Browsing by Author "White, W.A."
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Item Decline of submerged vegetation in the Galveston Bay system: chronology and relationships to physical processes(University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology, 1990) Pulich, W.M.; White, W.A.;A completed study examines major regions of Galveston Bay where submerged halophytes have declined since the 1950's and compares them with nearby remaining sites where plants still persist. The approach involved compilation and analysis of active processes and hydrologic data, which could affect distribution and abundance of rooted estuarine plants. After the SV distribution at different time periods was mapped, physical and hydrologic factors were analyzed in an attempt to establish the processes contributing to impacts on SV habitats.Item Decline of submerged vegetation in the Galveston Bay system: chronology and relationships to physical processes(Coastal Education and Research Foundation, 1991) Pulich, W.M.; White, W.A.; Journal of Coastal ResearchChanges in submerged vascular plant distribution since the 1950's were documented for the Galveston Bay system (excluding the Trinity River delta proper) using aerial photographs and substantiated field reports. Two major regions were compared with nearby sites where vegetation persists. Along the upper bay shoreline, evidence is presented for involvement of Hurricane Carla (1961) and a relative rise in sea level due to subsidence, which resulted in the disappearance of Ruppia maritima beds between 1960 and 1962. In the lower bay (West Bay), mixed beds of R. maritima and Halodule wrightii declined steadily from the 1950's and disappeared by the early 1980's. This area contrasts with Christmas Bay, a secondary protected bay 5 to 7 km south that still contains extensive beds of H. wrightii and small patches of Thalassi testudinum and Halophila engelmanni. In West Bay, urban development, wastewater discharges, chemical spills, and dredging activities, rather than subsidence and Hurricane Carla, are suspected as the principal deleterious agents. Similarities between submerged vegetation declines in Galveston and other bays systems are discussed.Item Distribution of wetlands and benthic macroinvertebrates, submerged lands of Texas, Corpus Christi area(University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology, 1983) White, W.A.; Schmedes, K.E.; Calnan, T.R.; Kimble, R.S.; Littleton, T.G.; Hartmann, B.M.; Scranton, D.F.Item Distribution of wetlands and benthic macroinvertebrates, submerged lands of Texas, Galveston-Houston area(University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology, 1985) White, W.A.; Schmedes, K.E.; Calnan, T.R.; Kimble, R.S.; Littleton, T.G.; Hartmann, B.M.; Dillon, R.L.Item Distribution of wetlands and benthic macroinvertebrates, submerged lands of Texas, Port Lavaca area(University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology, 1989) White, W.A.; Kimble, R.S.; Calnan, T.R.; Littleton, T.G.; Hartmann, B.M.; Dillon, R.L.Item Environmental analysis of geopressured - geothermal prospect areas, Brazoria and Kenedy Counties, Texas.(University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology, 1978) White, W.A.; McGraw, M.; Gustavson, T.C.;Preliminary environmental data, including current land use, substrate lithology, soils, natural hazards, water resources, biological assemblages, meteorological data, and regulatory considerations have been collected and analyzed for approximately 150 km exp 2 of land: (1) near Chocolate Bayou, Brazoria County, Texas, where a geopressured/geothermal test well was drilled in 1978, and (2) near the rural community of Armstrong, Kenedy County, Texas where future geopressured/geothermal test well development may occur. The study was designed to establish an environmental data base and to determine, within spatial constraints set by subsurface reservoir conditions, environmentally suitable sites for geopressured geothermal wells.Item Establishment of operational guidelines for Texas coastal zone management. Resource capability units II: Land resources of the Coastal Bend region, Texas. Final report.(University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology., 1974) Kier, R.S.; White, W.A.; Fisher, W.L.;Establishment of operational guidelines for effective management of the Texas Coastal Zone depends on comprehensive knowledge of the characteristics and distribution of natural and man-made environments. Forty-three land and water areas, each with like capabilities to withstand similar kinds and rates of use or activity without losing an acceptable level of environmental quality, have been delineated in the region encompassed by the Coastal Bend Council of Governments. Qualitative data on land and water capability derived from mapping surface and near surface environments in the 13 counties of the COG have been augmented by: (1) documenting the kinds, rates, and impetus of changes in dynamic shorline environments; (2) relating to physically defined land capability units of four of the counties; and (3) determining the distribution, amount, and quality of ground water available in the Coastal Bend region, and areas most favorable for future development of ground water resources. Additional information has been gathered on subsurface configuration of natural capability units and mineral resources in the region. This body of environmental data provided a basis for developing operational criteria against which the consequences of man's activities, future economic demographic growth, and the effects of potential management policies were measured. Procedures used to evaluate the consequences of growth in the Corpus Christi area and the effects of implementing three land management policies in the Coastal Zone are discussed in a companion report: Environmental impact of Economic and Demographic Expansion in the Corpus Christi Area -- Methodology.Item Evaluation of marsh creation and restoration projects and their potential for large-scale application, Galveston-Trinity Bay system(Bureau of Economic Geology, University of Texas at Austin: Texas: General Land Office, Coastal Division, 1998) White, W.A.; Calnan, T.R.; Morton, R.A.;This project used detailed field surveys to inventory and evaluate wetland restoration, enhancement, and creation projects in terms of their original design criteria, objectives, physical characteristics, hydrology, geomorphology, site stability, vegetation, and the potential for large-scale application. The objective was to evaluate and synthesize criteria considered important for the successful accomplishment of large-scale restoration and creation projects. Analyses of land surface profiles and vegetation characteristics indicate that the fill, and fill and shape sites had achieved densest foliar coverage with percentages ranging in the 60s. Scrape-down sites had percentages in the 40s. Frequently inundated organically-rich muds seemed to have the most potential for relatively rapid growth and development of vegetation.Item Fluvial-Estuarine Sedimentation, Texas Gulf Coast - Literature Synthesis(Bureau of Economic Geology, University of Texas at Austin, 1988) Calnan, T.R.; White, W.A.This report, which is a synthesis of published and unpublished data that focuses on fluvial-deltaic and estuarine sedimentation, and associated interactive processes, is part of a study funded by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Texas Water Development Board with funds allocated by the Texas Legislature for comprehensive studies of the effects of freshwater inflows on the bays and estuaries of Texas. Another phase of this project involves field studies of the Trinity and Colorado River deltas to investigate, among other processes, current rates of sedimentation (aggradation) in deltaic marshes (White and Calnan, in preparation).Item Historical shoreline changes in the Galveston Bay and San Antonio Bay systems, Texas Gulf Coast.(University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology, 1983) Morton, R.A.; Paine, J.G.; White, W.A.;Changes in shoreline position and stability in the Galveston and San Antonio Bay systems since the late 1800's were documented using historical monitoring techniques. This is accomplished by comparing shorelines from topographic charts (dated 1850 to 1869) and aerial photographs (taken in 199-37, 1956-57, 1974, and 1982), measuring the magnitude (distance) of shoreline movement at specific sites, and calculating the rates of change for particular time periods (late 1800's to 1930's, 1930's to 1982, and late 1800's to 1982). Geological interpretations of the maps and photographs are used in conjunction with meteorological data and historical records to explain the important trends revealed in the tabulated shoreline data. Unprotected sediments forming the margins of these bays are subjected to natural coastal processes and modified by human activities that together cause shoreline movement. These unstabilized shorelines include high, nearly vertical clay bluffs, moderate slopes composed mainly of sand, salt-water marshes, sand and shell beaches, and newly formed areas filled by dredged material. Composition of the shoreline material and orientation of the shoreline with respect to prevailing wind directions and wave fetch largely determine the response and consequent movement of the shoreline. In some areas, property owners have attempted to stabilize the shoreline and prevent further movement by building seawalls and bulkheads and using riprap to dissipate wave energy. Factors contributing to shoreline changes include (1) regional and worldwide climate, (2) local changes in relative sea-level position, (3) local alterations insediment supply, (4) storm frequency and intensity, and (5) human activities. Historical data compiled for these various factors indicate that warming temperatures, rising sea level, decreasing sediment supply, recurring severe storms, and ongoing human activities all favor continued erosion of most unprotected bay shorelines.Item A numerical model for the simulation of tidal hydrodynamics in shallow irregular estuaries.