28
r PL 4 1 / AN ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION STUDY OF THE CHENIER PLAIN COASTAL ECOSYSTEM OF LOUISIANA AND TEXAS was prepared for the National Coastal Ecosystems Team, Office of Biological Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. James G. Gosselink, Louisiana State University, was principal investigator. Funding was provided by the Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Copies of Volume I (Narrative Report) FWS/OBS-78/9, Volume II (Data Source Appendix) FWS/OBS-78/10,and Volume III (Atlas) FWS/OBS-78/11, may be obtained from: National Coastal Ecosystems Team U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service NASA-Slidell Computer Complex 1010 Gause Blvd. Slidell, LA 70458 Contents of Volume HI Plates: 1 A and IB - Index Maps 2 - The Pleistocene Erosional Surface 3Aand3B - Chenier Plain Habitat Groups 4A and 4B - Chenier Plain Wetland Habitats 5A and 5B - Canal and Point Source Discharges 6A and 6B - Special Features The Biological Services Program was established within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to supply scientific information and methodologies on key environmental issues that impact fish and wildlife resources and their supporting ecosystems. The mission of the program is as follows: To strengthen the Fish and Wildlife Service in ib role as a primary source of information on national fish and wildlife resources, particularly in respect to environmental impact assessment To gather, analyze, and present information that will aid decisionmakers in the identification and resolution of problems associated with major changes In land and water use. To provide better ecological Information and evaluation for Department of the Interior development programs, such as those relating to energy develop- ment Information developed by the Biological Services Program Is Intended for use in the planning and decisionmaking process to prevent or minimize the impact of development on fish and wildlife. Research activities and technical assistance services are based on analysis of the Issues, a determination of the decisionmakers involved and their informa- tion needs, and an evaluation of the state of the art to Identify information gaps and determine priorities. This is a strategy that will ensure that the products produced are disseminated are timely and useful. Projects have been initiated in the following areas: coal extraction and conversion; power plants, geothermal, mineral, and oil-shale development; water resource analysis, including stream alterations and western water allocation; coastal ecosystems and Outer Continental Shelf development; and systems inventory, including National Wetland In- ventory, habitat classification and analysis, and information transfer. The Biological Services Program consists of the Office of Biological Services In Washington, D.C., which is responsible for overall planning and management; National Teams, which provide the Program's central scientific and technical expertise and arrange for contracting biological services studies with states, universities, consulting firms, and others; Regional Staff, who provide a link to problems at the operating level; and staff at certain Fish and Wildlife Service research facilities, who conduct in-house research studies.

Ecological Characterization Study Chenier Plain Texas Louisiana vol. 3

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Gosselink, J.G., C.L. Cordes, and J.W. Parsons. 1979. An ecological characterization study of the Chenier Plain coastal ecosystem of Louisiana and Texas. Volume 3, atlas FWS/OBS-78/11. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Biological Services, Slidell, Louisiana.

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Page 1: Ecological Characterization Study Chenier Plain Texas Louisiana vol. 3

r™ PL

4

1

/

AN ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION STUDY OF THE CHENIER

PLAIN COASTAL ECOSYSTEM OF LOUISIANA AND TEXAS was prepared

for the National Coastal Ecosystems Team, Office of Biological Services, U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service. James G. Gosselink, Louisiana State University, was

principal investigator. Funding was provided by the Office of Research and

Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Copies of Volume I (Narrative Report) FWS/OBS-78/9, Volume II (Data

Source Appendix) FWS/OBS-78/10,and Volume III (Atlas) FWS/OBS-78/11,

may be obtained from:

National Coastal Ecosystems Team

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

NASA-Slidell Computer Complex

1010 Gause Blvd.

Slidell, LA 70458

Contents of Volume HI

Plates:

1 A and IB - Index Maps

2 - The Pleistocene Erosional Surface

3Aand3B - Chenier Plain Habitat Groups

4A and 4B - Chenier Plain Wetland Habitats

5A and 5B - Canal and Point Source Discharges

6A and 6B - Special Features

The Biological Services Program was established within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service to supply scientific information and methodologies on key environmental issues

that impact fish and wildlife resources and their supporting ecosystems. The mission of

the program is as follows:

• To strengthen the Fish and Wildlife Service in ib role as a primary source of

information on national fish and wildlife resources, particularly in respect to

environmental impact assessment

• To gather, analyze, and present information that will aid decisionmakers in the

identification and resolution of problems associated with major changes In

land and water use.

• To provide better ecological Information and evaluation for Department of the

Interior development programs, such as those relating to energy develop-

ment

Information developed by the Biological Services Program Is Intended for use in the

planning and decisionmaking process to prevent or minimize the impact of development

on fish and wildlife. Research activities and technical assistance services are based on

analysis of the Issues, a determination of the decisionmakers involved and their informa-

tion needs, and an evaluation of the state of the art to Identify information gaps and

determine priorities. This is a strategy that will ensure that the products produced are

disseminated are timely and useful.

