Effects of shoreline erosion in Galveston Bay, Texas

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dc.acquisition-srcDownloaded from-Conference Papers Indexen_US
dc.call-noAcc. #51471en_US
dc.contract-noen_US
dc.contributor.authorNailon RWen_US
dc.contributor.authorSeidensticker ELen_US
dc.contributor.editorBolton, HSen_US
dc.contributor.otherSymposium on Coastal and Ocean Management, 7th, 1991, Long Beach, CAen_US
dc.date.accessioned2010-02-15T17:19:29Z
dc.date.available2010-02-15T17:19:29Z
dc.date.issued1991en_US
dc.degreeen_US
dc.descriptionpgs. 193-206en_US
dc.description-otheren_US
dc.description.abstractThe shoreline of Trinity Bay and East Galveston Bay, Texas, is eroding at an average annual rate of four feet. Land losses to these coastal properties will continue unless low-cost, effective measures are developed and implemented for shoreline erosion control and wetland habitat enhancement. Once established, smooth cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora Lois, provides an effective means of shoreline erosion protection. The Trinity Bay Soil and Water Conservation District and the Texas A&M University Marine Advisory Service initiated a project in 1985 to study the impacts of shoreline erosion and test cost-effective, vegetative erosion control measures in Galveston Bay, Texas. Smooth cordgrass was transplanted in four sites along the affeted shoreline and adjacent coastal waters for erosion abatement and re-creation of valuable wetland habitats. To date, approximately 1825 meters of shoreline has been vegetatively treated. Turbidity levels were measured during high and low erosion conditions. Sediment accretion was also measured within the study area. Relative abundance of fish species was documented by site during the study. Transplant survival rates varied from 60-70 percent. New shoot development seemed to depend on the care of the transplant stock. More work needs to be done in selecting disease resistant strains of smooth cordgrass and in plant genetics. Turbidity levels were highest during severe erosion conditions during the study. Average sediment accretion as a result of the newly-established stands of cordgrass was 0.14 m in each site. Results of this study indicate that marine organisms readlily utilize the artificially-created smooth cordgrass colonies within the study area. A significant difference in relative abundance of catch was noted between an unvegetated site and a vegetated site (12.7 percent versus 87.3 percent). Predominant species found during both sampling periods were white shrimp, Gulf menhaden, and striped mullet. Technical assistance was provided by the Soil Conversation Service, Texas Agricultural Extension Service, and the Texas A&M University Sea Grant College Program. Funding was provided through grants from The Moody Foundation, The Brown Foundation Inc., and the Texas A&M University Sea Grant College Program.en_US
dc.description.urihttp://gbic.tamug.edu/request.htmen_US
dc.geo-codeGalveston Bayen_US
dc.geo-codeTrinity Bayen_US
dc.geo-codeEast Bayen_US
dc.historyen_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1969.3/23782
dc.latitudeen_US
dc.locationGBIC Collection Filesen_US
dc.longitudeen_US
dc.notesSeventh Symposium on Coastal and Ocean Management, Long Beach, CA (USA)Availability: Coastal Zone 91, P.O. Box 279, 21000 Butts Canyon Road, Middletown, CA 95461, USA. Telephone: (707) 987-0114. Fax: (707) 987-9351. Telex: 510-600-7055en_US
dc.placeNew York, NYen_US
dc.publisherAmerican Society of Civil Engineersen_US
dc.relation.ispartofseries51471.00en_US
dc.relation.urien_US
dc.scaleen_US
dc.seriesCoastlines of the worlden_US
dc.subjectshoreline erosionen_US
dc.titleEffects of shoreline erosion in Galveston Bay, Texasen_US
dc.typeChapteren_US
dc.universityen_US
dc.vol-issueN/Aen_US

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