Predicting the Effects of Proposed Mississippi River Diversions on Oyster Habitat Quality; Application of an Oyster Habitat Suitability Index Model

Autor: Craig Conzelmann, Thomas M. Soniat, Kevin Suir, Jason D. Byrd, Susan B. Colley, Dustin P. Roszell, Joshua L. Bridevaux
Rok vydání: 2013
Předmět:
Zdroj: Journal of Shellfish Research. 32:629
ISSN: 0730-8000
DOI: 10.2983/035.032.0302
Popis: In an attempt to decelerate the rate of coastal erosion and wetland loss, and protect human communities, the state of Louisiana developed its Comprehensive Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast. The master plan proposes a combination of restoration efforts including shoreline protection, marsh creation, sediment diversions, and ridge, barrier island, and hydrological restoration. Coastal restoration projects, particularly the large-scale diversions of fresh water from the Mississippi River, needed to supply sediment to an eroding coast potentially impact oyster populations and oyster habitat. An oyster habitat suitability index model is presented that evaluates the effects of a proposed sediment and freshwater diversion into Lower Breton Sound. Voluminous freshwater, needed to suspend and broadly distribute river sediment, will push optimal salinities for oysters seaward and beyond many of the existing reefs. Implementation and operation of the Lower Breton Sound diversion structure as proposed wou...
Databáze: OpenAIRE