Biloxi Marsh Testing Ground
The design proposal for the Biloxi Marsh seeks to bring about a stronger base of data for oyster barrier reef technologies and implementation strategies while providing public access to give users a sense of the importance of the land that is being lost throughout Louisiana and how it can be combatted.
Biloxi Marsh: An Oyster Barrier Reef Testing Ground Biloxi Marsh, Louisiana Kyle Smith, Jacky Wah
Ecology
The Biloxi Marsh is a very productive part of the Louisiana coastline and is valuable both ecologically and economically. As a brackish to saline marsh, it is a nursery and home for many types of economically important marine life such as fish, shrimp, crab, and oyster. Not only it valuable to marine life but it is also a very important refuge for seabirds. One study done by S.W.A.M.P found that the Biloxi Marsh site had 87 nesting seabirds on it. The environmental factors that make this type of habitat possible also allows for the establishment of oyster barrier reefs. The salinity level of the area falls within the optimal range of 5 to 25 parts per thousand, the depth of the area averaging around 6 feet deep also is optimal for oyster habitation and growth. The area has historically been a significant area for oyster production and oyster reefs are still present today furthering proving the viability of this area to be a great opportunity for the establishment of more oyster barrier reefs.
Degredation
This valuable area is very vulnerable, data from 1932 to 2010 shows that the area has been steadily losing land. This conversion of land to open shallow water is a huge problem for the wildlife that depend on the marshland and furthermore the economy that depends on the wildlife. As land is lost less area is available for the seabirds to nest on and for marine life, the simplification of the habitat leaves the juvenile fish more vulnerable to predation. Oil spills and hurricanes have already left their marks on the marsh, and with projected climate change the strength and frequency of hurricanes and storm surges will increase.
Intervention
The installation of the oyster barrier reefs along the outer edge of Biloxi Marsh can help combat these forces and continued sediment loss as well as provide many more benefits to the ecosystem. The oyster reefs function as a barrier that attenuates incoming waves is the main reason it is being employed by the CPRA in Biloxi Marsh. A study done on Reef Balls, a concrete foundation for oyster reefs, by the Reef Ball Foundation found that four rows of reef balls alone were able to decrease the height of a wave by 61% and this number would increase as the oysters grow and reinforce the reef balls. With the decrease in wave energy the marsh would be more stabilized and the land loss would slow. The stabilization of the shoreline allows for further stabilization of the land by vegetation. Aside from its wave attenuating abilities, the oyster reefs provide other benefits to the ecosystem. They act as filters; one oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water, cleaning the water of nitrogen, sediments, algae, and other pollutants. The reproduction of the oysters on the reef also provides an enormous food source for the environment with studies from the habitat index model stating that oyster larvae may make up 50% of the planktonic volume during spawning season. This mass spawning also sends out more recruits that help to build oyster reefs in the surrounding areas.
Oyster Reef Restoration : habitat preservation
.567 acr 125 es
204.707 acr es
case study: Biloxi Marsh
87 Brackish Marsh Salt Marsh
nesting sea birds found on the site in S.W.A.M.P. study
High population of sport fish such as Red Drum and Spotted Seatrout
Historic Oyster Reefs
18 shrimp boat counts/day 11 square miles of productive area
2 oyster boat counts/day 0.2 square miles of productive area
Source: Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation
1- 10 ft depth of water
Chandeleur Sound
Lake Borgne
5-25 ppt salinity
0
10 20
2009-10
2008-09
2006-08
2004-06
2002-04
1998-99
1999-2002
1995-98
1990-95
1988-90
1985-88
Areas Highly Susceptible to Erosion
1977-85
Hurricane Katrina 2005 4,617 acres loss from 2001-2005
1975-77
2000- 2009
1973-75
1975- 2000
1956-73
1932- 1975 1965 construction of MRGO deprives Biloxi Marsh of sediment
1932-56
30
Persistent land loss in 1932 to 2010 is -179.25 square miles
Site analysis of the Biloxi Marsh looking at its present ecological conditions, degredation, and future interventions Filtration
50 gallons of water per day per oyster
Free swimming larvae provide food for marine organisms
61% wave height even without oyster fortification
Larvae
50% of planktonic volume made out of oyster larvae dering sprawning season
Fishes
Seabirds
Wave Attenuation Wave attenuation is one of the most important function carried out by oyster barrier reefs in the Mississippi delta. It is becuase of wave action that the coast is eroding away. Although wave action is typical in this area, areas such as the Biloxi Marsh that have lost their ability to gain land from the outflow of river sediment now only have the option of loosing land. Oyster reefs act as a a barrier to wave action thus lessenng the strength and size of incoming wave and the rate of erosion on the land they are protecting. unlike ea alls and break waters which typically perform this function, oyster barrier reefs have the ability to grow in size and keep pace with rising sea levels. Not only do they have the ability to reduce erosion rates but they can also help add land as well by allowing sediment to drop behind the reef as the speed of the ater is slowed down.
^ Different types of concrete reef blocks can act as the foundation of an oyster barrier reef and provides a wave attenuation function at initial installment.
