The 3rd Gulf of Mexico Symposium
Course *
March 29 - April 1,1995
Corpus Christi, Texas
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"Steering a Course to the Future"
The 3rd Gulf of Mexico Symposium
March 29 - April 1, 1995 • Corpus Christi, Texas
Sponsors
Benson Cadillac Oldsmobile, Inc.
Borden Agency of Texas
British Petroleum, Inc.
Central Power and Light
City of Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi Bay National Estuary Program
Corpus Christi Convention Visitor Bureau
Corpus Christi Independent School District
Corpus Christi Regional Water Authority
Del Mar College
Galveston Bay Foundation
Greater Corpus Christi Business Alliance
Gulf Coast Conservation Association
Gulf of Mexico Foundation
Mr. Edward Harte
Kleberg & Head
Mercantile Bank - Brownsville
NRC Lonestar Responder
Nature Conservancy
OxyChem
Port Authority of Corpus Christi
Reynolds Metals Company
Russell/Veteto Engineering
Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi
Center for Coastal Studies
Texas Agricultural Extension Service
Texas General Land Office
TX Natural Resource Conservation Commission
Texas Parks and Wildlife
Texas Sea Grant Program
Texas Shrimp Association
Texas State Aquarium
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
Natural Resource Conservation Service
U.S. Dept. of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Marine Fisheries Service
U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services
Food and Drug Administration
U.S. Dept. of the Interior
Fish and Wildlife Service
U.S. Dept. of the Interior
Minerals Management Service
U.S. Dept. of the Interior
National Park Service
Padre Island National Seashore
U.S. Dept. of the Navy
Naval Education and Training
U.S. Dept. of the Navy
Naval Station - Ingleside
Navy Mine Warfare Base
U.S. Dept. of Transportation
U.S. Coast Guard
Marine Safety Office Corpus Christi
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Gulf of Mexico Program Office
University of Texas Marine Science Institute
Mrs. Mary Yturria
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Points of view expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect the
views or policies of the Gulf of Mexico Program nor of any of the
contributors to its publication. Mention of trade names and commercial
products does not constitute endorsement of their use. Permission granted
to reprint with credit to author and the Gulf of Mexico Program. This
report was prepared for the Gulf of Mexico Program. (Publication No.
EPA-55-R-97-002)
Diane Altsman, editor
To obtain copies, contact:
Gulf of Mexico Program Office
Public Information Center
Building 1200, Room 103
Stennis Space Center, MS 39529-6000
(601)688-7940
Printed on recycled paper.
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Acknowledgments
Organizations that sponsored this symposium are listed on the title page. The support of these
groups was invaluable and sincerely appreciated. Those individuals who volunteered to
register participants, assist exhibitors, operate projectors, and record sessions - and others who
provided assistance - are not otherwise mentioned; they know that this symposium would have been
impossible without their help. The sponsors thank the staff responsible for planning and conducting
various sessions, the speakers and poster presenters for their time and energy in sharing information
about their work. Most importantly, the sponsors thank the attendees for giving their time and
infectious spirit without which the tasks we have pledged could not be accomplished.
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Introduction
The third Gulf of Mexico Symposium was held in Corpus Christi, Texas, March 29-April 1,
1995, under the banner Steering a Course to the Future, and as in previous Gulf of Mexico
Program symposiums brought about the unique partnering of concerned citizens, educators, students
and various agency officials to address the issues that confront the Gulf of Mexico. There were over
1200 registered participants with approximately 200 visiting students at the symposium, bringing
the total in attendance to over 1400. The 1995 symposium additionally brought about increased
international participation and attendance from Mexico and the Caribbean. This international
involvement will further Gulf of Mexico information and research sharing with Mexico and the
Caribbean.
Highlights of the opening ceremonies, held aboard the USS Lexington, included Hands Across the
Border, a moving ceremony in which children from the United States and Mexico announced their
own resolution to preserve and protect the Gulf of Mexico. The children are members of the
Children's Alliance for the Protection of the Environment (CAPE), a nonprofit organization whose
mission is to change environmental attitudes and behavior through the responsible conservation,
preservation and restoration activities of young people around the world. Ms. Patricia Schorr,
Executive Director of CAPE, commented that each of the children presenting the resolution has been
involved in substantive, measurable environmental actions - many of them in joint projects between
the United States and Mexico.
Texas Land Commissioner Garry Mauro joined Corpus Christi Mayor Mary Rhodes in welcoming
Symposium participants. In his opening remarks, Mr. Mauro referred to the Gulf of Mexico as the
forgotten border between Mexico and the United States, and commented that, "Mother Earth doesn't
heed lines on a map. The winds and tides and currents of the Gulf are indifferent to nationalities and
so are oil spills and marine debris... Although NAFTA opened the door to cooperation on trade and
brought some attention to the need for environmental infrastructure, the problems and risks we face
on our maritime border are effectively ignored. If we are serious about building a stewardship for
the Gulf, we must all take whatever steps are necessary to help people understand the importance
of our maritime border."
Mr. Mauro encouraged the children in attendance to become the conscience of Gulf citizens; to
become the people who make certain we do what's right in protecting the resources of the Gulf.
Also speaking was U.S. Representative Kika de la Garza, who pointed out that the border between
Mexico and the United States extends across Gulf of Mexico waters. He commended Carol
Browner, EPA Director, on her cooperation in sharing resources, as well as the expertise of the Gulf
of Mexico Program, and expressed hope that this can be expanded to a more formal endeavor
between Mexico and the United States.
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Representing the National Institute for the Environment of Mexico, was Maria Eugenia Lezcano,
Deputy Director for Environmental Affairs. Speaking through an interpreter, she stated that
Mexican authorities want to work with the United States to protect the Gulf environment. Even
though Mexico is going through a very difficult economic situation at the moment, they still
consider environmental protection a priority.
Additionally at the opening ceremonies, an Agreement of Participation document was signed by
Federal Agency Partners of the Gulf of Mexico Program, with observer signatures from the five Gulf
states and the National Estuary Program Directors. Ms. Jane Saginaw, EPA Regional Administrator
(Region 6), officiated during the signing of the document. The Agreement confirms the commitment
of the signatories to develop and implement a joint venture which will help them all to achieve their
goals of protecting and improving the environment in the Gulf of Mexico. Ms. Saginaw commented
that the Agreement is a culmination of several years of working together among the various federal
agencies that are involved in protecting the Gulf of Mexico, and represents the very best of what the
federal government can do to bring people together from various perspectives to work toward
common goals.
Other highlights of the Symposium included the Historically Black Colleges and
Universities/Minority Institutions, Gulf of Mexico Program Alliance signing ceremony at the Texas
State Aquarium; a special Technical Poster Session featuring 78 posters on display; and an exhibit
area with 62 exhibitors.
The Symposium provided an ideal setting for citizens to interact with government agencies and
discuss plans and progress with regard to the Gulf ecosystem. Concurrent interactive sessions
focused on marine debris, toxic substances and pesticides, habitat degradation, nutrient enrichment,
coastal erosion, public health, living aquatic resources, and freshwater inflow. Exhibitor and poster
areas provided opportunities for one-on-one discussions with experts in various areas. Special
forums concentrated on: business and industry's environmental projects and products, specific state
and federal Gulf-oriented programs, oil pollution act update, sustainable development issues, and
teacher and student needs. Guided field trips to local areas of interest were also available.
Copies of the Hands Across the Border, Federal Partnership Agreement and HBCU Alliance
documents can be found on the following pages.
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HANDS ACROSS THE BORDER
A Resolution for Steering a Course to the Future
WHEREAS, tbe Gulf of Mexico is made up of many ecosystems, supporting millions or
species or plants, animals ana humans ana;
WHEREAS, it is a source of life:
physically providing rood and shelter;
economically providing jots and income;
socially providing tbe cradle or many diverse cultures and traditions;
spiritually providing beauty and inspiration;
WHEREAS, we recognize that tne Gulf or Mexico is under stress from:
marine debris excessive nutrient enrichment
habitat degradation public bealtb problems
toxic substances and pesticides freshwater inflow leading to
coastal erosion diminished aquatic resources
WHEREAS, we recognize tbat the resources or tbe Gull of Mexico include tbe people who
live in and around it and tbeir actions;
AND WHEREAS, people from all areas of the Gulf community must work togetber to
protect the biodiversity, tbe ecosystems and tbe resources of tbe Gulf of Mexico.
NOW THEREFORE, we resolve to work togetber to:
Conserve and consciously manage tbe resources of tbe Gulf of Mexico to ensure
tbeir sustainability for future generations;
Preserve tbe rich biodiversity of the Gulf of Mexico for all its inhabitants;
Restore areas in need by planting native flora, protecting native fauna, and
restoring tbe bealtby functions of ecosystems through beach cleanups and cooperative
community projects. In this way we promise to give CPR for tbe Gulr or Mexico through
our personal choices and actions
AND WE FURTHER RESOLVE
Tbat copies of tbis resolution be widely distributed to people who live in the Gulf
of Mexico region and in areas that have influence over it.
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AGREEMENT OF PARTICIPATION
FEDERAL AGENCY PARTNERS OF
THE GULF OF MEXICO PROGRAM
We, the undersigned Federal Partners commit ourselves to using our relevant authorities, and to
providing the necessary leadership, resources and technical assistance to support the Gulf of
Mexico Program. The ecological issues confronting the Gulf of Mexico cross the jurisdictional
boundaries of our agencies and warrant our joint leadership and action. This Agreement will
facilitate more effective environmental management to ensure the integrity, productivity, and
overall health of the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem.
The Gulf of Mexico Program's broad State and Federal partnership is a rare opportunity to integrate
our joint activities and scientific expertise to sustain and enhance the environmentally and
economically important Gulf of Mexico. This approach encompasses the involvement of
constituencies at the local, state, regional, national, and international levels.
I. Purpose of this Agreement
The purpose of this Agreement is to implement a shared leadership process that will enable
appropriate Federal agencies to support and enhance the efforts of the Gulf of Mexico Program
through better coordination of existing Federal responsibilities. The Gulf of Mexico Program can
succeed only through a collaborative effort of all participating stakeholders.
The intent of this Agreement is to foster more effective use of resources through planned,
collaborative efforts and private-public partnerships. The framework of this Agreement will help
Federal agencies prevent duplication, improve coordination, and provide a comprehensive network
for sharing Gulf of Mexico Program information and data. It provides formal definitions of
relationships and interactions within the Gulf of Mexico Program for Federal partners and is viewed
as a prerequisite for facilitating future involvement of all stakeholders and users.
II. Purpose and Goal of the Program
The purpose of the Gulf of Mexico Program is to develop and implement a strategy for protecting,
restoring, and maintaining the health and productivity of the Gulf of Mexico in ways consistent
with the economic well being of the region. The goal is to protect, restore, and enhance the coastal
and marine waters of the Gulf and its coastal natural habitats, to sustain living resources; to protect
human health and the food supply; and to ensure the long term use of the Gulf shores, beaches, and
waters. To achieve this goal, we must develop and maintain a partnership of State and Federal
agencies, local governments, academia, regional business and industry, and individual citizens and
communities that effectively addresses the complex ecological problems that cross State, Federal,
and international jurisdictions and boundaries.
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III. Definition of Terms
Federal Program Partner - the signatories to this agreement.
Gulf of Mexico Ecosystem - the Gulf of Mexico and its watersheds.
Policy Review Board - the regional policy forum for the Gulf of Mexico Program. The board
determines the scope and direction of the Program and commits resources for implementation of the
agreed upon actions.
Program Committee Infrastructure - the Gulf of Mexico Program's committee infrastructure is
created and modified by the Policy Review Board, as necessary, to meet the Program's evolving
management, technical, and advisory requirements. The Policy Review Board has established the
following Program Committee Infrastructure: two advisory committees; the Citizens Advisory
Committee and the Technical Advisory Committee; a regional Management Committee; eight Issue
Committees organized around the current ecological issues; and two Operating Committees that
support the integration of information and public outreach.
Program Administrative Lead (PAL) - an agency that, through the Program Director and staff,
provides administrative support.
Program Director - an individual responsible for carrying out the PAL functions and accountable
for the responsibility of the administrative lead and the coordination of the activities of the Program
Directorate.
Program Directorate - a team consisting of the Program Director and Associate Programpirectors
serving on a co-equal basis and providing leadership and day-to-day management, budget
formulation, including Program Office operations budgeting, oversight of the Program,
coordination with the Policy Review Board, and supporting committees. Any agency choosing to
be represented on the Directorate, assigns one full time Program Manager whose permanent duty
station will be at the Gulf of Mexico Program Office located at the Stennis Space Center,
Mississippi. Chairmanship of the Program Directorate shall rotate among members on a routine
basis.
IV. Articles of Agreement
We, the undersigned representatives of the participating Federal agencies, commit ourselves to
working together, with the States and other stakeholders, to achieve the goals of the Program.
Specifically, within available resources, we agree:
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(1) to share the leadership of the Program by defining the level at which we will involve
ourselves in the Program's goals, commitments, and infrastructure and implement the
staffing measures necessary to fulfill those responsibilities in the following areas:
Technical and Scientific Coordination of Expertise on Issue Committees
Regional Management Coordination on the Management Committee
Program Policy Oversight on the Policy Review Board and/or Representation on the
Program Directorate
(Deliverables/Commitments:)
Definition of Involvement (within 60 days of signature)
Staffing Plan (within 6 months of signature)
Staffing Implementation (within 1 year of signature)
(2) to prevent duplication of administrative operations by relying on the Program
Administrative Lead (PAL) Agency to provide the ongoing administrative services
necessary to house and operate (facilities, utilities, supplies, and related services) the basic
functions of the Program Office. The Federal partner agencies agree that EPA should
assume the Program Administrative Lead.
(Deliverables/Commitments:)
EPA will accept the Program
Administrative Lead responsibility (upon signature of this Agreement)
EPA will pursue appropriation
specific funding to administer
the Program Office (target: FY 1997)
(3) to commit our technical expertise, relevant data and information, and supporting technology,
as required and to the extent available, to develop credible assessments of the scope and
complexity of the issues affecting the ecosystem;
(Deliverables/Commitments:)
Individual agency plans to support
the joint strategic assessment
activities of the Program Office (1 year from signature)
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Jointly develop, implement,
and maintain a regional
communications network to
share critical assessment data and
outreach information between
Program participants ( 1 year from signature)
(4) to develop a comprehensive inventory of the existing activities we conduct throughout the
ecosystem that are relevant to the Program's jointly identified priority actions;
(Deliverables/Commitments:)
— Development of the initial inventory (within 1 year of signature)
— Update inventory (Annually thereafter)
(5) to develop a Program Strategy that: (1) establishes the actions necessary to complete the
characterization of the Program issues; and (2) establishes the framework under which the
Program will identify and prioritize feasible solutions to address the issues. The scope of
the strategy will include the identification of drainage basin impacts, including the
Mississippi River, impacts of airborne sources, and international impacts;
(Deliverables/Commitments:)
Program Strategy (within 1 year of signature)
— Implementation Plan (within 1 year of Strategy)
— Implementation Progress Report (Annually)
(6) to identify, using currently available information, ecological measures and baselines
necessary to establish measurable environmental achievements;
(Deliverables/Commitments:)
Ecological measures
and baselines plan (within 1 year of signature)
Establish measures and baselines (within 1 year of plan)
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(7) to jointly pursue appropriations, or other measures as appropriate, to carry out Program
implementation responsibilities;
(Deliverables/Commitments:)
Current Action Agenda Funds (upon signature)
(to the extent available)
Implementation Plan Funds (FY 1997)
(8) that, any Federal Agency, which assigns an Associate Director or other staff to the Gulf of
Mexico Program Office, will retain full supervisory and performance evaluation
responsibility for those employees.
