SEDIMENT TRANSPORT FROM THE ATCHAFALAYA RIVER

The proposed project deals with the accretion of mud near the eastern end of the section of Louisiana's coast called the Chenier Plain as a result of sediment discharge from the Atchafalaya River. By the examination of grain size and porosity within and between cores taken from several transects offshore and near shore, the accumulation along-shore and across-shore near the eastern Chenier Plain can be compared and contrasted. My work will focus on six cores: 4 near shore and 2 offshore. Of the 4 near shore cores, 2 of which, CSG and CSH are located just east and west of the Fresh Water Bayou respectively. Differences between these two cores may show the influence of dredging in the Fresh Water Bayou, if any, on this area. By examining the two offshore cores in conjunction with the four near shore sites, a larger picture may be constructed as to where the Atchafalaya discharge is being carried in this micro-tidal region. In addition to examining sediment dispersal, weather records will be examined to understand what role major storm activity contributes to sediment dispersal and to assess whether any trends in the cores that correlate with major storms. The interpretations made from this work will be facilitated by estimates of accumulation rate based on isotopic activity analysis that are currently ongoing.