Pontchartrain-Lake Maurepas and its tributaries. The southern PRB Louisiana and has an area of 2,400 Basin to the west, and the Gulf of is in the Coastal Zone, as delineated by square miles2 (Map 2). The PRB is Mexico to the south. The PRB consists the Louisiana Department of Natural bounded by the Mississippi-Louisiana of the Louisiana portion of the upland Resources (LDNR). State line to the north and east, the terraces and valleys of the Pearl River
Tangipahoa P us he pa ± ta pa C 0 10 20 re ek Washington Scale in Miles B B og o ue Bogalusa g L u us e a C Cre h ek it to R iv er
St. Tammany P ea rl R iv er
Legend
W e Scenic Rivers s t P Main Waterways e a r l Lakes, Reservoirs, Canals R i v and Other Water Features e r Cities Coastal Zone Pearl River Basin Parish Boundary Map 2. Parishes, Main Waterways, and City Boundaries3
2 Bogalusa is the largest city in the PRB. 80,000 Estimated total population in the PRB in 2005 was 69,834. Table 1 shows 70,000 the 2005 population distribution in the 60,000 PRB by parish. Most of Washington 50,000 Parish and small parts of St. Tammany 40,000 and Tangipahoa parishes are located 30,000 in the PRB. Figure 1 shows historical 20,000 basin population from 1960 to 2005. Population Basin Total 10,000 The population of the PRB grew steadily from 1970 through 2005. 0 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 Principal economic activities in the Pearl River Basin Year PRB include the timber industry and x Figure 1. Historical PRB Population4 the manufacture of wood products. Pearl River Also, the lower Pearl River’s healthy marsh complex helps maintain a viable fisheries industry in Louisiana and Mississippi.5 The primary future economic growth areas of this basin are not clearly defined.
Table 1. PRB Population by Parish in 20054 Parish Population St. Tammany* 26,063 Tangipahoa* 1,249 Washington* 42,523 TOTAL 69,834
*Parish is located in more than one basin; population estimated for the area within the PRB. PRB=Pearl River Basin
11 3 Land Use and Legal Entities Map 3 shows 2003 land uses in the decrease slightly in the PRB, and that irreversible conversion of any Prime PRB. The principal land use is wetlands, a large increase in urban land uses is Farmland for reservoir construction with interspersed agricultural and expected.6 The PRB contains some and water storage. Table 2 lists legal forested land areas in the northwest and land considered Prime Farmland by the entities in the PRB that may affect central regions of the basin. Economic Federal Natural Resources Conservation or be affected by water resources modeling for the 1992 to 2020 period Service (NRCS).7 The NRCS must development. indicates that forested land uses may be contacted regarding proposed
!
! ± 0 10 20
! Scale in Miles
Legend ! Oil/Gas Fields Land Use Open Water Developed, Open Space Developed, Low Intensity Developed, Medium Intensity Developed, High Intensity Barren Forest Natural Vegetation ! Pasture or Crops Wetlands Map 3. PRB Land Uses in 20038
4 Table 2. PRB Water Resources Legal Entities Legal Entity Responsibilities Capital Region Planning Commission Planning and development in south central Louisiana Regional Planning Commission for Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard Planning and development in southeast Louisiana and St. Tammany Parishes
PRB=Pearl River Basin
Physiographic and Climatic Information Map 4 shows general basin topography. southern PRB encompasses flat coastal point, 374 feet above mean sea level, The PRB is dominated by the Pine marshes subject to tidal flooding. The is located in Washington Parish, on the Hills physiographic division, which is lowest elevation within PRB, at the northern basin boundary. characterized by undulating hills covered southern end of the basin, is 2 feet by pine and hardwood forests. The below mean sea level. The highest
