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re: Wildlife and Fisheries and Ducks Unlimited have destroyed Rollover Bayou
Posted on 9/1/15 at 5:11 pm to Bass_Man
Posted on 9/1/15 at 5:11 pm to Bass_Man
Bass_Man, you are certainly correct about that in the Eastern part of the state. The channeling of the Mississippi water and sediment past New Orleans for river traffic has reduced the natural deposits of sediment all over the delta. Also, production canals for oil and gas have allowed unfiltered and undiluted ocean strength salt water to go right past the natural coastline to inland lakes and waterways where full strength saltwater kills the natural vegetation. Those forces in the eastern part of the state have led to the prevailing attitude (which defies nature) that salt water is always bad for the coast.
However, the natural state of things is that there is the Gulf and its full strength salt water. At the shoreline, the Gulf water meets a natural deposit of sand and sediment. Behind that in low lying areas is brackish marsh, which accepts tidal flow from the Gulf and fresh rain and runoff from the north. The salt water in the marsh is diluted, brackish, and there are many natural grasses and plants which grow in that environment, filtering the water and keeping the soil together. North of the marshy transition zone is the salt line, beyond which is only fresh water.
In the coastal area of Vermilion and Cameron Parishes the Mississippi River dynamic isn't at play. The area isn't starved for fresh water and sediment. There is sand all along the shoreline. The Gulf offshore is shallow for a significant distance due to the amount of natural sediment. There is also a huge brackish coastal marsh which separates the fresh and salt areas and protects the coastline. The problem is that they are intentionally pushing fresh water into the coastal marsh to support duck hunting. To the folks on the eastern side of the state, where lack of fresh water has led to significant erosion, that sounds like a good thing. Except that it isn't. Just like the production canals harm the coast by allowing undiluted salt water to bypass the transition zone, the forced introduction of excessive levels of fresh water into the coastal marsh will kill the marsh.
However, the natural state of things is that there is the Gulf and its full strength salt water. At the shoreline, the Gulf water meets a natural deposit of sand and sediment. Behind that in low lying areas is brackish marsh, which accepts tidal flow from the Gulf and fresh rain and runoff from the north. The salt water in the marsh is diluted, brackish, and there are many natural grasses and plants which grow in that environment, filtering the water and keeping the soil together. North of the marshy transition zone is the salt line, beyond which is only fresh water.
In the coastal area of Vermilion and Cameron Parishes the Mississippi River dynamic isn't at play. The area isn't starved for fresh water and sediment. There is sand all along the shoreline. The Gulf offshore is shallow for a significant distance due to the amount of natural sediment. There is also a huge brackish coastal marsh which separates the fresh and salt areas and protects the coastline. The problem is that they are intentionally pushing fresh water into the coastal marsh to support duck hunting. To the folks on the eastern side of the state, where lack of fresh water has led to significant erosion, that sounds like a good thing. Except that it isn't. Just like the production canals harm the coast by allowing undiluted salt water to bypass the transition zone, the forced introduction of excessive levels of fresh water into the coastal marsh will kill the marsh.
Posted on 9/1/15 at 6:47 pm to TBoy
quote:
In the coastal area of Vermilion and Cameron Parishes the Mississippi River dynamic isn't at play.
That's not exactly true. Where do you think the cheniers and sediment for the marsh surrounding them came from?
Posted on 9/1/15 at 7:38 pm to TBoy
Well the geomorphology at Rockefeller vs the terrebonne basin going east are very different. Sure they can take out weir in big lake and other areas and let nature do its thing. But I can assure you over a generation the marshes will erode and open up and we will be left with a Baffin or Galveston bay. Take your pick buddy. Sorry you can't catch shrimp while a tarpon rodeo stripper that got tipped a cast net can catch 50lbs of 30ct or better shrimp from Elmer's beach during her 2 hours off the pole while watching her kids while you struggle at shrimp Mecca.
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