Projects have been initiated in the following areas: coal extraction and conversion;

power plants, geothermal, mineral, and oil-shale development; water resource analysis,

including stream alterations and western water allocation; coastal ecosystems and Outer

Continental Shelf development; and systems inventory, including National Wetland In-

ventory, habitat classification and analysis, and information transfer.

The Biological Services Program consists of the Office of Biological Services In

Washington, D.C., which is responsible for overall planning and management; National

Teams, which provide the Program's central scientific and technical expertise and arrange

for contracting biological services studies with states, universities, consulting firms, and

others; Regional Staff, who provide a link to problems at the operating level; and staff at

certain Fish and Wildlife Service research facilities, who conduct in-house research

studies.

Page 2: Ecological Characterization Study Chenier Plain Texas Louisiana vol. 3
Page 3: Ecological Characterization Study Chenier Plain Texas Louisiana vol. 3
Page 4: Ecological Characterization Study Chenier Plain Texas Louisiana vol. 3

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o wllfrlTtf^ iiiiiiiil

II!

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I

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' ff IM I Hsr HUMm

94°45-

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94°75-

Page 5: Ecological Characterization Study Chenier Plain Texas Louisiana vol. 3
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Page 9: Ecological Characterization Study Chenier Plain Texas Louisiana vol. 3

PLATE 3A

CHENIER PLAIN HABITAT GROUPS

LEGEND

I IAQUATIC -permanently Hooded, non-vegetofed inland open woler ond neorshore Gull habilots,

1 - -'-I WETLANDS -pefiodieolly llooded landj (hotocteriied by emargem vegetation See Pime ^

[$>>:-:] AGRICULTURE -culti.ot.d ..oplond ond imp,o..d po>to..

ill RIDGES AND UPLAND FOREST

I I URBAN -land o..a> developed lo, ,e>id.ntial ond inda.ttiol «.

BASIN BOUNDARY

-naturally vegaiaied cheniers, leve«f, jpoil bonk

Pleistocene islands, and prairie surface.

piEPAKD niDK xmmo stats molocicxl suhvet i»7»-js, i:)i.<

OKtHOPmrto oiiUKMCus. uvmhzd pukte.NASA HICa ALTITVnt T/iLH <»L01 INDLUlfD FBOTDCUMI

12345678 Km

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PLATE 4

A

CHENIER PLAIN WETLAND HABITATS

LEGEND

I I NON-WETLAND HABITATS

^SM salt marsh wilh lollgrcii pi.litMi. .pitoH ond bloclro.k'tW

<at«d by I >olh cordgroit [Spartino atterntdoral,

-

I I

mmCD

nr» 4 /-ixiru ki A ncu -infartidol morihei ond oiiociolBd imall pond* domiootad by iallm«adow eofdgra»i|Spartino potani]

BRACKIoH MAKOM and loltgran ; lolinitiej generally l»i thon 10 %»

• .. .Ti-r.. .i-r^i A Ti- ii » nri , -mofiKoi ond oijocioted small pondi, periodically flooded with nearly (rosh wofer,

INTERMCDIATC MARSH bulo«oiiionolly by brocklsh woler, Domifiol«d by loltmeadow cordgrou, bulltongoe (Sagittorio folcota).

and jeoshore po»polum(Poipolum voginolu"'!.

cncCI_l ki A DCU -morihe* flooded by frejh water, and with a diverse floro dominoted by motdoncone (Ponicom hemitomon l.

rKtOn MAKon bulttongue, and olligotorweed [Alternonthero philoxeroidet ).

iny^i Ik. ir\r-rN a nrtj -morihe* surrounded by dike*, spoil bonki, or natural lavooi (hot modify normal flooding. These exist

IMPOUNDcD MAKon in saline to froih oreos. They may be permotiently Uoodod or pumped dry, but all ore dominatedby native emergent wetlond vegelolion (as opposed to impounded ogriculturol lond).

tupelo (Nyiso oqoatka).

BASIN BOUNDARY

G. 1912. amiaxoax:*L a

ES FISH AM) UUJylin SEUVtCZ, AF THF CXFHIFR PLAIK OlASTAL GOOSYFTQI OFSIOK-lBlil. AUWSI W79.

&£"-";.