[_ Basin High ± 0 10 20
Scale in Miles
Legend Geologic Faults Elevation Relative to Mean Sea Level (Feet) Basin High : 374
Basin Low Basin Low : -2 [ Highest/Lowest Elevation Locations [_ Map 4. PRB Topography9
5 Soils in the Pine Hills physiographic at Bogalusa, which varies between Average high temperature at Bogalusa region are dominated by loamy, fluvial about 40 and 80 inches per year, with a in the warmest month, July, is 92oF; deposits.10 Average annual rainfall historical average of about 61 inches. average low temperature in the coldest in the PRB is 64 inches per year Average annual temperature generally month, January, is 38oF. 12 throughout the entire basin.11 Figure increases from north to south from 66 to 2 shows historical annual precipitation 68 degrees Fahrenheit (oF) in the PRB.11
100 Annual Total 90 Historical Average 80 70 60 50 40 30
Precipitation (inches) Precipitation 20 10 0
Figure 2. Historical Annual Precipitation at Bogalusa11
Water Use Water use in the PRB in 2005 is nearly 10 mgd. Nearly all surface from 6.2 mgd in 1990 to 13.5 mgd summarized in Table 3 by sector, water water used in the basin, exclusively in 2005. Total industrial water use type, and parish. Table 3 is based on from Bogue Lusa Creek, was dedicated increased from 13.7 mgd in 1990 to 20.5 water withdrawal data, which may be to industrial purposes, mainly for mgd in 2005. greater than total water consumptive manufacturing paper products. Because Per capita water use in 2005 (based use. For example, water withdrawn groundwater use is not reported by on reported rural domestic and public for irrigation is not entirely consumed surface water basin, individual parish supply uses by parish and population) by crops, allowing a percentage of the groundwater use was estimated by for PRB parishes varied from 103 water to be returned to a waterway. multiplying total parish groundwater gallons per capita (person) per day Groundwater served as the major water use by the percentage of total parish (gpcd) in St. Tammany Parish to 301 source in the PRB in 2005. Industry and population within the PRB (Table 3); gpcd in Washington Parish.13 The large public supply used this supply nearly actual groundwater use by parish may differences between parishes suggest equally in 2005: the sectors used 14.9 differ from this estimation. that water may have been withdrawn million gallons per day (mgd) and 13.5 Figure 3 shows trends in surface in some parishes, but mainly used in mgd, respectively. The only public water and groundwater use in the PRB others. More representative per capita water supplier that reported water at 5-year intervals from 1990. Public water use estimates could likely be use exceeding 2 mgd in 2005 was the supply use of groundwater increased calculated based on municipal water Bogalusa Water System, which used service provider data.
6 Table 3. Water Use in the PRB in 200513 Sector Surface Groundwater Parish Surface Groundwater* Water (mgd) (mgd) Water (mgd) (mgd)
Aquaculture 0.0 0.0 St. Tammany 0.0 2.7 General irrigation 0.1 0.2 Washington 5.6 28.0 Industrial 5.6 14.9 TOTAL 5.6 33.6 Livestock 0.2 0.2 *Groundwater use estimated for parishes with at least five percent of their population within the PRB. Power generation 0.0 0.0 mgd=million gallons per day Public supply 0.0 13.5 PRB=Pearl River Basin Rice irrigation 0.0 0.0 Rural domestic 0.0 2.0 TOTAL 5.8 30.7
Recent Historical Surface Water Use
mgd=million gallons per day
Recent Historical Groundwater Use
mgd=million gallons per day Figure 3. Trends in Water Use in PRB by Sector14
7 Surface Water Primary surface water features in the (Map 5). Map 5 also shows the two (USGS), and stream gages referenced PRB include rivers and bayous, such as subwatersheds, or hydrologic units, in this report. the Pearl River and Bogue Chitto River delineated by the U.S. Geological Survey
