Browsing by Subject "Estuaries--Freshwater inflow--Texas--Lavaca-Tres Palacios Estuary"
Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
- Results Per Page
- Sort Options
Item Final report, data synthesis and analysis, nitrogen processes study (NIPS) : nursery habitat utilization by finfish and shellfish in Lavaca, San Antonio, and Mesquite bays and their relationships to freshwater inflow(1989) Holt, Scott A. (Scott Allen); Arnold, C. R. (Connie Ray)Item Inflow needs assessment : effect of the Colorado River diversion on benthic communities(1994) Montagna, Paul A.The Lavaca-Colorado Estuary has three major sources of freshwater inflow: the Lavaca, Tres Palacios, and Colorado Rivers. In 1991 the Colorado River was diverted to increase freshwater inflow into the east arm of Matagorda Bay. it was hypothesized that increased freshwater inflow would enhance productivity in the bay. The goal of this study was to determine the status of the bay and effectiveness of the water management program. Six stations were chosen along the major inflow gradients of the Lavaca and Colorado Rivers, and sampled quarterly for one year. Benthic macrofaunal abundance, biomass and community structure was measured. Observed salinity gradients at the stations indicated that marine water was diluted by freshwater near the mouthes of the rivers. Lavaca Bay and the east arm of Matagorda Bay had similar, low salinity characteristics. Both areas had similar community structure, and were typical of low salinity zones of Texas estuaries. However, there was an obvious enhancement of abundance, biomass and diversity in the east arm of Matagorda Bay (near the diversion of the Colorado River) relative to Lavaca Bay. These results indicate that the diversion probably has enhanced the productivity and health of Matagorda Bay. The only confounding factor is that the east end of Matagorda Bay also has less development than Lavaca Bay.Item Predicting long-term effects of freshwater inflow on macrobenthos in the Lavaca-Colorado and Guadalupe estuaries : final report(1991) Montagna, Paul A.Two estuaries have been studied to determine the effect of year-to-year variation of freshwater inflow on macrobenthic infauna. The estuaries have similar inflow characteristics, but the Lavaca-Colorado has direct exchange of coastal marine water with the Gulf of Mexico and the Guadalupe does not. Studies in the Lavaca-Colorado began in 1984, and studies in the Guadalupe began in 1987. There are changes in community structure and function from year-to-year, which can be linked to the long-term cycle of wet and dry years along the Texas coast. There appears to be a long-term cycle of high-inflow stimulated recruitment, followed by nutrient depletion and recruitment of marine species during low-inflow periods, followed by declines in productivity until the next wet year. These cycles appear to have a period of 2-3 years, but it will take at least 3 more years of data to test this hypothesis.Item Predicting long-term effects of freshwater inflow on macrobenthos in the Lavaca-Colorado and Guadalupe estuaries : year 2 : final report(1992) Montagna, Paul A.Two estuaries have been studied to determine the effect of year-to-year variation of freshwater inflow on macrobenthic infauna. The estuaries have similar inflow characteristics, but the Lavaca-Colorado has direct exchange of coastal marine water with the Gulf of Mexico and the Guadalupe does not. Studies in the Lavaca-Colorado began in 1984, and studies in the Guadalupe began in 1987. There are changes in community structure and function from year-to-year, which can be linked to the long-term cycle of wet and dry years along the Texas coast. There appears to be a long-term cycle of high-inflow stimulated recruitment, followed by nutrient depletion and recruitment of marine species during low-inflow periods, followed by declines in productivity until the next wet year. These cycles appear to have a period of 2-3 years, but it will take at least 3 more years of data to test this hypothesisItem