Coastlines of the Gulf of Mexico

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Coastlines of the Gulf of Mexico

• Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi

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Shoreline Characteristics

• State
• Louisiana
• Mississippi
• Alabama

• Tidal Shoreline(mi)
• 7721
• 359
• 607

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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

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Coastal Features and Waterways

• Louisiana
• Rivers-Atchafalaya, Mississippi, Pearl
• Alabama
• Rivers-Alabama, Tom Brigbee,
• Mississippi
• Rivers-Pearl

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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

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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

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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