P us Bogue he pa Chitto ta pa C re ek ± Lower 0 10 20 B Pearl o Bo g gu u eL Scale in Miles e u *# C sa 02489500 h C i reek tto R iv er Û
02492000 *# Û
P ea rl R iv er
Û
Legend *# 02492600 *# Selected USGS Gages W e Û s Dams or Regulating Structures t P e Rivers a r l
R
Hydrologic Unit i v
e Pearl River Basin r Reservoirs, Canals and Other Water Features
Map 5. Surface Water Features15
8 Extensive surface water and seasonal runoff pattern, with highest by only 10 percent of flows, are useful groundwater data for Louisiana, flows occurring in winter and spring, and for characterizing flooding and high flow including gaged streamflows and lake minimal runoff occurring in late summer conditions. levels, are available through the USGS and early fall. The PRB contains 259 miles of streams National Water Information System Statistics summarized Table 4 can be designated under Louisiana’s Natural (NWIS) Web site.16 Some gages in the useful for various purposes. The 7-day and Scenic River System (Map 2), as PRB are affected by wind and/or tide. low flow with a recurrence interval of created by the Louisiana Natural and Furthermore, some gages only record 10 years (7Q10) is the statistic used to Scenic River Act. These waterways river stage and lack reliable stage- calculate available dilution in surface are protected by a permit process discharge relationships. Streamflow water discharge permits. Neither the and certain restrictions, including statistics for the two gages with recent Pearl River nor the Bogue Chitto River prohibitions against channelization, streamflow data are shown inTable has extended low flows, with 7Q10 impoundment construction, and channel 4. Monthly average flows at these two flows of 1,410 and 485 cubic feet per realignment.19 There are no major lakes gages are shown in Figure 4. Although second (cfs), respectively. Peak flows, or reservoirs in the PRB.20 average flow in the Pearl River is about including the maximum instantaneous five times larger than in the Bogue discharge and the streamflow exceeded Chitto River, both rivers exhibit a similar
Table 4. Historical Streamflow Statistics for Selected Gages17 Percent of Streamflows Stream Gage Informaiton Period of Record StreamflowS tatistics (cfs) Exceed (cfs) Instantaneous Max. Low Flow Drainage Period of Annual Peak (date) Location (USGS Gage) Area (mi2) Record Average (date) 7Q1018 10 50 90 1938- 129,000 1,020 Pearl River near Bogalusa, LA (02489500) 6,573 10,060 1,400 27,900 4,610 1,860 present 4/24/79 10/30/63 1938- 132,000 366 Bogue Chitto River near Bush, LA (02492000) 1,213 2,018 485 3,830 1,140 647 present 4/8/83 10/22/68 7Q10=7-day low flow with 10-year recurrence cfs=cubic foot per second LA=Louisiana mi2=square mile USGS=U.S. Geological Survey
Pearl River near Bogalusa, LA Bogue Chitto River near Bush, LA 25,000 5,000
20,000 4,000
15,000 3,000
10,000 2,000 Average Flow in Flow Average Average Flow in Flow Average Pearl River (cfs) River Pearl Pearl River (cfs) River Pearl 5,000 1,000 in Flow Average Bogue Chitto River (cfs) River Chitto Bogue Bogue Chitto River (cfs) River Chitto Bogue 0 0 Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep
Figure 4. Historical Monthly Average Streamflow for Selected Gages17
9 Surface Water Quality these cases, designated uses of the impaired. Design of new reservoirs The 303(d) list (named after Section water bodies, such as fish and wildlife either impounding impaired waters or 303(d) of the Federal Clean Water Act) propagation, recreation, or drinking discharging to impaired waters would included in Louisiana’s Integrated Water water supply may be impaired. Stream need to consider these water quality Quality Report provides an overview of sub-segments on the 2006 303(d) list challenges and any ongoing or planned surface water locations where water for the PRB are shown in Map 6. The water quality improvement projects. quality standards are not met.21 In larger streams in the PRB are considered