(9) this Agreement can be amended through written agreement among the parties, or
terminated by mutual agreement among parties or any party on its own upon 90 days notice
to the other parties.
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Partners to the Agreement
FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Ms. Carol Browner
Administrator
Mr. Robert Perciasepe
Assistant Administrator for Water
Mr. John H. Hankinson, Jr.
Regional Administrator, Region 4
Ms. (Jflne N. Saginaw
Regional Administrator, Region 6
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES
FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION
Mr. Ronald Chesemore
Associate Commissioner
for Regulatory Affairs
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Ms. Patricia G
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FOR THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC
ADMINISTRATION
Dr. D. James Baker
Under Secretary
for Oceans and Atmosphere, and NOAA
NA TIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE
NATIONAL OCEAN SERVICE
Dr. Holland A. Schmitten
Assistant Administrator
for Fisheries
Dr. W. Stanley Wilson
Assistant Administrator
for Ocean Services and Coastal
Zone Management
FOR THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE
ADMINISTRATION
STENNIS SPACE CENTER
Mr. Daniel Goldin
Administrator
Mr. Roy Estess
Director
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
U.S. COASTGUARD
Rear Aflmiral J. C. Card, Chief
Office of Marine Safety, Security and
Environmental Protection
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FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR
U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Mr. George T. Frampton, Jr.
Assistant Secretary
for Fish and Wildlife and Parks
Ms. Mollie Beattie
Director
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
NATIONAL BIOLOGICAL SERVICE
MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE
Director
Dr. Ronald Pulliam
Director
Mr. Robert Armstrong
Assistant Secretary
for Land and Minerals Management
Ms. Cynthia Quarterman
Acting Director
signature not available at time of copy
Ms. Elizabeth Ann Rieke
Assistant Secretary for Water & Science
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Dr. Bonnie A. McGregor
Associate Director
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FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE signature not available at time of copy
Mr. Richard E. Rominger
Deputy Secretary
signature not available at time of copy
Mr. James R. Lyons
Under Secretary
for Natural Resources and
Environment
NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVA TION SERVICE signature not available at time of copy
Mr. Paul W. Johnson
Chief
COOPERA TIVE RESEARCH, EDUCA TION AND
EXTENSION SERVICE
U. S. FOREST SERVICE
Mr. William Carlson
Acting Director
DjxFack Ward Thomas
Chief
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
Dr. Jbhn W.Zirschky
Acting Assistant Secretary of the
Army (Civil Works)
Mr. Robert B. Pirie, Jr.
Assistant Secretary of the Navy
(Installations & Environment)
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
Mr. Rodpey A. Coleman
Assistant Secretary
(Manpower, Reserve Affairs,
installations and Environment)
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Gulf of Mexico Alliance
Historically Black Colleges and Universities and
Minority Institutions
INTRODUCTION
In recognition of the need to preserve and nurture many of the living resources of the Gulf
of Mexico, the Gulf of Mexico Program and the Historically Black Colleges and
Universities/Minority Institutions in the Gulf States agree to form an Alliance to engage in training,
research, and outreach activities to respond to this need. This memorandum sets forth the conditions
for pursuing the objectives of the Alliance. It also delineates the activities and expectations of the
participating entities.
BACKGROUND
The Gulf of Mexico Program (GMP) began in 1988 in response to signs of serious long-term
environmental damage throughout the coastal and marine ecosystem of America's Sea. As this
interagency program is developing, stronger partnerships with research institutions are needed to
further our knowledge and understanding of Gulf environmental problems. Its main purpose is to
develop and implement a management strategy to protect, restore, and maintain the health and
productivity of the Gulf of Mexico.
Since the first GMP HBCU/MI workshop in June of 1993, the Gulf Program has worked to
establish an initiative related to environmental issues of the Gulf to include education and
information exchange between the Program and the HBCUs as well as other minority groups. The
purpose of the initiative is to outline the foundation whereby HBCUs/MIs can work with the Gulf
of Mexico Program in developing strategies for minority participation in solving environmental
issues affecting all five Gulf States. Through these minority groups environmental outreach and
education can be mainstreamed into the surrounding minority communities and assist our students
from K through doctoral levels to achieve knowledge that they need in order to make a difference
in their environment. This will provide a basis for furthering education towards career advancement
in environmental fields.
The following are the specific aims of the Alliance:
To foster community outreach in various gulf-related issues and activities, including
environmental equity initiatives;
To increase the number of minority students involved in Gulf-related fields of study;
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To expand emphasis on Gulf-related research and technology at the HBCUs;
To expand and improve environmental, marine, and social science offerings from
precollege through graduate level;
To optimize the use of state-of-the art technologies in networking resources and
sharing information;
To build partnerships with business and industry in shared technology and research.
OBJECTIVES
Projected target activities include: Development and enhancement of Environmental Science
programs; Development and enhancement of linkage between the HBCU/MIs, public and private
sectors, agencies and organizations to strengthen the infrastructure of the HBCU/MIs, to better
provide training and outreach programs on environmental issues; Development of training programs
for Elementary/Secondary Teachers on environmental issues; Development of Community
Education programs to acquaint the minority communities with environmental issues facing the Gulf
(churches, civic/social organizations, political organizations, business, medical); Recruitment and
placement of minorities in environment careers; Development of linkages between the minority
business communities; Development of collaborative research efforts among HBCU/MIs and the
public/private sector; Networking with existing local agencies that have representatives within the
counties and parishes to develop and promote grassroots educational programs on environmental
issues and concerns; Development of conference, workshops and seminars to inform minority
citizens of environmental issues related to the Gulf; Facilitation of possible funding from external
sources for training and research; Assessment of strengths and capabilities of HBCU/MIs with
regard to training and research priorities of the Gulf of Mexico Program; Amass, storage and
exchange of information on environmental issues (using computer technology such as Internet);
Development of linkages between HBCU/MIs and National Laboratories to provide possible
funding, training, information exchange and research opportunities; Exchange of information
between Mexico and Gulf Caribbean Countries on environmental issues; Equipment leaner and
exchange programs.
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Structure and Operation
Board of Directors
The Alliance shall be governed by a Board of Directors which will consist of college
presidents or their designated representatives. Each school in the Alliance will be represented on the
Board by a university official.
Standing Committees
The Alliance will consist of a minimum of four standing committees which shall include
research, curriculum development, outreach, recruitment and retention, and policy development and
analysis.
Steering Committee
The policy-making body shall be the steering committee which will consist of the chairs of
the standing committees plus one at-large member. The steering committee's actions are subject to
approval of the Board of Directors.
Executive Director
Until such a position is filled, the Board of Directors shall guide the activities. This person
will carry out the day-to-day activities of the Alliance as outlined in the job description. The
Executive Director will be a full-time appointment which will be made by the Board of Directors.
Expectations
The members of the Alliance shall pursue Gulf of Mexico related initiatives in the areas of
research, community outreach, education, and policy studies. In this regard, collaboration shall be
a central theme of the Alliance. In such an arrangement, schools will be expected to pursue joint
projects consistent with their capabilities and interest.
The Alliance shall also make provisions for individual institutions to earn competitive
awards for support for Gulf-related programs. These programs will generally be supported the
U. S. Departments of Commerce, Agriculture, Interior, Energy, and the Environmental Protection
Agency.
It is expected that the leadership of the Gulf of Mexico Program will assist the Alliance in
identifying funding and in supporting the general goals of the Alliance.
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GULF OF MEXICO PROGRAM/HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
MINORITY INSTITUTIONS ALLIANCE
In recognition of the need to preserve and nurture many of the living resources of the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf of Mexico Program
and the Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions in the Gulf States agree to form an Alliance to engage in training,
research, and outreach activities to respond to this need. This memorandum sets forth the conditions for pursuing the objectives of the Alliance.
It also delineates the activities and expectations of the participating entities.
Gulf of Mexico Program:
. Giattina
Director
Participating Colleges and Universities:
Alabama &M University
HuntsviJJe, Alabama
Alabama State University
Montgomery ,-Alab
Alcorn State Url&0r?ity
Lorman, Mississippi
Bishop State Community
Mobile, Alabama.
Del Mar College
Corpus Christ!, Texas
Dillara University
New Orleans, Louisiana
Florida A&M University
Tallahassee, Florida
Grambling State University
Grambling, Louisiana .
£XfitMAt«ttsl ,%&>**
Huston-Tillotson College
Austin, Texas
Incarnate
San Antonio, Texas
Jackson State University
Jackson, Mississippi
Jarvis Christian-College
Hawkins, Texas
J.F. D^ke/^chnical College
Huntsville^ Alabama
Lawson State Community College
Birmingham, Alabama
"Holmes College
: Point, Mississippi
Mississippi Valley State University
Itta Bena, Mississippi
Prairie View A&M University
Prairie View, Texas
•%J
San Antonio College
San Antonio, Texas
Southern University
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Southern University
New Orleans, Louisiana
Southern University
Shreveport, Louisiana
Stillman College
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
St. Phillips College
San Antonio, Texas
Tallagbga College
Talladega, Alabama
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GULF OF MEXICO PROGRAM/HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
MINORITY INSTITUTIONS ALLIANCE
In recognition of the need to preserve and nurture many of the living resources of the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf of Mexico Program
and the Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions in the Gulf States agree to form an Alliance to engage in training.
research, and outreach activities to respond to this need. This memorandum sets forth the conditions for pursuing the objectives of the Alliance.
It also delineates the activities and expectations of the participating entities.
*y
lt4L^t+t>
Texas A&M State Kniversity
Corpus Christi, Texas
TexasCollege
Tyler, Texas
Texas SoutheNvUniversity
Houston, Texas
Tuskegee University
Tuskegee, Alabama
Wiley College
Marshall, Texas
Xavier University of Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
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Contents
Acknowledgments i
Introduction ii
Summary of Presentations from the
Concurrent Sessions
I. Student Track
Effects of Various Solutions on the Growth of Hydroponically Grown
Plants: A Five-Year Study 1
Does Industrial Growth Affect the Health of the Theodore Industrial
Canal and Surrounding Estuaries? 2
Community Service Learning for At-Risk High School
Students...on the Border 2
WATER - What's the Difference 3
Student Assessment of Watershed Fiesta 3
The Water Link 4
Marine Debris Fingerprinting 4
Nutrient Enrichment: Why Worry? 4
Purvis FFA Environmental Awareness Program 5
Environmental Awareness Program 5
Bayside Students Participate in a Statistical Sampling Survey of
Marine Debris in Coastal Alabama 6
Lee County Schools Rivers Project 7
Action Monday Group 8
Dynamic Dauphin Island 8
FHA/HERO Members Prepare Nature Laboratories
for Pre-School Children 9
FHA/HERO Chapter Chose the Environment as the
Focus for the 93-94 Project 9
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Submerged Aquatic Plants of Bay Minette Basin
in the Mobile Bay Delta, Alabama 9
Invertebrates Associated with Heron Nests on a
Small Alabama Coastal Island 10
Non-Point Water Pollution Study, WildcatCreek 10
Biological Sampling 10
Monitoringthe Watershed 11
Non-point Pollution 11
Public Education and Outreach 11
Hot Off the Press 11
There's Something Rotten in Puckett 12
Down and Dirty on the Farm 12
Chicken Dumplings 13
Children ofthe Corn 13
II. Educators Track
Preparing Effective Grant Proposals 14
Marsh Maneuvers and Wild Woods Wanderings...An Investment in
the Future of Louisiana's Youth and Wetland Resources 14
Agriculture and the Environment
A Litterate Approach to a Fowl Problem 15
How Agriculture Affects the Environment 15
The South Mississippi Environmental and Agricultural Coordination
Organization: An Example of Networking Programs and Expertise 16
Developing an Understanding of Agriculture's Concern and
Commitment for our Coastal Environment 16
Marine Debris
Everything but the Kitchen Sink 17
Reducing Litter Through Education 17
Marine Debris - A Hands-On Experience 17
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Students Join with Scientists to Track Marine Debris on
Alabama's Gulf Beaches 18
Teacher Education
Educating the Public, Science and Policy 18
Operation Pathfinder: An Introduction to Oceanography and Coastal
Processes for Elementary and Middle School Teachers 19
Model Programs for Women and Girls: Mini-Camps for
Female Secondary Students 19
Environmental Awareness
Turning Environmental Concern into Environmental
Behavior - Our New Challenge 19
An Environmental Education Interstate Exchange Program:
Another Means of Expanding Youth Awareness 20
Loss of Louisiana Coastal Wetlands 20
New Neighborhood Program Promotes "Bay Friendly" Landscaping 20
The Mississippi Environmental Workshop: Steering a Course
to Environmental Education 21
Project TELLUS: Interactive Video Lessons on Global Change Issues
for the Gulf of Mexico; Lesson 1 ...Exotic Species 22
Environmental Education Outreach Program Workshop
Mote Marine Laboratory's Environmental Education Outreach
Program - About the Gulf of Mexico's Eight Main Issues 22
Awareness of Coastal Habitat 22
Consumer Awareness of Phosphorus and Phosphate/Non-Phosphate Detergents 23
Bay Day Festival 24
Utilizing Available Resources to Construct School Yard Wildlife Habitats
for Implementing Environmentally Focused Lesson Plans 24
Using Creative Dramatics as an Effective Teaching
Tool in the School Setting 25
Using a Sand-Tank Groundwater Flow
Model as a Teaching Tool 25
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Field Experiences
Dynamic Dauphin Island 26
Discovery Outpost - A Unique Adventure in Outdoor Education 26
The Great Texas River Run 27
A Field/Study Trip to Galveston Island for Intermediate Students 27
Field Experiences for Teachers and Students 28
Restless Ribbon of Sand 28
Coral Reef Classroom 28
WOW!: The Wonders of Wetlands 29
Preservation Versus Conservation: A Case Study 29
Marine Habitats
Wetland Functions and Values in Louisiana 29
Americorps USDA Creating Habitat in Galveston Bay 30
Endangered Species Education and Outreach 30
Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary 31
Opportunities in Marine Botany: From the Arctic to the Subtropics 31
Galveston Bay Ambassador Program 31
Putting on the Rite for the Gulf of Mexico 32
Coastal Wetland Diversity Workshop: A Training Program for Teachers 32
Touching all the Bases
Reaching South: Environmental Education Opportunities in Mexico,
Central and South America, and the Caribbean 32
Adopt a Ditch - Putting Environmental Education to Work for City Dwellers 33
Gulf of Mexico Patch Program 33
Marine Life and Wetlands: An Educational Experience
for Inner-City Fourth Graders 34
TedsATurtles/Shrimpers: Sharing an Ecosystem 34
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Marine Careers
Careers at a Marine Zoological Park 35
Education Awareness Programs
