Ecological Characterization of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park, Louisiana: Basis for a Management Plan
Taylor NC, Day JW, Neusaenger GE. Ecological Characterization of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park, Louisiana: Basis for a Management Plan
Description of environmental conditions of the park and a management plan to prevent deterioration of the marsh by reestablishing natural hydrology and increasing sediment input. The study revealed 9 trends: 1) increase in salinity, 2) salt-tolerant plant species have encroached without breaking up the marsh, 3) accretion rates were lower than regional subsidence, 4) sediment accretion rates lower where there was no sediment source, 5) soil firmest and accretion rates highest in areas with access to mineral sediment sources, 6) hydrology of the park has been drastically altered since the 1700s, 7) some areas of the park covered by over 1/2 meter of water year round, 8) most of park is quaking marsh, 9) there is a accretion deficit which is leading to an evolution toward a floating marsh.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Taylor, Nancy; Day, John; Neusaenger, George
- Units
- JELA
- Keywords
- Aquatic Sciences, Barataria Unit Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve LA, Hydrology, Management, Plan, Salinity, Sedimentation, Subsidence, Water Level