S i lv e P r us S h C p ep re r a e in ta k g Bogue pa s C ± B Lusa re o e g k 0 10 20 u Creek Pe e ters B C Cre o e Scale in Miles C n h k r n it e e to e r LA0007901 k R LA0112771(! (! iv (! e Thigpen r LA0046515 Creek
P e a r l R Pearl iv e River r Canal
West Legend Pearl River Major Discharge Permit Sites (! Industrial (! Wastewater Middle River 303(d) Impaired Waters Pearl River Basin Parish Boundary Lake Borgne Map 6. PRB Impaired Waters from 303(d) List and Major Permitted Discharge Sites22
10 Table 5 summarizes the number of impairment. The Louisiana Department The presence of bacteria, as indicated stream sub-segments in the PRB of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) has by fecal coliform, affects recreational that are on the 2006 303(d) list, and been investigating the mercury problem uses of some surface waters in the identifies impaired uses and parameters throughout the State since fish tissue PRB. Several of the fecal coliform causing impairment. Fish and wildlife data for the Ouachita River first resulted impairments are attributed to propagation is the most frequently in a fish consumption advisory in 1992.23 insufficient wastewater treatment, affected use in the PRB. No single source has been identified as either from municipal discharges or the cause of mercury impairment in the septic tanks.21 Mercury in fish tissue, leading to PRB. fish consumption advisories, is the most common parameter causing
Table 5. Summary of PRB Surface Water Quality Impairments21
Impaired Use Sub-segments Parameter Causing Impairment (affected use) Sub-segments Fish and wildlife propagation 29 Mercury (FWP and ONR) 16 Primary contact recreation 9 Fecal Coliform (PCR and SCR) 11 Outstanding natural resource 3 Turbidity (FWP and ONR) 5 Secondary contact recreation 2 Dissolved Oxygen (FWP) 4 FWP=fish and wildlife propagation Low pH (FWP) 4 ONR=outstanding natural resource PCR=primary contact recreation (swimming) Chloride (FWP) 2 PRB=Pearl River Basin Sulfate (FWP) 1 SCR=secondary contact recreation (boating)
Permitted Surface Water are summarized in Table 6. Additional by Temple Island at 9.7 mgd. The only Discharges information on all dischargers in industrial discharger within the basin is The LDEQ issues permits for discharges Louisiana can be obtained from LDEQ the Washington Parish Energy Center. of municipal and industrial wastewater. through their public records request Discharge permit conditions are based 24 Permitted discharges classified as process. on receiving-water low-flow quantity and quality. Future water development “major” by the U.S. Environmental The City of Bogalusa’s wastewater projects that change low-flow quantity Protection Agency (USEPA) (generally treatment facility is the largest or quality at the discharge location could those with flow greater than 1 mgd) are municipal discharge at 15 mgd, followed shown in Map 6. Major discharges affect the ability of permit holders to comply with permit conditions.
Table 6. Major Discharge Permits in the PRB25 Discharger Permit Number Permitted Discharge Receiving Water Parish (mgd) Pearl River and/or Bogue Bogalusa, City of Wastewater Treatment Plant LA0046515 15 Washington Lusa Creek Temple Island Wastewater Treatment Plant LA0007901 9.71 Pearl River Washington Washington Parish Energy Center LA0112771 NA Bogue Lusa Creek Washington
Information presented in this table is directly from USEPA (2009a). For detailed explanation, this reference should be consulted. mgd=million gallons per day NA=not available PRB=Pearl River Basin
