Use of Geographic Information Systems to examine cumulative impacts of development on Mobile Bay, AL and Galveston Bay, TX

Conference · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Environmental Professional; (United States)

OSTI ID:6021460

Rosigno, P F ^[1]; McNiff, M E ^[2]; Watzin, M C ^[3]; Ji, W ^[4]

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1. Minerals Management Service, New Orleans, LA (United States)
2. Fish and Wildlife Service, Lafayette, LA (United States)
3. Fish and Wildlife Service, Burlington, VT (United States)
4. TGS Technology, Inc., Lafayette, LA (United States)

Databases from Mobile Bay, Alabama and Galveston Bay, Texas were compiled using ARC/INFO Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to examine the cumulative impacts from urbanization and industrialization on these two Gulf of Mexico estuaries. The databases included information on wetland habitats, pollution sources, metal contamination, bird-nesting sites, and oyster reefs, among others. A series of maps were used to represent the impacts within and between each ecosystem. These two estuaries share many similarities in the types of developmental pressures that each experience. However, difference in the magnitude of industrial activity, pollution loading, and urban growth coupled with distinct hydrodynamic and geochemical differences in sediment mineralogy, freshwater inflows and salinity regimens results in differing responses. With growing human population and extensive oil and gas development, the demands on Galveston Bay are quite different than those placed on Mobile Bay which has lower growth and less extensive oil and gas infrastructure. Mobile Bay tends to retain whatever contamination enters into the system because of the high levels of clay and organic carbon found in its sediment. Some of these chemicals bioaccumulate, posing an extra risk to natural resources. Geographic Information Systems provide natural resource managers with the technology to manage complex databases. The analytical and mapping capabilities of GIS can be used to consider cumulative effects in a regional context and to develop plans to protect ecologically sensitive areas.

• OSTI ID: 6021460
• Report Number(s): CONF-930523--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Environmental Professional; (United States) Journal Volume: Supplement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020900* -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
03 NATURAL GAS
030800 -- Natural Gas-- Environmental Aspects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ALABAMA
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
ATLANTIC OCEAN
BAYS
CARIBBEAN SEA
COASTAL WATERS
DATA BASE MANAGEMENT
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ECOSYSTEMS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
ESTUARIES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GULF OF MEXICO
HABITAT
INFORMATION SYSTEMS
MANAGEMENT
MAPPING
METALS
NATURAL GAS
NORTH AMERICA
PETROLEUM
POLLUTION
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
TEXAS
USA
WATER POLLUTION