Assessing the condition of bayous and estuaries: Bayou Chico Gulf of Mexico demonstration study

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:211945

Dickson, K; Acevedo, M; Waller, T; Kennedy, J; Simons, J ^[1]; Mayer, F; Lewis, M ^[2]; Walker, W ^[3]; Ammann, L ^[4]

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1. Univ. of North Texas, Denton, TX (United States). Environmental Science Program
2. Environmental Research Lab., Gulf Breeze, FL (United States)
3. Univ. of Southern Mississippi, Ocean Springs, MS (United States). Gulf Coast Research Lab.
4. Univ. of Texas, Richardson, TX (United States). Dept. of Statistics

A demonstration study was conducted in May 1994 on Bayou Chico to assess the utility of various assessment and measurement endpoints in determining the condition of bayous and estuaries. Bayou Chico has water quality problems attributed to its low flushing rate and urban/industrial land use in its watershed. The sampling scheme assessed the within-sampling station and spatial variability of measurement endpoints. Fourteen sampling stations in Bayou Chico and 3 stations in Pensacola Bay were selected based on an intensified EMAP sampling grid. Time and space coordinated sampling was conducted for: sediment contaminants and properties, sediment toxicity, water quality, benthic infauna, zooplankton and phytoplankton populations. Fish and crabs were also collected and analyzed for a suite of biomarkers and organic chemical residues. Primary productivity was measured via the light bottle dark bottle oxygen method and via diurnal oxygen measurements made with continuous recording data sondes. Stream sites were evaluated for water and sediment quality, water and sediment toxicity, benthic invertebrates and fish. Watershed analyses included assessment of land use/landcover (via SPOT and TM images), soils, pollution sources (point and non-point) and hydrography. These data were coordinated via an Arc/Info GIS system for display and spatial analysis. 1994 survey data were used to parameterize environmental fate models such as SWMM (Storm Water Management Model), DYNHYD5 (WASP5 hydrodynamics model) and WASP5 (Water Quality Analysis Simulation Program) to make predictions about the dynamics and fate of chemical contaminants in Bayou Chico. This paper will present an overview, and report on the results in regards to within-site and spatial variability in Bayou Chico. Conclusions on the efficacy of the assessment and measurement endpoints in evaluating the condition (health) of Bayou Chico will be presented.

• OSTI ID: 211945
• Report Number(s): CONF-9511137--; ISBN 1-880611-03-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
CRABS
DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ESTUARIES
FISHES
FORECASTING
GULF OF MEXICO
INFORMATION SYSTEMS
MONITORING
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
S CODES
SENSITIVITY
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
TOXICITY
W CODES
WATER POLLUTION