Coastlines of the Gulf of Mexico Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi

Coastlines of the Gulf of Mexico

Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi

Shoreline Characteristics

State

Louisiana

Mississippi

Alabama

Tidal Shoreline(mi)

7721

359

607

Island Morphology

Barrier Island Chain-created after last glacial

epoch (15,000yr ago)-decrease in sea level-increase in fluvial and

marine sedimentation-microtidal (0-2m)-extensive tidal marsh

habitat

Coastal Features and Waterways

Louisiana

Rivers-Atchafalaya, Mississippi, Pearl

Alabama

Rivers-Alabama, Tom Brigbee,

Mississippi

Rivers-Pearl

Recent Developments

• Dramatic increases in nutrient loads

-eutrophication

-decreases in primary productivity

-Wetland habitat in rapid decline

-decrease in water quality

-losses to commercial fishing

Governmental Response

• Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)

-assessment of pollutants in major rivers

-management plan to improve water quality

Estuarine Reserve Program

-modeling of individual systems

-protection from development

References

http://marine.usgs.gov

http://mfengine.nos.noaa.gov

http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/sseop/clickmap.html

http://infoplease.lycos.com

http://www.epa.gov/owow/ estuaries

http://www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/ states

http://www.rodnreel.com/tides

Maps-US Atlantic and Gulf Coast (NOAA)

Publications-

EPA, The Ecological Condition of Estuaries in the Gulf of Mexico