Louisiana Coastal Area, Louisiana. Freshwater Diversion to Barataria and Breton Sound Basins. Feasibility Study. Volume 4. Public Views and Responses

摘要

The Barataria and Breton Sound Basins have experienced rapid loss of coastal wetlands due to natural processes such as subsidence and erosion, as well as man's developmental activities including leveeing, channelization, and petroleum exploration. These activities have led to a reduction in overbank flooding and natural distributary flow which historically provided fresh water, sediments and nutrients to estuarine areas. This has resulted in conversion of fresh, intermediate, and brackish marches to intermediate, brackish, and saline marshes, respectively, as well as loss of some areas of wooded swamp. Saltwater intrusion and loss of wetlands have adversely affected productivity of wildlife and fishery resources. Influx of saline waters is particularly harmful to the American oyster, due to increased predation. One way to ameliorate loss of wetland nursery areas and rate of saltwater intrusion is timely introduction of fresh water and associated sediments and nutrients. A total of 16 plans were evaluated basically of combinations of six fresh water into the study area. These 16 plans consist basically of combinations of six fresh water diversion sites and various magnitudes of flow. Based on the results of this study, it has been recommended that fresh water from the Mississippi River be diverted into the Barataria Basin at a site near Davis Pond (river mile 118.4) and into the Breton Sound Basin at Big Mar (river mile 81.5).