11 Groundwater According to the 1984 Water Resources The Chicot Equivalent, Evangeline the aquifers occur at different depths. Study Commission’s Report to the Equivalent, and Jasper Equivalent Although the Chicot Equivalent Aquifer Legislature, the PRB “possesses a vast aquifers collectively make up the (Upper Ponchatoula Aquifer unit28) groundwater resource”.26 The State Southern Hills Aquifer System. extends into the PRB, the aquifer is not has registered about 250 water wells in Aquifers in this system are recognized heavily used in this basin. Figure 5 the PRB.16 The following major aquifers independently and are locally divided. shows water levels in the most heavily underlie portions of the PRB: Local names have been given to the used aquifers in the PRB, where data aquifer units based on location and are available. Few wells located in the Upland Terrace Aquifer depth.27 Principal aquifers of the PRB provide data spanning the past Chicot Equivalent Aquifer PRB are shown in Map 7 and their 20 years, making it difficult to report Evangeline Equivalent Aquifer characteristics are summarized in historical trends in groundwater levels. Jasper Equivalent Aquifer Table 7. Aquifer areas overlap because
Map 7. Spatial Extents of Major PRB Aquifers29
12 Table 7. Overview of PRB Major Aquifer Characteristics2 Aquifer System Range of Thickness Typical Well Yields Hydraulic Specific Capacity Depth to of Freshwater (gpm) Conductivity (feet/ (gal/min/ft of Groundwater in 2005 Interval (feet) day) drawdown) (feet)16 Upland Terrace 25 – 240 100 – 1,700 150 – 270 1 – 50 -13* – 10 500 – 1,000 Chicot Equivalent 50 – 1,100 10 – 200 10 – 200 NA 3,500 (large capacity) Evangeline Equivalent 50 – 1,000 200 – 4,000 10 – 200 10 – 200 -50 – 100 Jasper Equivalent 1,200 – 2,350 200 – 3,400 10 – 200 10 – 200 40 – 100
*Negative values indicate artesian wells gal/min/ft = gallons per minute per foot of drawdown gpm=gallons per minute NA=not available PRB=Pearl River Basin
Wa-13 (Upland Terrace) Wa-78 (Abita - Evang. Equiv.) St-898 (Covington - Evang. Equiv.) St-1094 (Slidell - Evang. Equiv.) Wa-91 (Kentwood - Evang. Equiv.) Wa-125 (Amite - Jasper Equiv.) Wa-158 (Amite - Jasper Equiv.) -60
-20
20
60
100
140 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007 Water Surface (feet below ground surface) ground below (feet Surface Water Year Negative numbers on the y-axis scale indicate elevations above land surface. Figure 5. Historical Trends in PRB Groundwater Levels in Representative Wells16
Historical data from well Wa-13, groundwater levels in the Evangeline Groundwater levels in the Amite aquifer completed in the Upland Terrace Aquifer Equivalent Aquifer have declined at a unit decreased from 1999 to 2000, when in Washington Parish, indicates that rate of less than 1 foot per year (wells a moderate to severe drought affected groundwater levels have been stable Wa-91, Wa-78, St-898, and St-1094 in southern Louisiana. Comparison in this aquifer since 1990. Within this Figure 5). of USGS data from 1996 and 2005 overall trend, groundwater levels in the indicates that groundwater levels in In the PRB, the Jasper Equivalent Upland Terrace Aquifer exhibit distinct the Amite aquifer unit declined 20 feet Aquifer includes the Tchefuncte, fluctuations due to seasonal rainfall in the eastern PRB during that time. In Hammond, Amite, Franklinton, and variation, which is characteristic of the western basin, Amite aquifer unit Ramsay aquifer units.28 In Washington surficial aquifers. groundwater levels declined 5 to 15 feet Parish, groundwater levels in some during the same period.16 The Lower Ponchatoula, Kentwood, parts of the Amite aquifer unit declined Abita, Covington, and Slidell aquifer in the 1980s, although groundwater units of the Evangeline Equivalent levels have increased in the past 5 years Aquifer are used in the PRB.28 Overall, (wells Wa-125 and Wa-158 in Figure 5).