^ Land behind the oyster barrier reef stays preserved because of the oyster barrier reef. With wave strength lowered, sand and plants are given a chance to settle on the shore. The plants when established provide an extra form of defen
Baton Rouge
Lake Borgne focus areas
chandeleur sound
New Orleans
biloxi marsh wildlife management
breton sound Morgan City
gulf of mexico ^ The Biloxi Marsh lies east of New Orleans acting as a barrier to storm surges directed at the city and Lake Ponchartrain.
This investigation looked into the viability of using Biloxi Marsh as a testing ground for oyster barrier reefs for research that could be used to further the technology and implementation of oyster barrier reefs throughout the Louisiana Delta. Looking at the conditions in the Biloxi Marsh and the wider range of the deltaic coast, it was found that the Biloxi Marsh contained a large sample of the environmental factors that make up the delta. This helped show the viability of concentrating oyster barrier reef testing in the Biloxi Marsh for research that can affect oyster barrier reef implementation throughout the deltaic region. To supplement the study sites a research lab was proposed to be situated in the marsh near the testing sites. The research lab
supports the greater research on oyster barrier reefs by investigating oyster culture and seeding.The placement of the lab in the marsh allows for research in natural oyster habitat while still having some of the benefits of conducting research in a laboratory setting. To bring a human experience to the marsh, campsites have been selected near the study sites and research lab. By attracting and allowing the public into the Biloxi Marsh, a desire to keep this and similar places protected will be planted. The research being done around the campsites will provide the users of the space with a sense of how it can be protected.
WAYFARER REEF BLOCKS
OYSTER CASTLE
REEF BALLS OYSTER SHELLS IN TRIANGULAR CAGES
REEF BLOCKS
RECYCLED SHELL TECHNOLOGIES OYSTER SHELLS BLOWN OFF BARGE
OYSTER BARRIER REEF RESEARCH
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES
LOW WAVE ACTION
HIGH WAVE ACTION
SHALLOW WATER
DEEP WATER
Research Sites The proposal for this design is to use conditions found in the Biloxi Marsh as a testing ground for further development of oyster reef technologies and implementation strategies for future oyster barrier reefs throughout the region. 4 Acres of study sites were identified for oyster barrier reef research. Each of the study sites have comparable features to compare and relate outcomes. The types of studies that will take place here include the testing of different reef technologies such as reef blocks and the use of recycled shell. Implementation strtegies will also be tested here becuase of the different environmental conditions provided in the Biloxi Marsh. These strategies are the deployment of reefs in high and low wave action zones and shallow and deep water implementation. Data gained from this research will show the effects of reefs in such conditions. Besides the deep water testing, the experiments done in these zones will contribute to present implementation strategies. The deep water testing will be done to collect data on oyster reefs in the face of sea level rise. By investigating reefs that are in deep water than the normal implementation range, data on how quickly reefs can grow if not limited by a lack of water above could be very useful for the future.
Data Collection Current technologies are available for use in collecting data at the research sites. High tech solar powered buoys are able to measure wave height (Wave attenuation study) as well as salinity level, temperature, and turbdity through auxillary technologies attached to its teather. A buoy will be placed on either side of the reef to collect data on the reefs impact on the water.
ANTENNA
SOLAR PANEL
ACCOUSTIC DEPTH GAUGE
FSI CURRENT METER CURRENT SPEED CURRENT DIRECTION SALINITY LEVEL FLUOROMETER & OBS MEASURES TEMPERATURE AND TURBIDITY
FISHING
ELEVATED DECK CAMPING GROUND ^ Write the description, caption or citation for the image you use. Use Roboto Condensed 8pt font. Move this text box to whatever location you need, do not change the width, only change the height.
Elevated Camping Ground
Mean sea level
Year 0
Elevated Boadwalk
3ʼ ft sea level rise Mean sea level
Year 50
Camp Sites Areas suitable for campsites have been selected to allow for field research in such a remote site as well as bring about a new type of remote camping experience. The camping sites are very primitive and have a small footprint on the land. The biggest feature of these is an elevated wooden deck for which to set up tents on to keep them out of the water. Camping in the area allows people to experience a part of Louisiana that is disappearing. Camping will be accesible by boat that will be docked at the research center. From there kayaks, canoes, and smaller motorized boats will allow campers acces to the inner marsh islands and campsites.
LIGHT ELECTRICITY
LED LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE BUOY TRANSLUCENT BUOY CASING
Light Field The shoreline flanking the campsites is articulated by a field of lighted buoys in the ocean elucidating in real time the wave attenuating capabilities of the oyster barrier reefs. The light field is created by a group of disperesed This gives campers a sense of the forces that are degrading the site as well as how oyster barrier reefs can reduce it.
ENERGY MOVEMENT TO LED LIGHT
SPEAR ASSEMBLY
light field
HYDRAULIC PISTON SHAFT AND HYDRAULIC PISTON
HYDRAULIC ACCUMULATOR HYDRAULIC MOTOR ELECTRICAL GENERATOR DEEP CYCLE MARINE BATTERIES
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