(University of Texas, Hydraulic Engineering Laboratory, 1969) Masch, F.D., Jr.; Shankar, N.J.; Jeffrey, M.; Brandes, R.J.; White, W.A.;Working under the assumption of complete vertical mixing, a two-dimensional time dependent model is described which provides spatial and temporal variations of tidal flows and amplitudes. The model accounts for various physiographic features found in shallow estuaries, variable inflows, low tidal action, and other hydrologic characteristics. The model further provides for the inclusion of wind stress and Coriolis forces. The basic outputs from the model are the time histories of tidal amplitude and velocity in each of two spatial coordinate directions. Data that can be obtained from the model include phase relations, time of flood, ebb, and slack tides, net flows, circulation patterns, tidal excursions, and tidal prisms. The model is designed in such a manner that its basic output serves as direct input to a convective-dispersion model. Although dispersion modelling is not discussed in this report, the interface between these two models is described where appropriate, as the output from the tidal hydrodynamic model is determined in part by the requirements for convective-dispersion or transport models.Item Preliminary Assessment of Nonfuel Minerals on the Texas Continental Shelf. Final report prepared for Louisiana Geological Survey, Louisiana State University, under Minerals Management Service contract no. 14-12-0001-30404,by the Bureau of Economic Geology at the University of Texas at Austin. 66p.(1998) Paine, J.G.; Morton, R.A.; White, W.A.;No abstract availableItem Preliminary environmental analysis of a geopressured-geothermal test well in Brazoria County, Texas.(U.S. Department of Energy., 1977) White, W.A.; McGraw, M.; Gustavson, T.C.; Third Geopressured Geothermal Energy Conference Proceedings. Volume 2.No abstract availableItem State submerged lands of Texas--sediments, geochemistry, benthic macroinvertebrates, and associated wetlands.(American Society of Civil Engineers., 1989) White, W.A.; Calnan, T.R.; Morton, R.A.; Kimble, R.S.; Littleton, T.G.; O.T. Magoon, and H. Converse; Coastal Zone '83: Proceedings of the Third Symposium on Coastal and Ocean Management. Volume IV. San Diego, California, June 1-4, 1983.No abstract availableItem Submerged lands of Texas, Bay City-Freeport area: sediments, geochemistry, benthic macroinvertebrates, and associated wetlands.(University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology., 1988) White, W.A.;No abstract availableItem Submerged lands of Texas, Beaumont-Port Arthur area: sediments, geochemistry, benthic macroinvertebrates, and associated wetlands. Special publication.(University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology., 1987) White, W.A.; Calnan, T.R.; Morton, R.A.; Kimble, R.S.; Littleton, T.G.; McGowen, J.H.; Nance, H.S.;No abstract availableItem Submerged lands of Texas, Galveston - Houston area: sediments, geochemistry, benthic macroinvertebrates, and associated wetlands(University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology, 1985) White, W.A.; Calnan, T.R.; Morton, R.A.; Kimble, R.S.; Littleton, T.G.; McGowen, J.H.; Nance, H.S.; Schmedes, K.E.;Surface sediment textures, sediment geochemistry, and benthic fauna of the State-owned submerged lands were mapped and described using bottom samples collected at 1-mi (1.6-km) intervals from bays, estuaries, and lagoons and from the inner continental shelf. In addition, the distribution of wetlands in adjacent areas was mapped using color-infrared photographs taken in 1979.Item Submergence of wetlands as a result of human-induced subsidence and faulting along the upper Texas Gulf coast.(1995) White, W.A.; Tremblay, T.A.; Journal of Coastal ResearchTwo major contributing factors to wetland loss in the northern Gulf of Mexico are faulting and subsidence. Thousands of hectares of wetlands have been converted to either open water or shallow subaqueous flats since the 1930's. Large wetland losses have occurred in the Galveston Bay area. The major contributing factor to these losses is human-induced subsidence caused by ground-water withdrawal. Other factors include localized faulting and subsidence due to hydrocarbon production. These factors contribute to relative sea level rise which exceeds wetland vertical accretion. Much needed sediment deposition has been stopped by upstream dams and reservoirs. This deposition would help to offset subsidence.Item Texas Shoreline Change Project. Gulf of Mexico Shoreline Change from Brazos to Pass Cavallo(2000) Gibeaut, J.C.; White, W.A.; Hepner, T.; Gutierrez, R.; Tremblay, T.A.; Smyth, R.; Andrews, J.L.No abstract availableItem Textural and geochemical relationships in benthic sediments in three bay-estuary-lagoon systems in Texas(Offshore Technology Conference, 1985) White, W.A.; Proceedings of the 1985 Offshore Technology ConferenceAnalyses of hundreds of benthic sediment samples collected as part of an extensive inventory of Texas coastal submerged lands have provided data for textural and geochemical characterization of these stems of Galveston and Corpus Christi bays.