Officer Snook Water Pollution Program 35
Setting the Stage for Environmental Awareness...It's Elementary
if you C.A.R.E. A.L.O.T 35
Disappearing Drops: Exciting Investigations with Liquids 36
Earth Connections: Environmental Education Curriculum for Youth 37
Adopt-a-Wetland Program - Aquatic Pollution 37
III. Challenge Track
Toxics & Pesticides
The Reduction of Toxic Loading from Coastal Oil and Gas Discharges 38
Baseline Chemical Contaminant Assessments for Three Bays in
Northwest Florida: St. Andrew Bay, St. Joseph Bay, Perdido Bay 38
Progress of the U.S. Pulp and Paper Industry in Reducing the TCDD/TCDF
Content of Effluents, Pulps, and Wastewater Treatment Sludges 39
Organochlorine Pesticides in Sediments of the Nueces Bay Estuary 39
Habitat Degradation
Wetland Mitigation Banking 39
The Future of Habitat Restoration: Creating Habitat Mosaics 40
Seagrass Restoration in Western Galveston Bay 40
The Mad Island Marsh Project: An Integrated Approach to Protection,
Restoration, and Enhancement of Coastal Wetlands 41
Utilization of Fruits of Wild Celery, Vallisneria americana, in Restoration/Creation
of Estuarine Submerged Wetlands: Preliminary Tests of Field Germination and
Dissemination Techniques 41
Marine Debris
Padre Island National Seashore - Marine Debris Point Source Investigation 42
The Hazards of Plastic Entanglement to Texas Gulf Coast Wildlife 43
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The Coast Guard's Effort to Reduce Marine Debris 43
Waste Elimination and Minimization in Exploration and Production Operations 43
Distribution and Abundance of Floating Debris in the Gulf of Mexico:
Is MARPOL Working? 44
Dealing with Ship-Generated Solid Wastes on Navy Vessels 44
Freshwater Inflow
Procedures for Estimating Freshwater Inflow Needs to Maintain
the Ecological Health of an Estuary 45
Biological Validation of Modeled Freshwater Inflow
Requirements for a Texas Estuary 45
Lake Texana Water Supply Reservoir Operation and Fresh Water
Releases for Bays and Estuaries 46
Freshwater Inflow and Reservoir System Operations:
Managing Scarce Resources in South Texas 46
A Nutrient Balance for the Lavaca-Colorado Estuary
(Matagorda Bay), Texas 47
Characterization of Long Term Riverine Discharge
to 23 Estuaries in the Gulf of Mexico 47
Nutrient and Primary Productivity Responses to Freshwater
Inflow into Nueces/Corpus Christi Bay 48
Characterization of the Causes of Changes to Freshwater
Inflow into the Waters of the Gulf of Mexico 48
Living Aquatic Resources
Development and Validation of a Benthic Index of
Estuarine Condition for Gulf of Mexico Estuaries 49
Gulf-Wide Marine Mortality Scientific Response Network 49
Habitat Description for Cetaceans in the Gulf
of Mexico: A Preliminary Analysis 50
Population Trends in Selected Species in Galveston Bay,
Texas, and the Role of Climate Cycles 50
Productivity of the Subtropical Seagrass Halodule
wrightii Along an Estuarine Gradient 51
Oyster Reef Bioengineering 51
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Foraging Ecology of Redheads Wintering in Chandeleur Sound, Louisiana 52
Shrimp Trawl Gear Modifications to Reduce the Bycatch of Fish 52
Toxics and Pesticides
Air Toxics Deposition Monitoring in Galveston Bay, Texas 53
Contaminant Distribution in Gulf Coast Sediments:
Results from EPA EMAP-E Program 53
Response of Salt Marsh Vegetation to in situ Burning as an Oil
Spill Technique, Coastal South Texas 54
Nutrient Enrichment
Estimated Responses of Water Quality on the Louisiana Inner Shelf
to Nutrient Load Reductions in the Mississippi and Atchafalaya 54
Nutrients in Gulf Estuaries: All Bays are not Created Equal 55
Dissolved Oxygen Conditions in Gulf of Mexico Estuaries 55
Sarasota Bay: Reclaiming Paradise 56
The Role of the Mississippi River in the Formation of Seasonal,
Severe Hypoxia on the Louisiana-Texas Shelf 56
Reducing Non-Point Source Pollution in Nearshore Coastal Environments 57
Coastal Erosion
Apalachicola Shoreline Stabilization Demonstration Project 58
The Belle Fontaine Beach Erosion Control Model Demonstration Project:
A Gulf of Mexico Program "Success in '93" Coastal Erosion Demonstration Project 59
Use of a Shoreline Change Analysis to Assist in Development of a
Shoreline Management Plan in Alabama 59
Inlet Management Techniques for Beach Erosion Control 60
Calcasieu-Sabine Cooperative River Basin Study 60
Public Health
The Evolution of the National Shellfish Register of Classified Estuarine Waters 61
Meeting the Shellfish Challenge: Where We Are, Where We Are Going 62
The Gulf of Mexico Program's Shellfish Growing Water Restoration Initiative 62
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A New Look at Public Health Risk Communication Techniques - The
Interactive Approach 62
Protecting Public Health by Managing Fisheries
Affected by Marine Algal Toxins 63
Five State Health Professional Education Program: Relationship
Between Seafood Consumption and Waterborne Illness 63
International
Status of Wildlife Conservation Issues of Wetland
Ecosystems in Puerto Rico 64
Conservation of Wetlands in Cuba: Management of
Fauna and Protected Areas 64
The Hope Watershed - A Priority Area for Conservation 65
Teaching Conservation Through Wild Animals and Trees 65
El Carmen, Pajonal, La Machona and La Redonda Lagoons,
Tabasco, Mexico: Hydrodynamic Model and Coastal Erosion 66
A Preliminary Study Which Includes the Survey of Bird Population
in Mount Hartman Coastal Habitat-Maintenance of Coastal Habitats
Which Support Migrant and Resident Species 66
Protection and Restoration of the St. Vincent Parrot
(Amazona guildingii) and Their Habitat 67
The Wider Caribbean Initiative on Ship-Generated Waste (WCISW) 67
IV. Special Sessions
Gulf of Mexico Stewardship
The Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Program:
An Innovative Approach to Reducing Pollution 68
Citizen Monitoring in Galveston Bay 68
Cape San Bias Ecological Study Eglin Air Force Base, Florida 69
Texas NEP - Corpus Christi Bay
Corpus Christi Bay National Estuary Program: An Ecosystem
Approach for Sustainable Development 69
Habitats and Living Resources of the Corpus Christi Bay NEP Study Area 70
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The Possible Role of a Natural Nitrogen Source in the
Initiation of the Texas Brown Tide 70
The Historical and Future Impact of Human Uses on the
Coastal Bend Estuary 71
Texas NEP - Galveston Bav
The Changing Environment Within Galveston Bay 71
Consensus Building in the Galveston Bay National Estuary Program 72
Geographic Targeting of Water Quality Problems in the Galveston Bay
System in Support of NPDES Watershed Activities 72
Clear Creek/Clear Lake Marsh Restoration Project 73
The Galveston Bay Information Center: What Can We Learn From Our Users? 73
Business and Industry
Zero Discharge Gulf of Mexico Initiative 74
TNRCC Pollution Prevention Outreach Programs to Industry 74
Major Developments in Used Oil Recycling 75
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Summary of Presentations
from the
Concurrent Sessions
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L Student Track
Student sessions at Gulf of Mexico symposia have been remarkable successes, usually
attracting standing-room-only crowds. The Junior High and High School student
speakers have been excellent, not only because of their public speaking abilities (they
put in a great number of hours preparing for their talks), but because of the quality of
work they are doing in the environment. They have something to talk about.
At the Corpus Christi Gulf of Mexico Symposium, students from central Mississippi
talked about what they were doing with chicken litter to keep it from fouling the Gulf of
Mexico. Students on a small creek in Kansas initially angered city officials, but inspired
action to clean up the stream and keep it clean. Now the city officials are justifiably
proudof their students. Students from Texas, Louisiana, and Alabama are carrying out
equally impressive projects.
The students have shown great poise as speakers, however, students need assistance to
carry out their activities. Primarily, students need mentors. Mentors usually come from
the teaching staff where they attend school. These mentors tend to be extremely active
and concerned teachers who continue projects with new students as older students
graduate. They contain the project's corporate memory. They also provide know-how,
not only of the project itself, but also of how to obtain funding to keep the project going.
Students also need the help of business and industry to help fund projects and to provide
scientific and technical expertise on projects. Once students have done enough work on
their project to report to the public, they need business and industry to provide support
for them to travel to public events, such as the Gulf of Mexico Symposium, to talk about
their activities.
Although planning and organizing a student session at a major symposium is a
challenge, such a session is a surefire ticket to success. One only has to attend a session
and see standing-room-only crowds, the quality of the speakers and their work, and the
acceptance by the audience to understand.
Effects of Various Solutions on the Growth of Hydroponically Grown Plants: A Five-Year
Study
Greg Loose
Stone High School, Wiggins, MS 39577
Fresh water is in very short supply for agricultural purposes as well as for drinking water. If sea
water could be used for irrigation, potentially 32,000 km of desert coastline are available for
agriculture, and millions of hectares of inland desert overlie saline aquifers. In this study the
hydroponic method is used to grow plants in varying concentrations of salt. In year one, radishes
were grown using household plant foods. In year two, English peas were grown using four common
fertilizers and the best plant food from year one. In year three, English peas were again grown using
four common fertilizers with the addition of a new fertilizer. In year four, white onions were grown
using different salinity levels. The fifth year project was to determine the effects of various salinity
levels on the health of the white onion (Allium cepa). Plants were tested in tap water and solutions
of 10,15,20 and 25 grams of salt per liter of water. Plants were measured every five days from the
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time the first sprout appeared. Other measures included root length, weight, chlorophyll level and
observation of cell walls. The results supported the hypothesis that as salinity levels increase, the
overall health of the plant will decrease.
Does Industrial Growth Affect the Health of the Theodore Industrial Canal and Surrounding
Estuaries?
Olivette Grace Talbert
St. Paul's Episcopal School, Mobile, Alabama
Does industrial growth affect the pH, alkalinity, salinity, clarity, oxygen content, and total suspended
solids in the water of the Theodore Industrial Canal and the surrounding estuaries? This is what my
project set out to discover. I believed that industrial growth would affect the health of the Theodore
Industrial Canal and the surrounding estuaries in the area of clarity and total suspended solids. I live
on the Theodore Industrial Canal and have an estuary pond that gets its water supply through a
marsh from the Theodore Industrial Canal, therefore, the effects of industrial growth are of vital
importance to me. I hope to discover with this project if there is an effect on the health of the
Theodore Industrial Canal and the surrounding estuaries and what I can do to help fix any negative
effects to the health of the canal.
Community Service Learning for At-Risk High School Students...on the Border
Eric Raya
El Paso, Texas
The Office of Border Affairs and Environmental Equity of the Texas Natural Resource Conservation
Commission has teamed up with the El Paso Independent School District and Upper Rio Grande
Private Industry Council to sponsor an environmental monitoring and education program for at-risk
high school students for the last two summers. The Community Service Learning Program for At-
Risk Youths is the first program of its kind along the Texas-Mexico border. Thirty students from
schools throughout El Paso have had the opportunity to learn more about the environment in the
program while earning a small stipend.
The 6-week summer program introduces students to water quality sampling, river ecology, data
collection, laboratory methodology, wastewater treatment processes, on-site sewage systems in area
colonias, computer data base systems and more. Students apply their math and science skills to
hands-on environmental work. They also learn basic work skills, like how to shake hands, what to
wear, and how to fill out an application.
Students are also involved in some political action. Last summer, a team of students presented their
water quality data to the City Council to explain the significance and propose a city-wide plan for
action. They developed a River Clean-up Program for City Council to consider and implement.
Perhaps more importantly, the program exposes at-risk students to community leaders and new role
models. The program involves important guest speakers and site visits to offices and operating
plants. A trip to the local university is also included to encourage students to finish high school and
pursue college degrees.
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Dangerous Waters: The Effects of Petrochemicals on Lake Travis
(abstract not available)
WATER - What's the Difference?
Terisha Smith
The Science Academy of Austin, LBJ High School, Austin, TX 78724
This year Terisha Smith, a senior in the Science Academy at LBJ, has been conducting a study of
the water quality and water chemistry of the Barton Creek area in Zilker Park. Last year she
conducted a study comparing the water quality of two different sites along the Barton Creek. This
year she conducted a study of three natural springs located within a few hundred feet of each other.
The first site was Aliza Springs located near the miniature train station in the Zilker Park Playscape.
The second site was Barton Springs and the sample was taken from the source of the springs which
is located beneath the diving board in the Barton Springs Pool. The third site was the Sunken
Gardens which are located off of Barton Creek and near the Barton Springs Pool. She conducted
tests on water chemistry and water quality on the three sites to determine why the three sites have
different water quality and water chemistry. The hypothesis made was that the natural and human-
made surroundings and the human interactions with the springs affect the water chemistry and
quality. She ran standard monitoring tests, made observations of the physical surroundings and
human interactions, and collected data about the springs and the businesses in and around the Barton
Creek and Zilker Park area.
Scouts Join Hands Across the Border to Save Turtles
(abstract not available)
Student Assessment of Watershed Fiesta
Jennie Caffey and Ben Shields
The Science Academy of Austin, LBJ High School, Austin, TX 78724
Jennie Caffey and Ben Shields, two students from the LBJ Science Academy Environmental Science
class will present on the Watershed Fiesta and our survey of the participants' reactions to the event.
The Watershed Fiesta was a series of educational sessions and displays, hosted by the Cameron
Independent School District and sponsored by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board
and the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission. Our class was asked to videotape the
Fiesta and interview the students who attended. We also took a survey of the participants.
Our conclusion was that the kids at the fiesta felt that it was more fun and educational than learning
in a normal classroom setting. Our video also showed that the kids were extremely excited to learn
about the environment at the Watershed Fiesta, and learned about many valuable concepts.
Our presentation will consist of a video of high school students interviewing the elementary age
participants of the Watershed Fiesta and a discussion of the results of the survey. We will also
discuss strategies and possibilities of the next Watershed Fiesta.
Turtle Preservation in Merida, Mexico, Yucatan Peninsula
(abstract not available)
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The Water Link
Kendra Sepulveda and Heather Franke
The Science Academy of Austin, LBJ High School, Austin, TX 78724
Has the toxic release in the Colorado Rivershed produced a change in the citizen monitoring data?
Kendra Sepulveda and Heather Franke, two presenters from the Science Academy of Austin's
Environmental Science class present a water equality monitoring project that correlates data from
the Toxic Release Inventory Survey and the Colorado River Watch citizen monitoring database.
Discussions will include a general overview of the study, resources involved, history of previous
attempts, specific outcomes, student motivation and student involvement. The results of this study
will be used as a model for other correlation studies in Texas riversheds. The results could shape
citizen water monitoring standards for estuarine and freshwater environments. The process would
involve data from the Lower Colorado River Authority, Texas Water Commission and the Texas
Natural Resource Conservation Commission. High schools from the Gulf states will be recruited
to start similar monitoring correlation studies.