63V

e»'

^^^''

^^^

}^-

e^^i\^

hrh H12345678 Km

&29°45-

SABINE ^^

.S^

^.«5^

^'

29°30—

Page 12: Ecological Characterization Study Chenier Plain Texas Louisiana vol. 3
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PLATE 5

A

CANALS AND POINT SOURCE DISCHARGES

LEGEND

INDUSTRIAl AND MUNfCIPALPOrNT SOURCE DISCHARGES

OguIF oil CO port ARTHUR REFINERY

©TEXACO INC.PORT ARTHUR PLANT

©JEFFERSON CHEMICAL CO INC-PORT NECHES PLANT

©NECHES BUTANE©TEXACO INC PORT NECHES

©AMERIPOL INC

©PURE OIL CO BEAUMONT REFINERY

©GULF STATES UTIL CO -SABINE POWER STATION

©BRITISH PETROLELJM CORP -PORT ARTHUR REFINERY

©JEFFERSON COUNTY-FWSDI

©PORT ARTHUR-MAIN PLANT

©PORT ARTHUR LAKESIDE PARK

©GROVES. CITY OF SOUTH PLANT

©GROVES, CITY OF NORTH PLANT

©PORT NECHES

©JEFFERSON COUNTY WCID9 EAST PORT NECHES

CANALS

'

Page 14: Ecological Characterization Study Chenier Plain Texas Louisiana vol. 3
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Page 19: Ecological Characterization Study Chenier Plain Texas Louisiana vol. 3

PLATE 38

CHENIER PLAIN HABITAT GROUPS

CD

-''.''Jf^' Grand

Page 20: Ecological Characterization Study Chenier Plain Texas Louisiana vol. 3
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PLATE 4B

LEGEND

CHENIER PLAIN WETLAND HABITATS

I I NON-WETLAND HABITATS

""SALT MARSH -i'!!i::<;rrJ.''.°',n:.';"M" r:i°rv:3'btr:s°r™v.?^:;r-^„5Vcr-,°:ir'''''"- ^-i:^^ °"-'""°i-with loltgratt

[Diitichlii tpicotol

CZZl BRACKISH MARSH tT.'oul™"'""'""'' °

EZ] INTERMEDIATE MARSH Z[Sogittorio folcoto), and

itiocioled imoll pondt dominotad by »oltm«odow cordgrc8«nefolly leit fhon 10%^

3<n5'-I.

[Sporlino pofnl)

,k.. ond o..<,ti=l.d .moll pond,, p„;,Hi„||, (|„„d.d -ilk „.p,|, F,.,^ .„,.,Illy by brocliiih -ol.r Do»,.„i,d by .ollm.odo. iprdgroii. bulHongui

con*(Pofticuiw hamitam

idti)

iihore pQipol

FRESH MARSH -r"''^" (i»od.d by i,.,h ,oi.r, cr^d with o di..,,, iic,„ d,„i„„i.d bT^FKCOn IVlMKOn bulllona.,.. .nd .lli8olp,-.,d |*ll.,npnih.,o pl,il...„ij..°

IMPr^l IMnpn U< a I?C^M T°"';."' ^"ound'd by dlk.,. ipoil boftki, 0. notutpl l«v««» thot modify normal (loodine ThMO oiltiIMfUUINUtU MAKbM m .oU. lo f,..h or.o. Th.y mo, b. p„m„„..,| flood.d o. pomp.d dry. b>,i oil or. dommol.d">!' "'""" •'"•'8»"' "Ollond .ogelolion |o, oppo.id lo impoui>d«d osrkullurol londl-

^m SWAMP FOREST ";:',:V^'~,1^l°'''''""• " "^ '""""> "^ ^''''y--" "'"''>•"• '•'"-''

>ond

BASIN BOUNDARY

CHABIE. a., K. 1'

aWlACTItllSTlCS OF tH£ LOUISUWA O:CCI1.TV1UL EXmiMEVT SI«T10H Bl1.Lmil tu.

'/EWnCAIION BKI. CHASuac AKD LOUISIANA STAtt uvivnsirr cbrhUCTUKD MSOOICE ^DMIOIEL.

. Jt-, AJTO

1«7I. orvUDUXDriAL ttOLOCIC A— " ""

TBS. jojls coastal icm, ulviston-Houston uu.cwuxrt. UWIVUSIT1 OF tixas a:

AusnH.

FUFAUD rod vszttD stats ?

QiAUmuzATiaH ?unisuiu AHii Tvuii.

3tfD0—

1 2 3 4 5Mi

hrh-T'-rV-r'-T—

I

2 4 6 8Km

Page 22: Ecological Characterization Study Chenier Plain Texas Louisiana vol. 3
Page 23: Ecological Characterization Study Chenier Plain Texas Louisiana vol. 3

PLATE 56

CANALS AND POINT SOURCE DISCHARGESLEGEND

INDUSTRIAL AND MUNICIPALPOINT SOURCE DISCHARGES©AMOCO PROD CO-

©GULF PROD CO.