13 Groundwater Quality aquifers, although water in some wells well outside the PRB. Water in wells Groundwater quality issues identified exceeded secondary standards for completed in the Jasper Equivalent in the 2005 and 2006 LDEQ Baseline pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), color, Aquifer did not exceed the water quality Monitoring Program reports are chloride, and iron. Although no Federal standard for chloride, but the aquifer summarized by aquifer in Table or State standard has been established does show an increasing trend for this 8.30 Federal primary drinking water for chloroform, a volatile organic constituent. standards were not exceeded in any compound, it was detected at very low of the wells tested in the major PRB levels in one Chicot Equivalent Aquifer
Table 8. Secondary Drinking Water Standards Exceedences in Major PRB Aquifers Aquifer pH TDS Color Chloride Iron Upland Terrace n n n n Chicot Equivalent n n n n n Evangeline Equivalent n n n Jasper Equivalent n n n – One or more wells exceeded the secondary standard PRB=Pearl River Basin TDS=total dissolved solids
Flooding Areas within the PRB subject to the Management Agency (FEMA). As USGS estimated flood flow magnitudes greatest flood hazard are situated in the part of the NFIP, FEMA prepares Flood for different return periods at floodplains of the Pearl River, the Bogue Insurance Studies (FIS) and Flood streamflow gages throughout the Chitto River, and Pushepatapa Creek. Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) for rivers State. Gages in the PRB where The Pearl River caused major flooding in and bayous prone to damaging floods in significant historical data have been the Slidell area in the 1980s. A USACE a parish; member communities regulate collected are listed in Table 9, along feasibility study recommended levees development in floodplains. These with their estimated peak discharges for Slidell, but design and construction studies and maps document flooding for various recurrence intervals. The did not progress because of cost sharing problems within parishes and delineate USGS analysis is only valid for rural, problems.31 100-year flood zones along major unaltered waterways. Also included waterways. Some 100-year flood zone in Table 9 are peak discharges for The PRB is located almost entirely maps are available as digital geographic major waterways, as reported in the within the St. Tammany and Washington information system layers and detailed FISs reviewed as part of this basin parishes, both of which have become maps and reports can be obtained from characterization. participants in the National Flood FEMA.32 Insurance Program (NFIP) offered through the Federal Emergency
14 Table 9. Peak Flow Discharges in the PRB33
Location Flood Magnitude (cfs)
S ource Gage Number Name 2-year 10-year 100-year 500-year
02489500 Pearl River near Bogalusa, LA 40,500 59,900 80,400 92,700
USGS 02490105 Bogue Lusa Creek at Bogalusa, LA 2,440 7,480 18,400 29,300
Bogue Chitto River upstream from State Route 21 NA 42,500 87,500 128,000
West Pearl River at confluence with Old Channel NA NA 150,000 NA FIS Bogue Chitto River downstream from Isabel Hwy NA 46,500 98,200 134,500
Pushepatapa Creek downstream from Mt. Olive Cemetery Road NA 23,300 83,400 157,000 cfs=cubic feet per second FIS=Flood Insurance Study LA=Louisiana NA=not available PRB=Pearl River Basin USGS=U.S. Geological Surve
Environmental and Cultural Issues Environmental and cultural resources species Federally listed as threatened conservation of the Alabama heelsplitter are important elements of the quality or endangered that may reside in the mussel, Gulf sturgeon, Louisiana of life in Louisiana, and can affect PRB include the Louisiana black bear, quillwort, and ringed map (sawback) siting and operation of water resources and interior least tern.36 The Federal turtle, which are species Federally listed facilities, as regulated by Federal and Endangered Species Act gives the U.S. as threatened or endangered.39 State permitting requirements. As Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) the Wetlands are an important shown in Map 2, the southern area authority to protect listed species and environmental resource throughout the of the PRB is designated by LDNR as their habitat. USFWS has not mapped United States, especially in Louisiana. Coastal Zone. Existing environmental critical terrestrial habitat in the PRB.37 Alteration of these areas often requires issues in the Coastal Zone, such as loss Aquatic habitats in the PRB support a Federal Section 404 permit through of wetlands and land subsidence, can about 108 species of freshwater fishes, USACE. Map 8 shows areas of affect water resources facilities, such as 20 species of mussels, and 15 species wetlands in the PRB. About 37 percent reservoirs.34 of crawfish.19 State species of concern of the PRB’s surface area, or 329 square Habitat and Wildlife include 3 crustacean, 13 freshwater