Marine Debris Fingerprinting
Shannon Clark, Therese Clark and James Clark
Monsignor Kelly High School, Beaumont, TX 77707
This project required students to document the amount and probable sources of marine debris
monthly at Sea Rim State Park, Texas. Photographs were used to document any debris items which
could be specifically connected to a source. The students were able to "fingerprint" the marine
debris to its sources. Students also studied the impact of currents in the Gulf of Mexico and located
items such as cruise line shampoo bottles that were discarded in the Caribbean and brought to Texas
by currents. So far the students have collected over 20,000 items of debris along a one-mile stretch
of beach since April, 1992. An additional one metric mile survey was undertaken as a volunteer
effort to determine statistical information regarding land-base versus marine-origin debris and was
the first in the Gulf of Mexico. There is seasonality to the amount and type of marine debris that
washes upon the Texas coast. Picking up marine debris on a monthly basis is not the way to solve
the problem, but individuals involved with the beach cleanup can document data that can be used
to target user groups and their impact on the environmental quality of the Gulf of Mexico.
Nutrient Enrichment: Why Worry?
Olivia LeDee
St. Landry Parish 4-H Club Program, P. O. Box 392, Lawtell, LA 70550
"Nutrient Enrichment: Why Worry?" is designed to inform the public of the effects of nutrient
enrichment. It educates consumers concerning the ways in which many useful products are linked
to destroying our waters.
The phosphate content of household laundry detergents is identified. Environmentally pleasing
amounts and unsafe amounts of phosphate in detergents are explained. The phosphate content of
fertilizers and pesticides is also discussed.
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Eutrophication, caused by excessive nutrients entering the water supply, can result in dead zones
and fish kills, especially in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. This process affects Louisiana's
economy by damaging the seafood and recreation industries.
The use of phosphates in products and in the manufacturing of products is necessary. Decisions
must be made by weighing the positive and negative consequences of using phosphates. Consumers
are encouraged to take responsibility for their contribution to the problems of nutrient enrichment
by careful selection of the products they use.
Extensive research was done at Loyola University in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Erosion Prevention on a Plantation Pine Farm
(abstract not available)
Purvis FFA Environmental Awareness Program
Kevin Martin
Purvis FFA Chapter, MS
The Purvis FFA will test several of the area rivers including: Little Black Creek, Pearl River, and
the Pat Harrison Water Way District. The tests will check for chemicals and other such pollution
in the water. These tests would be run several times using borrowed equipment from the school
laboratory. The tests would be run twice a month for three months and the reading would be
recorded. The results would then be sent to area news media and area businesses so that they may
know of the condition of the area's waterways so that if the readings are high, they can begin to take
measures towards the reduction of these readings. The Chapter will also work with the area
businesses to help reduce the levels if they are too high. The Chapter will continue readings for
another three months, and then again turn in the information, and, if needed, will work with the area
businesses. The Chapter will also clean up the river banks and the park areas of the Pat Harrison
Water Way District and Little Black Creek. This will be done twice a month as well. And the
Chapter will continue this for the rest of the time research is being conducted. The Chapter will also
advertise around school and the business area on the importance of recycling, keeping the rivers
clean, and not dumping illegally, and will promote a newspaper recycling drive in which the papers
will be collected at the school and then carried to a recycling center. Also aluminum cans will be
collected in the same manner. These activities will begin in the spring and into the summer of 1995.
Students will be asked to volunteer, but officers will be required to participate in this important
Chapter activity. The Chapter hopes to help improve the environmental conditions of the area.
Environmental Awareness Program
Tommy Mitchell
Union County 4-H, Pontotoc High School
Steve Conaway
Union County 4-H, W. P. Daniel High School, New Albany, MS
We first noticed that many of our teachers participated in the Newspapers in Education Program and
afterwards simply threw the papers into the garbage. We talked with the teachers and with the
Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal and devised a program to recycle those papers. We publicized
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the fact that every Thursday we would transport newspapers to Tupelo for recycling. We involved
other students in picking up papers from various schools and depositing them in one central area.
Local residents were encouraged to save their papers and then bring them to the school for recycling.
In many cases residents would call and request that a student pick up their papers from their home.
Each Thursday two students would transport the papers to Tupelo.
We follow basically the same plan for cans. The yearbook staff operates the school concession
booth. We have a separate container for disposal of cans. We met with representatives from other
schools and promoted this same program. We met with firemen in each area of the county and
requested a bin at each fire station for collection of cans and paper. We then encouraged residents
to dispose of their cans in this fashion. Occasionally a sign-in sheet is posted and from this list a
name is drawn to receive a prize donated from one of the local merchants.
We also present an educational program to junior high and elementary students using the Enviro
Scape model. We then have a brainstorming session on how the students can get involved and make
a difference.
We are currently working on creating a video for the schools that will make students aware of
environmental programs. We have a video team in place and a promise of assistance from Channel
9 in Tupelo on editing and making stations available to show the video. We are also working with
the Mississippi State art department and a middle school art class on designing an environmental
display board for use at Earth Days and other events. We are working on designing an
environmental billboard for the Bank of New Albany.
Linda Mitchell, our former teacher and current 4-H Agent, is assisting us in coordinating all these
programs.
Bayside Students Participate in a Statistical Sampling Survey of Marine Debris in Coastal
Alabama
Julie Chason
Bayside Academy, Bay Minette, AL 36507
Marine debris is terribly ugly and destroys our image of the beautiful white beach that everyone
wants access to, but more importantly, it destroys our marine life. And it is even more dangerous
today than it has been in years past because of the fact that there is so much more of it, and the fact
that it has changed, for the most part, from biodegradable things, such as food products, to non-
biodegradable floatable plastics. Marine animals die each year from becoming entangled in plastic
debris or from ingesting plastic, thinking it is food.
But where does all this marine debris come from? There are six main sources of marine debris.
They are beachgoers, ships and other vessels, combined sewage overflows and stormwater sewers,
waste disposal activities, industrial facilities, and offshore oil and gas platforms. Thus, there have
been several laws passed to try to target the problem. Two of the most significant of these laws are
the international agreements, Marpol Annex V and the 1987 Marine Plastic Pollution Research and
Control Act. Marpol Annex V prohibits the dumping of any plastics in any waters. It also puts
limitations on where other types of trash can be dumped. The 1987 Marine Plastic Pollution
Research and Control Act also prohibits the disposal of plastics at sea by U.S. vessels, and
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additionally, it prohibits the disposal of plastics by any vessel within U.S. waters including bays,
sounds and inland waterways.
These laws are the first step towards the correction of the marine debris problem, but are they really
working? In order to try to monitor the effectiveness of these laws, the coastal states have
established annual beach cleanups for the purpose of gathering research and spreading public
awareness. And, although this program is great for public awareness, it wasn't providing very good
data about the trash on the beach. Therefore, the Center for Marine Conservation, in connection
with the EPA, established the Marine Debris Statistical Sampling Program in which I am involved.
Sampling sites are being established all over the country, and we were the fourth to be established.
The site of our survey is the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, which was chosen because there
is very little river influence there and little beachgoer interference because it is pretty secluded. The
program involves a 1500 meter transect of the beach that is divided into three parts. In the outside
500 meter sections, floatable trash is labeled, mapped and left on the beach. In the middle section,
the trash is categorized and picked up. The purpose of doing the surveying in these particular
sections is to try to answer several difference questions. The outside sections try to answer the
question of whether the debris is just drifting along the beach or whether new trash is continually
being washed up from the Gulf of Mexico. For example, if we continually find previously labeled
trash, we know that it is just staying on the beach; but if we don't, we know that new trash is
continually coming in from the Gulf. The middle section is there to try to answer the question of
how much trash is being found on the beach, and what kinds of trash are there. Certain kinds of
trash are indicative of specific things. For example, plastic fishing lines, nets and ropes are signs
that commercial fishermen are still dumping their debris into the water and maybe they need to be
cracked down on.
We have been doing this survey for almost two years now and we are sending our results to the
Center for Marine Conservation for analysis. We don't have any definite results yet, but our early
results seem to indicate that the debris stays on the beach until winter storms come along and wash
it away and that there is very little lateral movement. And, we have found, as expected, that plastics
are the highest percentage of debris on Alabama's beaches.
Getting Your Feet Wet in Tampa Bay Environmental Projects
(abstract not available)
Lee County Schools Rivers Project
Jackson Morgan and Jackie Bala
Lee County School District, Fort Myers, FL 33901
Students from 18 Lee County public schools have been working for several years to monitor the
conditions of local rivers, streams, canals, and swamps. Activities have included data collection on
physical, chemical, and biological parameters. These data are shared among the participating
schools, with the international GREEN (Global Rivers Environmental Education Network) project,
with the Illinois Rivers Curriculum Project, and with local regulatory agencies (Lee County
Environmental Lab and the South Florida Water Management District). The projects are
interdisciplinary in nature. Student teams interview long-time residents of their watersheds to
collect information about the earlier conditions of the area. Other teams use still and video cameras
to record project activities and the current conditions of the watersheds. As individual school
projects proceed, they make positive improvements to local conditions. These improvements have
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included such actions as the revegetation of stream banks with native species, creating brochures
and other materials for public education, providing advice and suggestions to county staff regarding
water management on school sites, and providing the manpower to clean trash from our waterways.
Tampa Bay; Above, Below and Beyond
(abstract not available)
Action Monday Group
Sara Heilman
Lee County Schools, Fort Myers, FL 33901
The Action Monday Group is a group of students committed to positive environmental action. It
is a high school credit course designed for juniors and seniors who are willing and anxious to make
a difference to the local environment. Over the last 25 years the class has accomplished many
projects which have direct impacts on the estuarine resources of Lee County, Florida. Some of these
projects include assisting the Nature Conservancy with the preservation of Matanzas Pass Preserve,
assisting the City of Cape Coral with establishing Four-Mile Cove Eco Park, spearheading a tax
initiative to establish and purchase the 2,000 acre Six-Mile Cypress Slough Preserve which provides
Estero Bay with fresh water, and stimulating and coordinating the efforts to establish Manatee Park
as an important warm water wintering site for manatees. The Manatee Park efforts began in 1988
with the students providing the original concept plan for the park. This year's students are
continuing to assist county staff as construction efforts begin. Students are being consulted and
asked to review the current master plan and blueprints for the park. Students have met on-site to
critique the plans, have met with county staff, and have testified at public meetings before the county
commissioners. This year's class has also reviewed land development issues on Fort Myers Beach
and has provided public testimony in favor of preservation. The class is reviewing other pending
development actions that relate to zoning and construction on the barrier islands and uplands
adjacent to the mangroves, growth management issues, environmental impacts, marine mammal
protection and loggerhead turtles. This presentation will review the successes of the Monday Group
and will describe some of the basic rules and techniques it uses to be effective in influencing public
policy.
Colorado River Watch Network in the Classroom
(abstract not available)
Dynamic Dauphin Island
Jennifer Rice
Thompson Middle School, Alabaster, AL 35007
Dynamic Dauphin Island is an intensive scientific research program that is introducing 8th grade
students to scientific research in the fields of oceanography, coastal geology, and surveying. The
purpose of this project is to build a data base to assist in the studies of water quality, beach erosion,
and island movement. Periodically the data is being supplied to the Dauphin Island Sea Lab and the
University of South Alabama Engineering Department. The students are being trained in survey
skills using a theodolite survey system and a Global Positioning System. The data is being returned
to the school where it is computer analyzed using professional survey software. Since March, 1994,
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six-person field teams have been going to the island once a month to survey eight transects. Based
on the data gathered so far, there appears to have been a significant loss of sand from the east end
of the island. This can be attributed not only to the ebb-tidal flow coming from Mobile Bay, but also
some recent storm action. Farther to the west accretion appears to be taking place at some reaches.
With further study, computer generated maps will be produced that will show changes in the
shoreline.
FHA/HERO Members Prepare Nature Laboratories for Pre-School Children
Kimberly McManus
Florala High School, West 3rd Avenue, Florala, AL 36442
The objectives of this project were: 1) to increase awareness of wise use of resources, which would
include recycling; 2) to emphasize the importance of natural habitats, i.e., wetlands; 3) to learn
proper techniques for planting and harvesting; 4) to increase awareness of constant environmental
changes. Both FHA members (who were also students in parenting classes) and pre-school children
learned basic recycling information, put learning into practice with hands-on activities that were
continued throughout the school year, and shared their accomplishments with others throughout the
community. Learning centers constructed with the help of both seniors and pre-school children
included bird feeders, weather stations, bird houses, fall and spring gardens, and mini-wetland
habitats. Groups also planted native trees and wildflowers. We found that with very little money,
creative thinking, wise use of resources (including environmental agencies) and hard work, high
school students can make a difference in their communities.
FHA/HERO Chapter Chose the Environment as the Focus for the 93-94 Project
April Schofield
Florala High School, West 3rd Avenue, Florala, AL 36442
The objectives of this project were to improve and protect our environment. The FHA members
chose to volunteer for a water monitoring program that began in April of 1993. The FHA members
chose to do their studies on Lake Jackson so they could find out for themselves about the quality of
the lake. The group from Choctawatchee-Pea Rivers Water Management Authority was willing to
provide a water testing kit for the members to monitor streams in their watershed. The more the
members became involved, the more they became interested in their environment. This led to an
overall goal of educating themselves and their community about common environmental problems.
The members then planned an Environmental Awareness Day for our community that involved
displays and presentations by 23 agencies throughout the state of Alabama. The day was held
December 9, 1993, with activities planned for 8:00 a.m. until 9:00 o'clock that evening. In the
regional television newscast, viewers were reminded that our major goal was to leave this beautiful
area in good condition for our children and grandchildren to enjoy as well as we do.
Submerged Aquatic Plants of Bay Minette Basin in the Mobile Bay Delta, Alabama
Jillian Van Ells, Kathleen D'Souza, and Thomas Fink
Alabama School of Mathematics and Science, 1255 Dauphin St., Mobile, AL 36604
Our ongoing research involves a study of the submerged aquatic plants of Bay Minette Basin
(8MB), located just north of Interstate 10 in the Mobile Bay Delta. BMB is a shallow (0.1 to 1 m)
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and relatively protected estuarine bay of zero to low salinity levels. 8MB lacks mud flats which are
exposed during low tide and so submerged aquatic plants are not generally killed above the mud
during winter. 8MB also receives some input from a nearby springfed creek. Bay Minette Creek.
Qualitative and quantitative sampling (0.18 m2 quadrant, dry weights of each plant species) indicates
that dominant plants included Elodea canadensis, Ceratophyllum demersum, Heteranthera dubia,
Myriophyllum spicatwn^ and Potamogeton pusillus. Myriophyllum spicatum appears to have greatly
decreased in abundance since 1979 (Stout et al. 1982). We have also noticed a trend of dead Rangia
cuneata clams wherever submerged plants are dense. This is probably due to high biological oxygen
demand levels at night in these areas. We will continue to study the distribution of submerged
aquatic plants in this bay and adjacent bays and we will compare our results with a study conducted
about a decade ago (Stout et al. 1982).
