Estuarine marsh loss in Mississippi, 1956-1985

Meyer-Arendt, Klaus J. (author)

Mlsslsslppl Geology

0275-8555

9

4

9

11

1989

A mapping project was conducted in 1988 to closely examine ongoing habitat changes in Mississippi's wetlands and to update an earlier U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service study. As a pilot project for an expanded coastal mapping project, nine topographic quadrangles encompassing the estuarine marshes of St. Louis Bay, Back Bay of Biloxi, and their tributary streams were selected for detailed analysis. Habitat interpretations of 1956 black-and-white photographs were compared with similar interpretations of 1985 U.S.G.S. color infrared imagery. Computer digitization of the habitat interpretations produced the measurements of habitat changes as well as the final cartographic images. Comparison of the 1955 and 1985 data reveals that the estuarine wetlands have been reduced by 15.6% since the late 1950's - from 15,300 acres to 12,900 acres. Of the 2,400 acres of wetland lost, 1,400 acres (58.7%) were directly converted to development (largely recreational subdivisions), 620 acres (25.8%) became open water (both via shore or bank erosion as well as canalization), and 370 acres were subjected to spoil deposition.

uwf:23013