Coastlines of the Gulf of Mexico

Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi

Shoreline Characteristics

StateLouisiana

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, PearlAlabama

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 qualityEstuarine Reserve Program-modeling of individual systems-protection from development

References

http://marine.usgs.govhttp://mfengine.nos.noaa.govhttp://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/sseop/clickmap.htmlhttp://infoplease.lycos.comhttp://www.epa.gov/owow/ estuarieshttp://www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/ stateshttp://www.rodnreel.com/tides

Maps-US Atlantic and Gulf Coast (NOAA)

Publications-EPA, The Ecological

Condition of Estuaries in the Gulf of Mexico