Invertebrates Associated with Heron Nests on a Small Alabama Coastal Island
Robert Dreibelbis, Michael Posey, and Thomas Fink
Alabama School of Mathematics and Science
A small island off the Gulf coast of Mobile County offers a predator-free refuge for extremely dense
nesting populations of several species of herons. The birds feed elsewhere and supply large amounts
of waste which serve to provide a nutrient base for the island. A small number of often highly
abundant invertebrate species (e.g., mites, Collembola, pseudoscorpions) may be associated with
the nutrient source provided by the birds in the form of guano. In our ongoing study, we are
attempting to characterize and understand this association of the birds and associated invertebrates
by quantitatively sampling (quadrant samples 254 cm2 and 1282 cm3 soil and vegetative debris under
and near nests) the litter below nests, litter not under nests, and litter on a nearby control island
without nesting birds.
Non-Point Water Pollution Study, Wildcat Creek
Dm Clarke, Moderator
Manhattan High, 2100 Poyntz, Manhattan, KS 66502
The four abstracts which follow reflect the first year findings of a nonpoint water pollution study
of Wildcat Creek (Kansas), on the Kansas River (and Mississippi River) watershed. In addition to
doing empirical research, the group emphasizes how "we all live downstream" and how each of us
has an impact on water quality.
Biological Sampling
Eun Fuh
Manhattan High School, Manhattan, KS 66502
An EPA-fiinded and KDHE-administered program designed for high school students to collect and
analyze data regarding water quality, it allows teachers to evaluate students through performance
criteria designed beforehand and shared with the involved students. Used with "independent
study/research" and not a regularly scheduled class, the 10 parameters will be discussed and
compared with a more traditional grading system and examples will be given to show stumbling
blocks as well as effectiveness in this approach to learning.
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Monitoring the Watershed
Heather Smith
Manhattan High School, Manhattan, KS 66502
Use of a spectrophotometer, a conductivity meter, digital titrator, and pH meter to do chemical
analysis of water samples. Explanation of velocity measurements and ways to do biological
sampling will be shown. Determining the land use of the watershed of the creek by use of a grid and
aerial photos as well as the categories described.
Nonpoint Pollution
Chris Knorr
Manhattan High School, Manhattan, KS 66502
Data collection, storage, manipulation, and interpretation, including use of computers and special
programs to manipulate data. We will share our annual report, emphasizing graphs that will show
comparison and contrast of data based on season, temperature, water volume (especially during and
after the Flood of'93), and site differences.
Public Education and Outreach
Raymond Tilley
Manhattan High School, Manhattan, KS 66502
Discussions on conveying earth-wise messages to the community (elementary students to adults).
Water conservation, respect of riparian habitat, riparian biology, effects of human development on
creeks, flood of '93's impact on creeks of the Kansas prairie, and other creek related topics. Ideas
will be given on methods of arousing public awareness.
Poultry Litter Recycling in Mississippi
(abstract not available)
Hot Off The Press
Andrea Means
Puckett Attendance Center, P O. Box 40, Puckett, MS 39151
Last year Puckett Attendance Center received an environmentally focused grant from Toyota Motor
Sales, U.S.A., and the National Science Teachers Association. The publicity from the TAPESTRY
grant became too much for a few people to handle, so the author of the grant decided to form a
publicity committee to answer questions and work with the news media.
Since its formation in May, the committee has met each month to devise a monthly news release on
the progress of the project. Rankin First, a community advocacy organization similar to a chamber
of commerce, meets with the committee and teaches communication strategies to the members.
While learning these strategies, the students have also enhanced their leadership skills by taking on
a project of this magnitude.
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The committee has generated numerous news articles. Among them are one or more articles in each
of the three local newspapers, an article in EPA's "Gulfwatch" newsletter and a proposed article in
the next issue of the "Mississippi Association of Gifted Children Newsletter." We are now in the
process of working on an application for the Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation 1995 Mississippi
excellence in recycling award.
There's Something Rotten in Puckett
Zach Stover
Puckett Attendance Center, P. O. Box 40, Puckett, MS 39151
Students at Puckett Attendance Center have been involved in the TAPESTRY Grant project and
have researched environmentally safe methods for disposing of poultry litter.
As a part of this project, we compared nitrogen and phosphate levels between poultry litter
composted in five different carbon sources: sawdust, gin litter, shredded newspaper, leaves, and
grass clippings. One carbon source and a sample of poultry litter were placed in each compost bin.
The samples were then mixed thoroughly and moistened. Temperature was measured and recorded,
with composting continuing until a peak temperature of 130 degrees Fahrenheit was attained.
Samples were then analyzed for nitrogen and phosphorus content. A control was used to determine
base nitrogen and phosphorus levels.
Poultry litter composted alone, as a control, showed nitrogen and phosphorus levels of 1.8%. The
lowest nitrogen levels of 1.6% and 1.5% were obtained using sawdust and gin litter as the respective
carbon sources, while lowest phosphorus levels of 0.8% and 0.7% were obtained using sawdust and
newspaper as the carbon sources. Carbon sources that resulted in an increased level of nitrogen
were leaves and newspaper, while grass was the only carbon source that increased the level of
phosphorus.
Down and Dirty on the Farm
Carla Callender
Pucket Attendance Center, P. O. Box 40, Puckett, MS 39151
Science students at Puckett Attendance Center tested the soil for phosphorus, pot ash and nitrogen.
The students discovered that all nutrients were low. In our studies we have determined that the
proper addition of animal litter to the soil can be beneficial in many ways to improve the physical
conditions. Some of the positive aspects include: build-up of humus-forming substances which
improve the physical condition of both light and heavy soils; improved soil aeration; greater ease
of seedbed preparation; more rapid seed germination; and improved water holding capacity.
Poultry litter, along with other types of animal litter, is an inexpensive alternative to conventional
fertilizers. When the litter is plowed into the soil, it helps retain nutrients, especially nitrogen. It
also helps reduce odor problems associated with litter usage.
In a University of Arkansas study, they suggest that two pounds of nitrogen in animal litter be
substituted for each pound of fertilizer. Nitrogen is recommended where the litter is not
immediately incorporated into the soil. Phosphate and pot ash should be added on a pound-per-
pound basis.
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Chicken Dumplings
Lacosta Patrick
Puckett Attendance Center, P. O. Box 40, Puckett, MS 39151
Puckett, Mississippi is the home of 300 friendly folks and several million chickens. Such a
concentration of chickens produces about 10,000,000 pounds of raw poultry litter each year and
generates environmental problems through nutrient build-up in the water and soil. Water runoff
from Puckett feeds into streams and rivers which eventually flow into the Gulf of Mexico. There,
this nutrient enrichment promotes algal blooms which lead to oxygen depletion and curtail all forms
of aquatic life in the "dead zones."
Students at Puckett Attendance Center have conducted research through funding provided by the
TAPESTRY Grant in an attempt to discover a method to dispose of poultry litter in a manner that
will not contaminate the water supply through seepage or water runoff. Students composted poultry
litter with five different carbon sources. The composted fertilizer was then used on an on-campus
corn crop. The students, with the help of the Department of Environmental Quality, tested the water
runoff from the com to determine which carbon source produced the least amount of nutrient build-
up.
Test data analyses are presently incomplete because the project is continuous for a year. Test results
will be complete by the end of October.
Children of the Corn
Dean Rivers
Puckett Attendance Center, P. O. Box 40, Puckett, MS 39151
Students in sixth through twelfth grades at Puckett Attendance Center conducted research on poultry
litter for a project funded by a $10,000 TAPESTRY Grant from Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., and
the National Association of Science Teachers.
Students researched compost litter using five different carbon sources in an attempt to curtail the
nutrient enrichments in the soil and water. The composted fertilizer and commercial fertilizer were
distributed over a half-acre on-campus corn crop to determine the effectiveness of each.
Students, a Poultry Science Professor from Mississippi State University, and the county agent from
the Rankin County Extension Service tested the com to make several determinations. Few, if any
distinctions, were discovered between the two fertilizers. However, the com with composted
fertilizer was more robust, greener, taller, and more productive than either the corn with the
commercial fertilizer or the control group.
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II. Educators Track
The major theme for the Gulf of Mexico Program's 1995 Symposium was "Steering a
Course to the Future. " From an educator's standpoint, our future is the education of
our youth. The Educators Track provided teachers with a forum to experience new
teaching techniques and gain insight into innovative project ideas that could be adapted
for their communities around the Jive Gulf states. Teachers also had an opportunity to
network and create contacts with scientists and students involved in environmental
projects and programs that can further enhance environmental learning for the benefit
of the Gulf, thus steering our course to focus on a brighter future - to further efforts to
protect, restore, and preserve the Gulf of Mexico, America's Sea.
Preparing Effective Grant Proposals
Sandra Sevier
EPA Region 6,1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, TX 75202
In this time of tight budgets and intense competitiveness for resources, educators are increasingly
turning to outside sources for funding their projects. However, inexperienced teachers may be
unnecessarily intimidated by the process. The presentation will offer tips and ideas for writing more
effective proposals and will dispel the idea that dealing with bureaucratic paperwork has to be
difficult and frustrating. Government grant specialists and successful grant writers offer advice in
identifying sources of funding, selecting topics and effectively addressing criteria in writing the
proposal.
Marsh Maneuvers and Wild Woods Wanderings...An Investment in the Future of Louisiana's
Youth and Wetland Resources
Michele Abington-Cooper
Home Economist, Courthouse, Winnsboro, LA 71295
Visit both Louisiana's coastal wetland environment and the largest standing bottomland hardwood
forest in the United States as you experience the learning activities used during Louisiana's two
senior 4-H environmental education camps, Marsh Maneuvers and Wild Woods Wanderings. Marsh
Maneuvers is an opportunity for 4-H'ers to learn about Louisiana's coastal wetland environment
firsthand. The mud and mosquitos, heat and humidity, swimming and seining all imprint the mind
with an appreciation of our coastal marshes. Marsh Maneuvers utilizes a LUMCON (Louisiana
University Marine Consortium) facility at Grand Isle. Using the Tensas National Wildlife Refuge
as a classroom, 4-H'ers attending Wild Woods Wanderings will experience the diverse dynamics
of a forested wetland ecosystem. They will be made aware of the cumulative impact on the forested
wetland resources, flora, fauna, soil, water and wildlife of past, present and future utilization by
man; environmental, agricultural and economic issues; management of the resources; and natural
processes of biological communities. The programs are collaborative efforts of the Louisiana
Cooperative Extension Service, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, LSU Sea Grant,
the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program, Northeast Delta Resource Conservation and
Development, and the Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge.
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Agriculture and the Environment
A Litterate Approach to a Fowl Problem
Joe Ann Clark
Puckett Attendance Center, P. O. Box 40, Puckett, MS 39151
Students in grades six through twelve at Puckett Attendance Center have been directly involved in
two recycling projects. They conducted research to find an environmentally safe method for
disposal of poultry litter and simulated an on-campus corn farm to test the value of composted
poultry litter versus commercial fertilizer. The study was a collaborative effort of the students,
Mississippi State University's Poultry Science Department, the Mississippi Soil and Water
Conservation Commission, the Department of Environmental Quality, the Rankin County Extension
Service, and local poultry farmers.
Puckett, Mississippi, has an established poultry industry that is constantly growing. At the present
time, this small rural community has approximately fifty chicken houses. Each house produces
about one hundred tons of poultry litter each year. Such large amounts of raw poultry litter can
cause problems to the water supply and the soil, through nutrient build-up.
The students composted poultry litter using five carbon sources: sawdust, gin litter, shredded
newspaper, leaves, and grass clippings. They then put the composted fertilizer and commercial
fertilizer on different parts of the corn crop. Students, with help from the different agencies,
conducted tests on the water runoff, the soil, the different compost bins, and the corn.
How Agriculture Affects the Environment
Billy Hord
Georgetown High School, 603 Lakeway Drive, Georgetown, TX 78628
In order to help students understand the connection between agriculture and the environment, I ask
them to identify how the environment may be affected by agriculture. To assist students in
understanding this connection, we investigate the agricultural practices of our area farmers and
ranchers. This use of local practices enables the students to see firsthand the problems that may
arise from unwise practices. I use a simple experiment to illustrate the contamination of ground
water from the misuse of chemicals.
The experiment uses a 2-liter soda bottle, sand, gravel, a drinking straw, spray bottle pump, water,
and food coloring. The pumping action of the pump can show how, when agricultural chemicals
are allowed to enter the soil, they may find their way into the ground water and be pulled into water
wells. This lesson is also effective in assisting students in understanding the problems associated
with nonprofit source agricultural pollution. Students can see the movement of pollution (chemicals
- manure runoff) from the farm or ranch to our waterways.
I feel that as an Agricultural Science teacher, I must encourage the awareness of our future
agriculturalists about their responsibilities for the protection of our environment.
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The South Mississippi Environmental and Agricultural Coordination Organization: An
Example of Networking Programs and Expertise
Cathy Holloman, Mississippi State University, Cooperative Extension Service and Jennifer
Buchanan, Mississippi Department of Marine Resources
Personnel from a number of local, state, and federal governmental agencies and private sector
groups in the south Mississippi coastal area, who share a mandate for consideration of environmental
and/or agricultural related topics, formed a loose-knit organization in 1992 that fosters
communication and coordination of efforts among its members. The overall purpose of the South
Mississippi Environmental & Agricultural Coordination Organization (SMEACO) is to develop a
structure that facilitates the exchange of information on environmental and agricultural issues and
problems in the south Mississippi area, but more importantly promotes the networking of resources
and personnel toward common goals. Through quarterly meetings, SMEACO members have an
opportunity to meet each other and learn about the programs and abilities of other members. This
interaction has led to the exchange and sharing of resource materials and personnel in several
existing public education and outreach efforts of member organizations, as well as newly developed
efforts that specifically draw upon the combined "talents" of the organization. As an example,
SMEACO, through a grant from the Gulf of Mexico Program, has sponsored and conducted what
has become the annual Mississippi Environmental Workshop (February 1994 and 1995). The two-
day workshop targets ninth grade students from six coastal counties, and introduces them to each
of the eight major issue areas of the Gulf Program.
Developing an Understanding of Agriculture's Concern and Commitment for our Coastal
Environment
Haskell Simon
Matagorda County Water Council, P. O. Box 106, Bay City, TX 77414
Members of the agricultural community understand all too well that what befalls our natural system
is indeed likely to eventually seal their fate as well. Therefore, they have begun a self-focused
campaign to broadly embrace attitudes and practices which will protect our environment and
conserve our natural resources while continuing to serve as the world's leader in the production of
food and fiber.
The adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Best Management Practices (BMP), no-till
farming, chemical container disposal programs, water conservation and water protection initiatives
are but a few examples of the stewardship now being practiced. In consideration of the overriding
concept that we "All Live Downstream," these prudent measures are gaining acceptance not only
along the Gulf Coast, but throughout the inland reaches of our nation as well.
Thus, to generate an expanded appreciation by the public for these directed efforts of agricultural
producers to promote agriculture as an "Earth Friendly" industry, organized educational efforts have
been initiated. These include enlightening activities focusing on school classrooms, community
organizations, allied business and trade groups, governmental officials and media representatives.
This presentation is intended to outline these outreach education programs and projects and how
both formal and informal educators might access and utilize these for the benefit of their respective
audiences.