©STEED FISH CO.

©ZAPATA PROTEIN

©GULF MENHADEN CO©LOUISIANA MENHADEN CO.©HUNT OIL CO©AMOCO PROD CO©TEXAS PACIFIC OIL CRUDE PROD.

©AMOCO PROD CO.

©OUN CORP BRINE PROD.

©SHELL OIL CRUDE PROD.

©AMOCO PROD. CO.©TEXACO-WELLS

©AMOCO PROD CO®GULF OIL WELLS

©AMOCO PROD CO-

©GULF COAST ALUMINUM®W R. GRACE INC

®PPG INDUSTRIES

©CITIES SERVICE POWERHOUSE©HERCULES INC

©CERTAIN-TEED INC

©BIG THREE IND

©MOBIL OIL-WELLS

©CONTINENTAL CARBON®KCS RAILWAY©IDEAL CEMENT>PG INDUSTRIES

_ DRESSER INC.

®CONT OIL REFINERY

©SERVICE ICE CO.

®OLIN CORP.

®UKE CHARLES 6&C©HOLLYWOOD®WEST LAKE

©LAKE CHARLES A(©LOUISIANA MUD CO INC.

©DRESSER MAGCOBAR©TENNESSEE GAS PIPEUNE CO©CONTINENTAL OIL CO©AMOCO PRODUCTION CO©AMOCO PRODUCTION CO.©TEXACO INC.

©SEA COAST PRODUCTS©PHILLIPS PETROLEUM CO.©SHELL OIL CO©SUPERIOR OIL CO-LOWRY GAS PLANT©AMOCO PRODUCTION CO

Page 24: Ecological Characterization Study Chenier Plain Texas Louisiana vol. 3
Page 25: Ecological Characterization Study Chenier Plain Texas Louisiana vol. 3

ARCHEOlOGICALIireS

HTE DEKDimOII

CALCAS/e^P^V^^ SAS/A/

ftepyct

^eNTAo

Grand

/.a/te

•16*\V

'^'T

*AS-

o

^/^

191 .razj"

^ft

^^-rr*

'^l.x-l

A'AV^4

Ut

^IN

COLON! VECIES VREIEMT lETD COMMOH *ND SCIENTIFIC NU

Wh/fe /.aJke

S

f

PLATE 6B

SPECIAL FEATURES

LEGEND

153

• ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES

•" BIRD NESTING COLONIES

OYSTER REEFS

CEOSCIBa TOSBK. AgOffiOLOGICAL SITES tK 03ASTU.LOUIS [«N«.s?oa;. c. TMAi ucHEO")cic«- msewoi uuoi^iow.ITNIVlMm 01 ICUS AT UISTW.

BIRD NRSTIMC CDLCW DAT* TAICDl FROM THE ttXAS COUWIM.UATSII tlW Casn 19)l-l97b. TEM3 FAMLS AJTO inLELireDEPAITWEKT. 1911, ,* BP. SER. IS. WO POBTKOT . J.W.i9?7. msTwc cotoiiES or seabimjs mo wadwc >iw>s,C0A5IM. ICDISIMi laiSISSIFPl MID AULUKA. U.3, nSBAn uiunin SDvia. ivs/obs - 7i/o'.

OTSTI* MET lOOUICBS HOB LOUISIAXA l/lLOUfl AKDnSREUEs, niAS rocs add recreation, ahd oiEnn, r.a. .

1»M. COOPERMIYI GULF OF MEKICO E.— ~SmjDt — TEIA3; iiIIA ceSCWPTIOS. U.SCDWttlta, BOAAIlOi. (ten. HWS CIK-Jl» p.

JRDARID mil IrtllB STATIS PISH AND UILDLIFE 5E»VICI. AKECOLOCICAL CHUUmuZAIIO!' STUDT OF TTU CKiyiEX PUIHCOASTAL iconnEKor lodisu«a axd tuas.

FWS/OM-Il/lI. JWDsr 1979.

STATE

WILDLIFE REFUGE

/cai-

"fe?*-

^>/£R 8ASIM

12 3 4 5Mi

1 I 'l l' I 'l I

'I I

2 4 6 8 Km

sens—

30°00—

29°45-

29°30-

Page 26: Ecological Characterization Study Chenier Plain Texas Louisiana vol. 3
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Page 28: Ecological Characterization Study Chenier Plain Texas Louisiana vol. 3

Biological Services Program

FWS/OBS-78/11

August 1979

COLLECTIOinI

An Ecological Characterization Study of the

Chenier Plain Coastal Ecosystem of

Louisiana and Texas

VOLUME III

ATLAS

Interagency Energy-Environment Research and Development Program

OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENTU.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

AND

Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

MBL/WHCl

D 0301 003flE3fl fl