fish, miles, is woody wetlands (i.e., areas 5 mussel, and 5 reptile species. The where forest or shrubland vegetation The PRB includes parts of the State regulates aquatic habitat through accounts for a large portion of the cover, Southeastern Plains ecoregion, as surface water quality standards in water and the soil is periodically saturated designated by USEPA.35 Each ecoregion bodies designated for fish and wildlife or inundated). Only 3.5 percent of the contains a range of habitats, some of propagation. The Louisiana Wildlife PRB is emergent herbaceous wetlands which are associated with species of Action Plan does not prioritize aquatic (i.e., areas where perennial herbaceous conservation concern. The Louisiana habitats for conservation. USFWS has vegetation accounts for most of the Wildlife Action Plan prioritizes particular identified subwatersheds within the PRB cover, and the soil is periodically terrestrial habitat types within each containing surface waters important for saturated or inundated).40 ecoregion for conservation.19 Terrestrial
15 Map 8. Wetlands in the PRB25
Cultural Resources Fourteen historic points are located in Potentially affected Native American Information on cultural issues and the PRB (Map 9). No archaeological tribes must be notified of any proposed 41 resources is provided by parish-level sites in the PRB are listed in the NRHP. reservoir plans. No Federally or State- 42 organizations. Prehistorical (before Generalized locations of known cultural recognized tribes are found in the PRB. European colonization) and historical resources that could affect reservoir sites are registered with the Louisiana siting or operations are available from Department of Culture, Recreation, the NRHP. Additional information and Tourism (LCRT) and the National is available from the LCRT, Office of Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Cultural Development, Division of Historic Preservation.
16 Tangipahoa Parish "
School Board " " ± 0 10 20 " " "" Ben's Scale in Miles Creek " " "" B og ue Ch itto Riv er
W e s t P ea r l Ri v e r
Pearl River Middle River
P e a r l R iv e Legend r
" Historic Places Landmarks Little The Rigolets West Major Navigable Waterways Lake Middle Pass Wildlife Managment Areas River Map 9. Cultural and Recreational Resources and Navigable Waterways in the PRB3
Recreation, Navigation, and Hydropower The PRB is used extensively for water- One recognized navigable waterway No hydropower projects exist in the oriented recreation. Fishing, swimming, is present within the PRB, the West basin, although the U.S. Department of and canoeing are popular recreational Pearl River. However, commercial Energy has identified several potential activities in the area.26 There are three traffic in the basin has decreased, and sites for small hydropower projects Wildlife Management Areas in the the waterway is primarily used for (between 1 and 30 megawatts) and PRB; these areas serve as hunting and recreational purposes.31 No ports are microhydropower projects (less than 100 camping grounds for the general public. located in the PRB. kilowatts) in the PRB, including on the Specific recreational resources of Pearl and West Pearl rivers.43 regional value are shown in Map 9.
Interbasin and Interstate Issues No interstate compacts affect water which are not described in detail here, in basins and states along the Gulf of resources in the PRB. Coastal issues, are concerns in the PRB as well as other Mexico.34
17 Summary of Water Resources Needs To identify and prioritize statewide issue, are presented in the Statewide level decline has been documented in water resources issues, a needs Perspective on Water Management some aquifers, particularly in the Jasper assessment of each of the nine major Report. Equivalent Aquifer. Saltwater intrusion surface water basins within Louisiana due to over-pumping has already been Assessed needs in the PRB are shown was performed. Because the needs documented in most of the Southern in Table 10, and are discussed below assessment provides the foundation for Hills aquifers, and chloride levels in the in general order of need, from high- developing reservoir priority evaluation Jasper Equivalent Aquifer have been level needs (colored red in Table 10) to criteria, it focuses on needs that can be steadily increasing over the past 10 low-level needs (colored green in Table addressed by surface water reservoirs. years. 