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Marine Debris
Everything but the Kitchen Sink
Leslie W. Peart
Texas State Aquarium, P. O. Box 331307, Corpus Christi, TX
This presentation was designed as a creative extension of the 1985-87 study, "Accumulation and
Sources of Beach Debris on Padre Island National Seashore." During that study we encountered
nearly every item necessary to furnish a home and stock a pantry. The new presentation resulted
from a need for more graphic teaching tools, as statistics mean little to those who have not witnessed
the problem. "Kitchen Sink" attempts to capture the magnitude of beach debris through photographs
of trash collected and assembled on Matagorda, St. Joseph's and Padre Islands. Each photo depicts
a different room in a house constructed from beach debris. Multilevel, cross-disciplinary curriculum
accompanies the photos and slides which will be available for classroom use. Curriculum materials
provide data and activities including geography, currents, weather, buoyancy, economics, statistics,
and graphing exercises. Students participating in "Everything but the Kitchen Sink" quickly find
that environmental responsibility begins at home.
Reducing Litter Through Education
Betsy Schrader
Center for Marine Conservation, 1725 DeSales Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
Education has been widely recognized as a crucial element in reducing marine debris. In 1988 the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) contracted the Center for Marine
Conservation to establish and operate two Marine Debris Information Offices (MDIOs), one on each
coast of the U.S. The goal of the MDIOs is to help reduce the amount of debris entering the marine
environment by raising public awareness of the problem through education. To that end, the MDIOs
educate various marine user groups and the general public on the roles they play in contributing to
the marine debris problem, and the harmful effects of this pollution on wildlife, boater safety, and
local economies. Education efforts focus on the positive actions that citizens and industry leaders
can take to remedy this problem, such as participating in community efforts such as beach cleanups,
boater awareness days, port recycling programs, and educating their peers, colleagues and others on
the issue. The MDIOs also provide information on MARPOL Annex V, the MPPRCA and
associated U.S. Coast Guard regulations to boaters, sport fishermen and other marine user groups
and industries.
Marine Debris - A Hands-On Experience
Tern J. Clark
Monsignor Kelly High School, 5950 Kelly Drive, Beaumont, TX 77707
The students are introduced to different beach environments and animal life found on or near the
beach. They are encouraged to participate with comments of experiences they have had at the
beach. Working in groups, each receives a bag of marine debris to identify, categorize and analyze.
The identification, categorization, and analysis of this debris allows each student to separate it into
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categories such as petrochemical, fishing, people, shipping, etc. An inventory is taken and each
group reports its findings. After watching a video of current research being conducted at various
sites along the Gulf of Mexico, the students are given material to make banners and posters for their
school hallways to illustrate the impact of marine debris. This hands-on workshop allows the
student to actively participate in identifying marine debris and recognize industries that are directly
impacting the Gulf of Mexico.
Students Join with Scientists to Track Marine Debris on Alabama's Gulf Beaches
Jenny Cook
Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium, Dauphin Island, AL
In cooperation with the Center for Marine Conservation (CMC) and student volunteers, the Marine
Environmental Sciences Consortium has initiated the first quantitative survey of floating debris
along Alabama's coastline. A 1500 meter length of Gulf beach is sampled every four weeks for five
years. Floatable trash in the outer 500 meter sections is marked, left in place, and mapped. This
method is used to track the movement of debris along the beach. Trash in the center 500 meters is
recorded, removed, and weighed. The major goals of this project are 1) to determine if most beach
litter is coming directly from the ocean or other areas of the beach and 2) to evaluate MARPOL's
effectiveness in reducing the amount of non-degradables dumped into the Gulf of Mexico. Five
years of data collection are needed to determine real patterns of debris movement.
Of major significance is this project's ability to address marine debris in the Gulf of Mexico both
educationally and scientifically. Students are collecting data used by scientists to form baselines
from which crucial environmental decisions will be made.
Teacher Education
Educating the Public, Science and Policy
Dr. John Dindo and Dr. George Crozier
Dauphin Island Sea Lab, P. O. Box 369-370, Dauphin Island, AL 36695
Demographers have indicated that the population in the United States is on the move and that
movement is to the coastlines. It is estimated that by the year 2010 over 70% of the United States
population will live within 50 miles of one of our coastlines. Are our coastal communities and
infrastructure ready for this mass migration?
In an effort to help educate the public and elected officials, the Marine Environmental Sciences
Consortium has developed coastal marine education programs that will help steer the course towards
wise-use management of a delicate ecosystem. Working with Alabama's Department of
Environmental Management, the Sea Lab created Baywatch where citizens monitor water quality
within Mobile Bay and Delta. The newly opened Dauphin Island Sea Lab Education Center
highlights the four main habitats of this region and a new coastal policy program offers scientific
knowledge about the marine ecosystem to elected officials, policy makers, and planners to better
prepare for the 21 st century.
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Operation Pathfinder: An Introduction to Oceanography and Coastal Processes for
Elementary and Middle School Teachers
Sharon H. Walker, Ph.D.
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, Ocean Springs, MS
A network of Sea Grant educators has developed a program to increase the awareness and
understanding of oceanography and coastal processes, as well as improve teaching techniques,
among elementary and middle school teachers who teach predominantly minority students. The four
semester-hour, graduate course occurs in six regions - one of which is at the J. L. Scott Marine
Education Center in Biloxi, MS. A maximum of 20 students are accepted for each course. At the
completion of the course, they have lesson plans, staff development programs and resource materials
developed for their respective grade levels.
Model Programs for Women and Girls: Mini-Camps for Female Secondary Students
Howard D. Walters, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, and Linda C. Skupien, Mississippi-
Alabama Sea Grant Consortium
To fulfill their missions of increasing the awareness and understanding of marine and aquatic
environments among all of the citizenry of the region, the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant
Consortium and the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory have cooperatively implemented a series of
educational programs for minority and/or female, pre-college students. These programs span two
decades in their implementation and offer a unique picture of the possibilities for program design
and participation for typically under-represented audiences. Of particular interest is a model
program implemented in partnership with the Booneville School District to reach female secondary
students. This pilot effort serves as the background for a new effort funded by the National Science
Foundation and the Laboratory targeting students in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
Environmental Awareness
Turning Environmental Concern into Environmental Behavior - Our New Challenge
Cecilia C. Rhoades
University of Texas, Department of Anthropology, Austin, TX 78712
This paper reports the results of several surveys and interviews on environmental concerns with
residents throughout the Texas Coastal Bend in the 1990's. The key questions connecting the
various projects have been: what people think about the environment (their environmental concern);
and, what people actually do about their environmental concerns (their environmental behavior).
Concern over environmental degradation is growing. Air and water pollution are seen as serious and
garbage pollution is seen as a major problem. However, there is still little commitment reported by
respondents toward changing their own negative environmental behaviors. The challenge policy
planners now face is to turn public acceptance of environmental concern into active participation
in environmental protection.
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An Environmental Education Interstate Exchange Program: Another Means of Expanding
Youth Awareness
Walter E. Walker and Mark W. LaSalle
Mississippi State University Cooperative Extension Service/Mississippi Sea Grant Advisory Service
Fifth- and sixth-grade students from coastal Mississippi and Florida were introduced to a broader
range of coastal habitats and environmental issues through an exchange program sponsored jointly
by the Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service/Sea Grant Advisory Service (Biloxi, MS) and the
Quail Hollow Elementary Nature Club (Zephyrhillis, FL). The program consisted of a series of
tours and activities in each state that allowed students to gain a broader perspective about the
diversity of habitats and the types and magnitudes of environmental issues. Students spent a week
in each area over the course of the two-week program. A host-family approach was used to reduce
the costs of lodging for students during their stay in each area. Upon completion of the program,
each student was asked to serve as "environmental ambassadors" by sharing their experiences and
promoting environmental stewardship through presentations to their school class. Future exchange
programs are planned between groups from coastal areas across the gulf and between groups from
coastal and inland areas in an effort to emphasize the importance of watersheds and the connections
between upriver and coastal areas.
Loss of Louisiana Coastal Wetlands
W. L. Berry
Director of Wetlands Management, The Louisiana Land and Exploration Company, P. O. Box
60350, New Orleans, LA 70160
Wetlands throughout South Louisiana are vanishing at an alarming rate. Recently, national attention
has been focused on the problem with a goal of eliminating the loss of these precious wetlands, i.e.
"no net loss." To determine the most effective means of coping with the Louisiana wetlands
situation and the feasibility of the "no net loss" goal, however, it is necessary first to understand how
the land was created, how and why it is changing. The purpose of this presentation is to provide
such factual background information.
New Neighborhood Program Promotes "Bay Friendly" Landscaping
Julie K. Massey and William M. Johnson
Texas Agricultural Extension Service, The Texas A&M University System, Sea Grant College
Program
Ever wonder what happens after a rain to the water that drains off of your lawn and the street? Okay
so maybe you haven't, but that runoff has been identified as one of the most significant
environmental problems facing Galveston Bay. Acting as a cleanser, the rain washes away road
sludge, pesticides, fertilizers, soil and trash into storm drains which lead directly to Galveston Bay.
This runoff carries non-point source pollution, the residue of our everyday activities.
A new pilot project called "Galveston Bay Yards & Neighbors" will introduce "Bay Friendly"
landscapes, lawn and home care practices to participating neighborhoods. The program is designed
to reduce the amount of non-point source pollution which reaches Galveston Bay. Galveston Bay
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Yards & Neighbors is sponsored by the Galveston County Office of the Texas Agricultural
Extension Service which is part of the Texas A&M University System. Partial funding is provided
by a grant from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Homeowners will be provided educational programs, hands-on demonstrations and other support
materials for environmental landscape management. Making small changes in landscape and lawn
care practices will not only improve the water quality of Galveston Bay. but reduce maintenance
costs and efforts. Participants will receive monthly newsletters and a schedule of programs with
guest speakers on topics such as composting, proper pesticide and fertilizer application, landscaping
with native plants, attracting wildlife to your yard, and water conservation. In addition, a hands-on
demonstration planting is planned for a park or neighborhood entrance to serve as a model of "Bay
Friendly" landscaping in the community.
Participating neighborhoods agree to promote and incorporate environmentally friendly landscape
and home care practices. Three neighborhoods will be chosen to participate in 1995. Selection is
based on an established history of neighborhood activity and the completion of a preliminary
homeowner survey by 50% of the residences. A follow-up survey will be used to evaluate changes
in lawn and home care practices.
The Mississippi Environmental Workshop: Steering a Course to Environmental Education
Karen Mitchell
NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, Pascagoula Laboratory
The South Mississippi Environmental & Agricultural Coordination Organization (SMEACO), with
a grant from the Gulf of Mexico Program, has sponsored and conducted what has become the annual
Mississippi Environmental Workshop (February 1994, 1995).
The two-day workshop targets ninth grade students from the six coastal county-area of south
Mississippi and is designed to introduce them to the major environmental issues facing the Gulf of
Mexico. Students are rotated through a series of eight display-stations where a speaker discusses
specifics of one of the eight issue areas that are currently being addressed through the Gulf of
Mexico Program: coastal and shoreline erosion, freshwater inflow, habitat degradation, living
aquatic resources, marine debris, nutrient enrichment, public health, and toxics and pesticides. Each
twenty-minute session consists of an overview of the nature of the issue being discussed (including
both problems and possible solutions) and the ways that students can participate in helping to
alleviate these problems. Visual displays and materials have been developed for use for this
workshop, as well as in similar venues elsewhere. Session presenters are drawn from the
membership of SMEACO, which includes personnel from a number of local, state, and federal
agencies and private-sector groups, who share a mandate for environmental education and outreach
efforts.
A 10-minute video, shot during the first workshop in 1994, highlights aspects of each issue area as
discussed during the workshop and has been distributed throughout the area for use in classroom and
other educational programs. It is hoped that this annual event will become a focal point for local
schools in elevating their students' awareness of their environment.
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Project TELLUS: Interactive Video Lessons on Global Change Issues for the Gulf of Mexico;
Lesson 1...Exotic Species
Lyle Soniat, Ph.D. and Suzanne Duggan
Louisiana Sea Grant College Program, Louisiana State University
Project TELLUS is a series of interactive video lessons for middle school science. There are six
programs in the series that are being developed by the Louisiana Sea Grant College marine
educators, together with a team of science teachers from Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama,
and Florida. This workshop will present the first program in the series, exotic species, to
participants. All of the topics in the series are related to global change issues related to the Gulf of
Mexico region. The programs include activities within the video lessons that require students to
actively participate. Each program includes the learning objectives, background information,
viewing strategy, vocabulary, evaluation, pre- and post viewing questions and a materials list.
Environmental Education Outreach Program Workshop
Mote Marine Laboratory's Environmental Education Outreach Program - About the Gulf of
Mexico's Eight Main Issues
Ingrid McClellan
Mote Marine Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34236
Mote Marine Laboratory's (MML) Environmental Education Outreach Program was one of 22
projects selected by the Florida Advisory Council on Environmental Education for funding through
the Save Our State Environmental Education Trust Fund Grant Program, Through an interactive
presentation and accompanying curriculum guide, this program is designed to familiarize students,
educators and the general public with a variety of concepts and concerns about Florida's marine
natural resources, specifically those resources in the Gulf of Mexico. Outreach Program content
includes Florida marine ecosystems, ecological relationships and concerns, and the eight main issues
that affect the natural resources of the Gulf of Mexico. This program educates the participants about
"environomics," the ethics of both conservation and economics along with their environmental
consequences.
The program is changing the attitudes and habits that alter the health of Florida and the Gulf. In
1992 alone, the program made a total of 143 presentations (10 teacher in-services, 122 school
assemblies and 11 adult presentations), serving a total of 24,987 people (316 teachers, 24,199
students and 472 adults).
MML will illustrate this Outreach Program with symposium participants in an interactive way.
Awareness of Coastal Habitat
Cathy Porter
Palacios Marine Education Center, 100 Marine Center Circle, Palacios, TX 77465
Awareness of Coastal Habitat is a program ongoing at the Palacios Marine Education Center - part
of the Palacios Independent School District (I.S.D.), Palacios, Texas. It was developed as an
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interdisciplinary educational enrichment program, designed to motivate students and promote
knowledge, appreciation, and preservation of our aquatic environment. It integrates classroom
curricula with extension activities that take place outdoors, in a salt marsh, along the shore, aboard
boats in Matagorda Bay, and in our wet lab. Lessons have been developed in science, math, art,
home economics, social studies, and language arts.
The program is used by students of the Palacios I.S.D., school groups from throughout the state, and
with an exchange program with a school district in Colorado. Teacher and community workshops
are conducted that promote coastal awareness: Project Wild and Project Aquatic, Coastal Birds,
Coastal Plants, Salt Marsh Ecology, and Awareness of Coastal Habitat. Participants use the
information learned in these workshops to promote an environmental awareness in their students and
families. The program is in its seventh year of operation.
Consumer Awareness of Phosphorus and Phosphate/Non-Phosphate Detergents
Ewa L. Z. Wilson, Ph.D.
Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service, LSU Agricultural Center
The purpose of this Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service program is to empower consumers
with knowledge and skills in decision-making in selecting detergents that are safe for the
environment and that effectively clean the family laundry.
The two most common forms of nutrient contamination in surface waters are nitrogen and
phosphorus. Too much phosphorus can cause excessive algal growth and result in oxygen
deprivation and the death of animals living in the system. Phosphorus can enter a water body in
numerous ways, including in detergents containing phosphorus. Phosphates enhance the
performance of the cleaning agents in detergents by softening water, dispersing dirt, emulsifying
grease and oil, removing specific pesticides and cleaning in water with a high iron content. Non-
phosphate detergent works equally as well as phosphate detergent in most instances when combined
with recommended stain removal procedures.
The Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service (LACES) has developed for the LCES agents and
leaders: two educational videos, teaching plans, visual aids and support material; undertaken a
consumer survey of three parish local markets for phosphorus content of detergents; surveyed pre-
and post-consumer knowledge of laundry detergents and conducted three lessons at 4-H Clothing
Camp.
Homemaker club meetings in three pilot parishes were conducted on: consequences of phosphorus
in the environment, how to read labels for phosphate content in laundry detergents, the purpose of
phosphates and other components in the laundry, and wise decision-making. Media information and
four publication(s) with phosphorus and laundry facts were developed.
The consumers in the three pilot parishes showed an increased awareness and knowledge gain of
environmental and phosphate facts as well as skills in laundry procedures. Information and training
are now available statewide following the evaluation of the pilot project.
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Bay Day Festival
Samra Jones-Bufkins
Galveston Bay Foundation, 17324-A Highway 3, Webster, TX 77598
Celebrating Galveston Bay and educating the public about its multiple uses and resources is the
purpose of the Bay Day Festival, an annual family-oriented event held on the shores of Galveston
Bay. Since 1991, this event, ajoint effort of the Galveston Bay Foundation and the Galveston Bay
National Estuary Program, has provided area families with a unique opportunity to sample the
industrial uses, recreational activities and natural resources which make the Galveston Bay system
so important to the area economy and such a vital ecosystem. More than 15,000 people attend the
event every year.
One component critical to Bay Day is the diversity of interests represented, coming together for a
common purpose. This diversity is reflected in the membership on the Steering Committee, which
plans and produces the event, and on the Advisory Committee, business and government leaders
who lend leadership and support to the Steering Committee's efforts. Financial and in-kind support
from the community reflects the many partnerships forged by the Galveston Bay Foundation.
Bay Day activities include exhibits by Bay area industries, government agencies, historical and
cultural organizations, environmental groups, and water sports clubs and businesses. Children's
activities include an educational scavenger hunt and an obstacle course. Fireboat demonstrations.
U.S. Coast Guard air/sea rescue demonstrations, and a variety of boating events are among the
waterfront activities each year. Entertainment and food are attractions that help bring in a new
audience — people who know little about Galveston Bay, but are interested in learning in a fun,
family environment.
Utilizing Available Resources to Construct School Yard Wildlife Habitats for Implementing
Environmentally Focused Lesson Plans
Lynn M. Spachuk
Environmental Institute of Houston and University of Houston-Clear Lake, 2700 Bay Area Blvd.,
Houston, TX 77058-1098
Educators are tapping private and government resources to construct school yard wildlife habitats
to give our children a higher quality of environmental education. Educators can integrate a variety
of subjects from science to art to language into the environmental experience provided by the
wildlife habitat. Educators attend a full day workshop at UH-Clear Lake reviewing the available
resources. The workshop participants learn to adapt hands-on activities while practicing in an
existing 30-acre wildlife habitat managed by the Environmental Institute of Houston on the UH-CL
campus. As well as getting a feel for utilizing the habitats in traditional subjects, the workshop
participants also learn to educate future generations on environmental issues, especially those issues
close to home, such as habitat degradation. This presentation includes lessons learned from both
successful and unsuccessful experiments in environmental education.
Instilling environmentally sustainable habits in young students through wildlife habitat education
will help to assure the future of our fragile world.
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Using Creative Dramatics as an Effective Teaching Tool in the School Setting
Jeff and Deb Sandier
Mr. and Mrs. Fish Marine Education Program, Southern Maine Technical College, Fort Rd., South
Portland, Maine 04106
Join award-winning internationally renowned marine educators Mr. and Mrs. Fish as they present
a variety of creative dramatic lesson plans, ideas and techniques for use in the school setting. Gain
insight into how high school and junior high school students can prepare Gulf of Mexico marine
science skits to present to younger students, or to share with each other in the classroom.
Emphasis will also be on using the chalkboard to bring the ocean to life. Mr. and Mrs. Fish will
demonstrate an assortment of creative cartooning techniques that can enliven your science education
lessons.
Mr. and Mrs. Fish are Jeff and Deb Sandier of South Portland, Maine, and for the past 17 years, they
have performed in 16 countries and 25 states. Their workshop promises to be fun and humorous,
with lots of inspiring educational ideas.
Using a Sand-Tank Groundwater Flow Model as a Teaching Tool
Emily B. Kling
County Agent, Environmental Education, Alabama Cooperative Extension Service, 25 Hand
Avenue, Bay Minette, AL
Baldwin County, Alabama, is surrounded by water (the Gulf of Mexico, Mobile Bay, and numerous
rivers which transport pollution from the northern part of Alabama and neighboring states) and
obtains all of its drinking water from groundwater. There is a need to teach citizens that 1) their
actions can impact others for decades, and 2) pollution prevention and conservation are much
healthier and cheaper than remediation.
Sand-tank groundwater flow models are convenient teaching tools because of their "low tech"
operating requirements, visual impact, and versatility. They can be used with adult and youth
audiences who can see what an aquifer is, where the water table is, how water moves underground,
etc.
When teaching that human activities can contaminate groundwater, an instructor can visually
emphasize any of the following topics: lack of water conservation in coastal zones and causing
saltwater intrusion; the hazards of improperly drilled or closed wells; the impact of agricultural and
residential use of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers; leaking fuel storage tanks, landfills, and
illegal dumps; runoff from streets and parking lots, disposal of sludge from municipal and industrial
sewage treatment plants, and disposal of septate from home septic systems.
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Field Experiences
Dynamic Dauphin Island
Diane McKinnon and Diane Worrell
Thompson Middle School, 36 6th Avenue S.E., Alabaster, AL 35007
Dynamic Dauphin Island is an intensive scientific research program that is introducing 8th grade
students to scientific research in the fields of oceanography, coastal geology, and surveying. The
purpose of this project is to build a data base to assist in the studies of water quality, beach erosion,
and island movement. Periodically the data is being supplied to the Dauphin Island Sea Lab and the
University of South Alabama Engineering Department. The students are being trained in survey
skills using a theodolite survey system and a Global Positioning System. The data is being returned
to the school where it is computer analyzed using professional survey software. Since March, 1994,
six-person field teams have been going to the island once a month to survey eight transects. Based
on the data gathered so far, there appears to have been a significant loss of sand from the east end
of the island. This can be attributed not only to the ebb-tidal flow coming from Mobile Bay, but also
some recent storm action. Farther to the west accretion appears to be taking place at some reaches.
With further study, computer generated maps will be produced that will show changes in the
shoreline.
Discovery Outpost - A Unique Adventure in Outdoor Education
Roxson Welch
Baker Heights Elementary School, 3750 Harding St., Baker, LA 70714
Discovery Outpost is an outdoor learning facility complete with several mini-habitat areas and two
ponds connected by a stream. Along the perimeter are learning stations where the children are
actively involved in environmental science research and collection of data as well as hands-on
activities which integrate the curriculum. One of the activities is the weekly collection of water
quality data of the Discovery Outpost pond system. This information is compared to a naturally
occurring pond and river system.
The presentation will include viewing slides showing children working in Discovery Outpost and
some of the work produced by the students as well as methods of funding facilities such as
Discovery Outpost.
Discovery Outpost is a significant advance in the education of at-risk students. Since its completion,
our students' scores in science and mathematics have shown a steady increase. Discovery Outpost
and its creator, Roxson Welch, have won several awards, including the Regional Conservationist
Teacher of the Year, the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Mathematics, and the
Council for Elementary Science International Exemplary Educator of the Year.
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The Great Texas River Run
Richard E. Tillman
County Extension Agent-Marine, Texas Marine Advisory Service
The "Great Texas River Run" was a joint four-day water resource education project of the Lower
Colorado River Authority and the Texas Marine Advisory Service. This pilot project may become
the basis of a holistic watershed curriculum for high school teachers who live along the Colorado
River and teachers who live near coastal estuaries. The annual run down the river was designed to
replicate a "water drop view" of the whole river.
"River Run" participants had an opportunity to view the many changes experienced by a water drop
flowing with billions of other drops rushing out of the Highland Lake Reservoir as they traveled
down to Austin where fresh drops from the Edwards Aquifer joined the parade through Bastrop,
Smithville, La Grange and onto Bay City. Onward to the coast where fresh water of the river mixed
with the saltwater tides to form the estuarine ecosystems. The "River Rats," a group of 12 high
school teachers and 13 high school students, learned that some of the drops entered the irrigation
pipes of Texas rice paddies. They learned that some of the irrigation water returned to the main river
channel and finally to the Gulf of Mexico.
The changes in water quality as the river passes through municipal wastewater treatment plants;
urban streets which drain into tributary creeks; and adjacent agricultural lands were some of the
issues addressed as the group toured the river. Other issues included management of our water
resources, water laws and history taught at numerous sights by trained professionals and volunteer
River Watchers. Participants swam in Lake Buchanan and Barton Springs, and paddled canoes for
12 miles below La Grange. A visit to Hornsby Ben Treat Facility to observe "Dillo Dirt"
production. The award-winning compost process turns sewage treatment sludge into valuable
fertilizer.
Water quality and watershed management were constantly reenforced with first-hand and hands-on
examples.
The "who, what, where, when and how" of this adventure will be explained in this presentation.
A Field/Study Trip to Galveston Island for Intermediate Students
Linda Dohm
Fifth Grade Teacher, J.R. In/in Elementary School, 925 S. 9th St., Midlothian, TX 76065
After a six-week study of the salt marsh in the classroom, students spend the weekend at a beach
house on Galveston Island in order to study the salt marsh in a hands-on environment. They are
guided in this study by graduate students from Texas A&M. The students participate in a beach
cleanup with special emphasis on the types of plastics they find and what harm is caused by the
plastics. Every aspect of the field/study trip will be shared with the participants of the workshop by
a teacher with seven years experience in organizing and guiding the trip. These aspects include
involving parents as sponsors and chaperones, safety considerations, the student journal, the forms
that are essential, the itinerary, and other practical considerations. The purposes of the field/study
trip include investigating the ecosystem in a hands-on study, participating in an enriched academic
setting, and creating an appreciation of the importance of saltwater wetlands.
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Field Experiences for Teachers and Students
Rick Tinnin
Marine Education Services, University of Texas Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, TX
Field experiences for teachers and students are available through the Marine Education Services
(MES) Program, The University of Texas Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas. Programs
available through MES include a visiting class program which currently hosts over 9,500 students
each year. The students stay in dormitories on-site, participate in a four-hour research cruise and
explore a wide variety of marine influenced habitats adjacent to the laboratory. Programs for
teachers include weekend teacher workshops which provide participants field experiences aboard
the research vessels, contact with UTMSI faculty and research staff and explorations and classroom
activities featuring local marine habitats. The programs focus on using the interdisciplinary nature
of marine science to cross and link traditional subject matter boundaries. The program received
partial support through the TAMU-Sea Grant program.
Restless Ribbon of Sand
Dr. Wayne H. McAlister
Environmental Education Specialist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P. O. Box 100, Austwell, TX
77950
The barrier island ecosystem is a fluid mix of open sky, persistent wind, blowing sand, pounding
surf, quiet lagoon and fascinating plants and animals. In addition to its resident flora and fauna,
Matagorda Island hosts many endangered and migratory species.
Coral Reef Classroom
Steven Baumgartner
Florida Key National Marine Sanctuary, 216 Ann St., Key West, FL 33042
In the "Coral Reef Classroom" the Florida Key National Marine Sanctuary staff emphasizes, the
coral reef is the classroom. Florida's coral reef ecosystem is in jeopardy from a wide range of direct
and indirect human impacts, as well as environmental changes. Many have far ranging implications
for the long-term sustainability of the resources as well as the continued economic viability of the
region. The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary was established for the purpose of managing
these unique resources for the continued use and pleasure of future generations. Soon this nation's
youth will inherit these treasures as well as the complicated issues which threaten them. The Florida
Keys National Marine Sanctuary is not just a location on the map existing for the present, it is a
forward looking comprehensive program dedicated to the unlimited perseverance of this nation's
coral reef treasures. We hope to equip the youth of this nation with this message. Unfortunately.
many of the schools in Monroe County are not financially capable of funding field trips that would
provide the kind of educational experiences that would promote wise use and stewardship of the
coral reef environment. Therefore, we have developed a program designed to instill stewardship for
the marine environment into students who live near and regularly use these resources.
Initiated in 1991, the Coral Reef Classroom gives middle school students the opportunity to learn,
firsthand, the basic coral reef ecosystem ecology, strategies of sanctuary management and scientific
techniques for monitoring various oceanographic parameters that characterize the "health" of the
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coral reef. The project has been piloted to a limited number of classes for the past several years,
with a long term goal of reaching statewide and possibly nationwide. We are at the stage of
developing and producing the curriculum materials, training the teachers, and expanding and
conducting the program on a larger scale.
WOW!: The Wonders of Wetlands
Mark R. Schilling
Environmental Concern, Inc., P. O. Box P, St. Michaels, Maryland 21663
A teacher training workshop that features WOW!: The Wonders of Wetlands, a comprehensive,
national, interdisciplinary curriculum guide for educators of grades K-12. The popular 160-page
book, published by Environmental Concern includes background information on wetlands, 40+
indoor and outdoor activities, ideas for wetland enhancement, restoration, and creation, and a listing
of wetland resources. Much in demand, nearly 30,000 copies have been distributed in the U.S., and
2500 teachers have participated in teacher training workshops.
Preservation Versus Conservation: A Case Study
Lyle Soniat and Suzanne Duggan
LSU Sea Grant, Baton Rouge, LA
Preservation vs. Conservation: A Case Study is an instructional video lesson developed for high
school environmental science courses. It examines the interaction of humans and the environment
in the context of fur trapping. Taped in the wetlands of Louisiana, the video revolves around the
fast-breeding nutria, a non-native species, as a locally relevant backdrop to introduce a number of
science concepts. Among the concepts included are "exotic species, population dynamics, limiting
factors, exponential growth, carrying capacity, predator-prey relationships, resource management,
and renewable and non-renewable resources. The 25-minute instructional program explores these
concepts within the context of certain social issues, in particular, animal rights. The nature of the
topic and its presentation allows for the development of critical thinking, problem solving, and
communication skills within a Science-Technology-Science framework, as students form opinions
and take a stand. The video combines science and social studies topics and is useful as a tool in
teaching across disciplines. The program may be used with high school and adult audiences and
comes with an instructional viewing guide. The workshop will provide teachers with a copy of the
video and guide, as well as showing them how they may use the materials with students.
Marine Habitats
Wetland Functions and Values in Louisiana
Paul Coreil
Area Agent, LSU Agricultural Center, Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service, P. O. Box 25100,
Baton Rouge, LA 70894
Citizen concern and interest in wetlands has in recent years reached an all-time high. Since the
United States was founded in the late 1700s, the mainland U.S. has lost over one-half of its wetlands.
