Ecological Characterization of jean Lafitte National Historical Park, Louisiana: Basis for a Management Plan
Taylor NC and Day JW. 1988. Ecological Characterization of jean Lafitte National Historical Park, Louisiana: Basis for a Management Plan
A management plan for Jean Lafitte National Park based on surface hydrology. salinity regime. soil characteristics. and historical changes in vegetative community patterns is presented. Results indicate that portions of the interior part of the park and areas affected by spoil banks are converting to . a floating ecosystem. The park has experienced both a sediment deficit and a slight salinity increase accompanied by encroachment of S"artina "atens. Vegetative health and soil characteristics indicate that saltwater intrusion has not been a problem. Management strategies for the park include reestablishment of natural hydrology and enhancement of sediment input to the area. Suggested management actions for Jean Lafitte National Park include a shoreline erosion control and revegetation experiment. breaching or elimination of spoil banks along some major waterways, introduction of resuspended lake sediments into 1Iotant marshes, rollover weirs, and freshwater and sediment diversions. Managed succession is proposed as a management tool for some coastal wetlands. The environmental data collected and synthesized from this study provide needed information .for park management; however. management . strategies should be canied out in phases. so that monitoring and modification, if needed, can be implemented.
- Type
- Unpublished Report
- Authors
- Taylor, Nancy; Day, John
- Date of Issue
- 1988
- Units
- JELA
- Keywords
- ecological characterization, Hydrology, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, JELA, Management Plan, salinity regime, Soil characteristics, vegetative community patterns