Wetland elevation and soil characteristics across Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge (2020-2021)
Dates
Publication Date
2022-12-23
Time Period
2020-12-15
Time Period
2021-02-06
Citation
Groseclose, G.N., Patton, B.A., Mize, S.V., and Swarzenski, C.M., 2022, Wetland elevation and soil characteristics across Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge (2020-2021): U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9Q3FXQM.
Summary
The recent completion of the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System (HSDRRS) for New Orleans has effectively blocked surface water exchange between Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge (BSNWR) and the surrounding Lake(s) Pontchartrain and Borgne and the Gulf of Mexico to which it was once connected. Monitoring changes in hydrology, water quality, bird habitat variability, and resident waterbird and nekton communities within BSNWR is important to the long-term sustainability of these aquatic resources for use by visitors and aquatic life in these habitats. In particular, landscape and hydrologic modifications from management and restoration projects in southeastern Louisiana have led to [...]
Summary
The recent completion of the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System (HSDRRS) for New Orleans has effectively blocked surface water exchange between Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge (BSNWR) and the surrounding Lake(s) Pontchartrain and Borgne and the Gulf of Mexico to which it was once connected. Monitoring changes in hydrology, water quality, bird habitat variability, and resident waterbird and nekton communities within BSNWR is important to the long-term sustainability of these aquatic resources for use by visitors and aquatic life in these habitats. In particular, landscape and hydrologic modifications from management and restoration projects in southeastern Louisiana have led to areas of impounded and unimpounded marshland which can greatly affect soil characteristics. Understanding the differences in soil characteristics among impounded and unimpounded areas can provide information on habitat health, structure, and function, making it crucial to assess soil responses to hydrologic management practices. Triplicate 40x10cm cores were collected at six marsh sites, three impounded and three unimpounded, in BSNWR in 2020 and 2021 to assess the variation of soil bulk density and soil organic matter between three impounded and unimpounded areas. Cores were collected at least five meters from any edge in a section of the marsh with representative local vegetation. Excessive debris on the soil surface was removed prior to coring. Elevation of sites were also determined using Real-Time Kinematics (RTK) to determine the extent of flooding and water depth of each site.
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Purpose
This data release contains soil and elevation data collected as part of investigation of bird marsh habitats in Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge in southeastern Louisiana. Both soil cores and elevation data were collected across three impounded and unimpounded sites. Soil samples were collected in triplicates to a depth of 40cm and analyzed for bulk density and percent soil organic matter (loss on ignition). Elevation data was collected for the determination of marsh and water surface elevations within each marsh type and used to identify the distributions of bird habitats.
Rights
Acknowledgement of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Lower Mississippi Gulf - Water Science Center (LMG-WSC) as a data source would be appreciated in products developed from these data. Such acknowledgement as is standard for citation and legal practices for data sources is expected by users of these data. Sharing new data layers developed directly from the data would be appreciated by the LMG-WSC staff. Users should be aware that comparison with other datasets for the same area from other time periods may be inaccurate because of inconsistencies resulting from changes in mapping conventions, data collection procedures, and computer processes over time. These data have been approved for release by the USGS. Although these data have been subjected to rigorous review and are substantially complete, the USGS reserves the right to revise the data pursuant to further analysis and review. Furthermore, these data are released on condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government shall be held liable for any damages resulting from its authorized or unauthorized use. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