10). With a small population and little At the same time, the integrated commercial or industrial development, Environmental protection was evaluated nature of water resources management no high-level needs were identified in as a medium-level need. Several requires evaluating issues that could not the basin. environmental issues constrain future necessarily be solved by, but could be development of additional water affected by, a reservoir. Surface water quality was ranked as a supplies, including wetlands and medium-level need in the PRB. Several Based on the existing compiled naturally vegetated areas covering of the major PRB surface waters are information, eight categories of State nearly 80 percent of the basin; areas considered impaired by LDEQ. Mercury, water resources needs that could be considered Prime Farmland by NRCS; fecal coliform, and turbidity are common addressed or affected by construction of 259 miles of State-designated Natural causes of impairment, the latter two surface water reservoirs were identified and Scenic Rivers; and the presence commonly being caused by insufficient and evaluated. Evaluation criteria of four aquatic and several terrestrial septic system or municipal wastewater were developed for each category to threatened and endangered species. treatment. Only 6 mgd of surface water allow interbasin comparison of the are used in the PRB, and surface water Flood control was evaluated as a needs. To maintain objectivity in the supply was ranked as a low-level need. medium-level need as well. Flood evaluation process, evaluation criteria risk is recognized in the PRB, although were developed based on factors that In the PRB, 31 mgd of groundwater no major population or development could be evaluated as quantitatively are used, and groundwater supply and centers are threatened. Although levees as possible across all basins. High, quality were ranked as medium-level have been recommend for the Pearl medium, and low levels of current need needs with increasing importance in the River in the Slidell area, these levees were defined based on differences in future. Up to 30 feet of groundwater have not been constructed. these factors between basins. Future needs in each basin were assessed Table 10. Assessed Water Resources Needs in the PRB by determining whether each current Category Current Future need is increasing, constant, or decreasing. The evaluation criteria are Surface Water Supply low – Surface Water Quality medium h described in detail in the main body of Groundwater Supply medium h the Statewide Perspective on Water Groundwater Quality medium h Management Report, to which this basin Flood Control medium – characterization is an appendix. Environmental Protection and Enhancement medium h The assessed needs in the PRB are Recreation low – summarized below. Details of the Navigation low h assessed needs for all nine major PRB=Pearl River Basin Red = high-level need; Yellow=medium-level need; Green=low-level need Louisiana surface water basins, as well h = increasing importance as a comparison of statewide needs by – = same importance i = decreasing importance
18 Pearl River Basin x Pearl River
Recreation was ranked as a low-level need. The Pearl River is a major recreational facility in the basin, and the low population exhibits little demand. Navigation was ranked as a low-level need with increasing importance in the future. There are 62 miles of navigable waterway in the PRB, although they are not actively dredged because of lack of traffic and environmental concerns. A proposed flood control project in Jackson, Mississippi, that entails dredging and damming portions of the lower Pearl River could potentially have navigation benefits that would draw additional commercial traffic to the PRB if the project is carried out.
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19 Abbreviations °F degrees Fahrenheit 7Q10 7-day low flow with a recurrence interval of 10 years cfs cubic feet per second DOTD Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency FIRM Flood Insurance Rate Map FIS Flood Insurance Study gpcd gallons per capita per day LCRT Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism LDEQ Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality LDNR Louisiana Department of Natural Resources mgd million gallons per day NFIP National Flood Insurance Program NRCS Natural Resources Conservation Service NRHP National Register of Historic Places NWIS National Water Information System PRB Pearl River Basin State State of Louisiana TDS total dissolved solids USEPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency USFWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service USGS U.S. Geological Survey
20 References 1 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). 1999. 1:2,000,000-scale Hydrologic Units of the United States. Available at
21 28 Lovelace, J.K. and W. M. Lovelace. 1995. Water Resources Special Report No. 9 : Hydrogeologic Unit Nomenclature and Computer Codes for Aquifers and Confining Units in Louisiana. 29 Smoot, Charles. 1986. Water-Resources Investigations Report 86-4150. Louisiana Hydrologic Atlas Map No. 2: Aerial Extent of Freshwater in Major Aquifers of Louisiana. 30 LDEQ. 2006b, Baseline Monitoring Program, FY 2006 of the Triennial Summary Report and LDEQ 2005. Baseline Monitoring Program, FY 2005 of the Triennial Summary Report. Baseline Monitoring Program reports available at
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