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In 1776 the mainland U.S. had an estimated 221 million acres of wetlands; today only 103 million
acres remain. To address this issue. Congress has implemented various wetland conservation
policies that have been considered by many as intrusive. Understanding and appreciation of the
many vital functions and values wetlands provide is, however, generally lacking. Only with factual
information about wetlands can we accurately address the many environmental challenges associated
with wetland loss. Wetland functions and values important to Louisiana include:
1) commercial values: fisheries, forestry, furbearers, alligators, farming and ranching, oil
and gas
2) recreational values: sport fishing and hunting, eco-tourism, cultural values
3) wildlife habitat, threatened and endangered species, aquatic productivity, biodiversity
4) water quality: nonpoint source pollution, nutrient and sediment reduction, chemical
pollution reduction, groundwater recharge and discharge
5) storm buffer
6) erosion control
7) flood control
8) education and scientific research.
Americorps USDA Creating Habitat in Galveston Bay
Eddie Seidensticker and Nancy Webb
USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, 7705 West Bay Road, Eldon, TX 77502
Americorps USDA Cedar Bayou is a national service initiative that addresses environmental needs
in the Galveston Bay system. Members are not only creating much needed habitat in the bay, but
are also receiving valuable job skills, a living stipend, an environmental education, and at the end
of their service earn a $5,000 scholarship to use one of three ways - to pay off existing college loans,
to attend college or to attend a trade school.
The Americorps Cedar Bayou will cultivate smooth cordgrass and other wetland plants from seed
at the Houston Lighting and Power Cedar Bayou Plant. The plants will then be used to vegetate a
220-acre demonstration marsh created by the Port of Houston using dredge material.
Americorps members have also participated in the '94 Fall flood relief efforts of the American Red
Cross, a marsh management project with Armand Bayou Nature Center and the Galveston Bay
Foundation, and conservation and education programs with the Boy and Girl Scouts of America.
Endangered Species Education and Outreach
Me! Russell and Edith Erfling
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological Services, Clear Lake Field Office, Houston, TX 77058
This presentation is designed to help educators and students increase their understanding of
endangered species issues and how the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is addressing its mandate to
protect, manage, and restore listed species and their habitats. Discussion will include portions of
the Endangered Species Act, criteria for listing and categorizing endangered, threatened and
candidate species, and cooperating with private land owners in Texas. We will look at some
successful and not so successful efforts and briefly discuss the new ecosystem management
approach to endangered species protection.
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A demonstration of the Endangered Species Resource Truck made available to educators on loan
through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Austin and Clear Lake Field Offices, will be presented.
Teachers will be given an opportunity to examine the slide sets, videos, posters, hand-outs, lesson
plans, and contraband specimens for use in their classrooms.
Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary
Shelley DuPuy
Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, 1716 Briarcrest Drive, Bryan, TX 77802
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration established the Marine Sanctuary Program
to designate and manage nationally significant marine areas for their ecological and historical value.
The Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary was designated in 1992 to protect the
northernmost coral reefs on the North American continental shelf. The sanctuary stewardship goals
are met through education and outreach, research, management and enforcement. To date, the
education and outreach program has focused on distributing educational materials such as posters,
brochures and videos and on presenting lectures and displays in schools, symposia and special
public events. The program was enhanced in 1994 by the addition of an Education Coordinator.
A workshop, scheduled for January, 1995, will muster individuals from sanctuary user groups,
educators, private non-profit organizations, and other government agencies. The meeting is the first
major step in formulating a comprehensive education and outreach program.
Opportunities in Marine Botany; From the Arctic to the Subtropics
Dr. Kenneth Dunton
University of Texas Marine Science Institute, P. O. Box 1267, Port Aransas, TX 78373
Marine plants play very important roles in aquatic ecosystems, providing both food and habitat to
a variety of marine organisms. Exciting new research in this field extends from subtropical to polar
regions of the world. The presentation will focus on present research on seagrasses and kelps.
Galveston Bay Ambassador Program
Linda R. Shead, P.E.
Executive Director, Galveston Bay Foundation, 17324A Hwy. 3, Webster, TX 77598
The Galveston Bay Foundation's Bay Ambassador Program is a direct student education program
presented by trained volunteers to grades K through 8, on request, with no cost to teachers. The
program is specifically designed by the Galveston Bay Foundation to increase awareness of the
Galveston Bay ecosystem, its many uses, and its importance to humans and nature. The program,
which consists of a presentation script and an activity kit, includes issues facing Galveston Bay, such
as water quality, habitat loss and salinity balance. Additionally, a variety of activities to encompass
all of the various learning styles demonstrated by students are included. Types of activities include:
telling stories, showing slides, demonstrating water quality measures, inspecting specimens, and
clarifying the geographical location of the bay. The program is designed to increase in complexity
with grade level, adapting for the wide range of intellectual levels.
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Hie Bay Ambassador Program is designed to assist teachers. The program includes multiple subject
areas for teachers using an integrated teaching method. Teachers can utilize the presentation in any
classroom setting to supplement and enhance their existing environmental and conservation
curriculum. Access to a presentation is made by calling the Galveston Bay Foundation.
Putting on the Rite for the Gulf of Mexico
Casey Harrison
Dauphin Island Sea Lab, P. O. Box 369, Dauphin Island, AL 36528
Instructional techniques and lab/field activities with "zing" to get students and teachers
enthusiastically involved in important issues facing our Gulf of Mexico: marine debris, habitat
degradation, and living aquatic resources. Hands-on experiences that will help make meaningful
the values of, and the pressures on, the Gulf of Mexico.
Coastal Wetland Diversity Workshop: A Training Program for Teachers
Steven Renfroe, Chevron U.S.A. Products Company; Mark W. LaSalle and Walter E. Walker,
Mississippi State University Cooperative Extension Service/Mississippi Sea Grant Advisory Service
The Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service has developed a teacher training program that is
centered around the theme of environmental awareness, particularly in one's own backyard.
Sponsored by the Chevron U.S.A. Products Company, the workshop is designed to provide teachers
with basic knowledge about the environment in general, and specific information on selected coastal
wetland habitats, including coastal marshes, freshwater marshes, coastal wet pine savannahs, and
open-water areas of the Mississippi Sound (including barrier islands). In addition to basic
knowledge about the structure and function of these habitat types, information is also provided on
both the environmental and social implications of habitat management, conservation, and
preservation practices. This information allows teachers to go beyond discussions of what wetlands
are and which plants and animals live there. The program consists of five, one-day training sessions
that include a combination of lecture and field trip activities. Emphasis is placed on the
demonstration of straightforward, inexpensive, hands-on methods and tools that emphasize several
important underlying concepts related to habitats and relationships between the organisms that live
in each. The underlying goal of the program for each participant is the incorporation of this
information into their classroom curriculum.
Touching all the Bases
Reaching South: Environmental Education Opportunities in Mexico, Central and South
America, and the Caribbean
Sonya Wood
Florida Sea Grant, P. O. Box 7154, Pensacola, FL 32534
This is a beginner's guide to becoming involved in environmental education in Mexico, Central and
South America, and the Caribbean. It is intended for educators from the United States and Canada
who are interested in helping with education programs in these countries. Many of us are drawn
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closer to the equator by the lure of the warm climate, turquoise waters, white beaches, tropical rain
forests, unusual animals, pirate stories, cultural markets, Mayan ruins, different languages, and
indigenous people. We want to make connections and help them, but there are the challenges of
cultural differences, language barriers, illiteracy, financial constraints, feelings about ecotourism,
sustainability of programs, and differences in cosmology. Based on a telephone survey of 25
agencies and organizations currently involved in community-based environmental education
programs, I have summarized some suggestions from those people involved. I have also highlighted
some of the successful programs.
Adopt a Ditch - Putting Environmental Education to Work for City Dwellers
Harold Stone
Texas Marine Advisory Service, #2 Abercrombie Drive, Houston, TX 77084
Among the deficiencies affecting many inner city youths is a lack of ownership felt in environmental
issues, and a lack of motivation in science education. Relatively small inconveniences of pollution
in local ditches and drainage systems are not connected to the cumulative effect it has in coastal
estuaries. The Adopt a Ditch program focuses on instructing youths in the water quality of local
ditches and watersheds and that water's effect on bayous and rivers, and ultimately, the marine
environment. Rather than using distant rivers or oceans as a source of study, the local setting allows
for a personal understanding of water quality problems by participants. The Adopt a Ditch project
is the consortial effort combining the expertise of 13 non-profit organizations, for-profit companies,
and governmental agencies to improve neighborhood water quality while enhancing at-risk youth's
understanding of the sciences and interest in the environment.
Over the course of the eight-week 1994 summer pilot project, 12 participants were trained in water
monitoring and monitored the water quality of three ditches in the La Porte, Texas, area. Where
pollution problems were evidenced, participants explored the causes and possible means of cleanup.
To expand problem solving skills, all participants were instructed in mediation techniques. To
improve the quality of the estuarine environment, participants constructed a 150 foot rip-rap
breakwater along a high wave energy area in La Porte, and planted Spartina alternaflora to reduce
erosion and enhance the ecosystem along the shoreline of property owned by an area non-profit
organization. To educate area residents in the effect of pollution, participants stenciled area storm
drains. For observation, a marine aquarium of local species was set up by participants.
All instruction of participants was provided by agencies and organizations which have a primary
mission of environmental training as a part of their ongoing educational focus, thus reducing
program staff costs. In future years the program will continue to be expanded, integrating available
services in the training component with additional enhancement activities. Future initiatives will
include the addition of social service agencies and area school districts as vehicles for service
delivery.
Gulf of Mexico Patch Program
Laura G. Jenkins, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Panama City, FL 32405 and Susan Merrifield,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ocean Springs, MS 39564
In 1992, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service presented a Gulf of Mexico Patch Program to the Girl
Scouts of the U.S. The program focused on providing an awareness of the Girl Scouts and their
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leaders about the importance and uniqueness of the Gulf of Mexico. Over 3500 girls have
completed and earned the Gulf of Mexico patch. Candidates earn the patch by completing a number
of activities based on endangered species, various fish species, marine debris problems, fish and
wildlife career opportunities, and the importance of community involvement in protecting the Gulf
of Mexico's important resources. The program has been designed so it can be easily adapted for
other youth groups that would like to participate.
Marine Life and Wetlands: An Educational Experience for Inner-City Fourth Graders
David Lloyd Scott
Environmental Studies Center, Mobile County Public School System
Approaching a population of 400,000 residents, Mobile County is one of two Alabama counties
located on the Gulf of Mexico. The county's public school system is the largest in the state, with
an average enrollment exceeding 67,000 students. Wetland resources abound in coastal Alabama,
with Mobile Bay, Mississippi Sound and the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta providing a diverse range
of wetland habitats. This project focuses on marine life and wetlands and is targeted to fourth grade
students enrolled in fifteen elementary schools located in the inner-city areas of Mobile. During
the two year project duration, over 2800 students and 55 teachers are engaged in a "mini-course"
on wetlands and marine life using the school system's Environmental Studies Center as the site for
implementation. Students explore the center's pitcher-plant bog, study live examples of wetlands
wildlife, and get up close and personal with numerous marine organisms featured in the center's
saltwater teaching aquarium. Among the project's components to be discussed are teacher inservice,
learning objectives, pre/post trip planning, field trip activities, resource materials development and
program evaluation. Funding for this project is made possible through a grant from the Mississippi-
Alabama Sea Grant Consortium with the cooperation of Auburn University's Sea Grant Advisory
Service.
Teds/Turtles/Shrimpers: Sharing an Ecosystem
Lyle M. Soniat, Ph.D., and Suzanne Duggan
Louisiana Sea Grant College Program, Louisiana State University
Teds/Turtles/Shrimpers: Sharing an Ecosystem is a 22-minute instructional program that investigates
the conflict surrounding shrimp fishermen and sea turtles. The populations of all of the five species
of sea turtles found in the Gulf of Mexico are either threatened or endangered. Shrimpers are facing
additional economic burdens and decreased catches because of federally-mandated laws requiring
the use of turtle excluder devices in their nets. Attempts to protect the survival of these aquatic
species may ironically threaten the survival of an important food industry and a way of life for these
fishermen. The program looks at these issues while weaving in relevant science concepts such as
food webs and energy flow. The program's intent is to present a balanced perspective with enough
factual information for viewers to formulate opinions of their own. The video combines science and
social studies topics and is useful as a tool in teaching across disciplines. The program may be used
with high school and adult audiences and comes with an instructional viewing guide. The workshop
will provide teachers with a copy of the video and guide, as well as showing them how they may use
the materials with students.
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Marine Careers
Careers at a Marine Zoological Park
Ann Quinn
Education Specialist, Sea World of Texas, 10500 Sea World Drive, San Antonio, TX 78251
Participants in this presentation will be exposed to the wide range of career opportunities available
and the requisite training and educational background essential to a profession at a marine zoological
park such as Sea World of Texas.
Education Awareness Programs
Officer Snook Water Pollution Program
Jennifer Sevin
Youth Environmental Programs, Inc., 2550 Douglas Road, Suite 300-A, Coral Gables, Florida 33134
Officer Snook is a cartoon fish who symbolizes the importance of protecting our marine
environment. The Officer Snook program was created in 1992, by Jennifer Sevin, a high school
senior. In 1994, the program was adopted by the U.S. Coast Guard as part of its national Sea-
Partners campaign. The Officer Snook program educates both children and adults about water
pollution, and the effects pollution has on our water content, animal and plant populations, and
human safety. The program, which mainly focuses on our youth, opens young eyes to the problems
facing our world today, and encourages everyone to make a difference for the world of tomorrow.
An initial 45-minute presentation includes hands-on activities, slides, a video, and a Coast Guard
speaker (when available). The program is given free of charge, and all the students receive a free
Officer Snook coloring/activity book. High school students become mentors, and work with
elementary students in community projects. Winners of essay and poster contests receive an Officer
Snook T-shirt. A curriculum guide and transparencies are available to teachers. Workshops and
presentations are given to potential sponsors and to teachers and organizations interested in learning
about water pollution.
Setting the Stage for Environmental Awareness—It's Elementary if you C.A.R.E. A.L.O.T.
Vicky Garrison
Loughman Oaks Elementary, Davenport, FL 33837
As we do not yet have curbside recycling in our county, "igloos" for the collection of glass,
aluminum, newspaper, and plastics are located at various sites throughout the county. With the
cooperation of Polk County Environmental Services, our school is the newest collection site in the
county. We also collect household batteries, aluminum cans, newspapers, and magazines sent in by
students' families, and scrap paper generated within the school, which we take to our county
Handicapped Citizens" Association to be sorted by their employees before the paper is recycled.
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I have organized a parent/teacher/student group called C.A.R.E. A.L.O.T. (Critters Acting to
Reclaim the Earth are Looking Out for Tomorrow) who actively participate in community recycling
programs such as collection drives for magazines and telephone books. Also, my students and I
have participated in Polk County Earth Day activities in past years, and have been invited to do so
this year, as well.
This same C.A.R.E. A.L.O.T. group, with support and assistance from community organizations
and businesses, was responsible for providing a butterfly garden/outdoor classroom for school and
community use. In planning our classroom, special consideration was given to water and soil
conservation, in particular. For example, we made every effort to choose plants which are
predominately XERIC in nature; however, we also decided to incorporate Florida native plants in
our nature lab as a means to familiarize students with their characteristics, variety, and beauty.
Since we have XERIC, MESIC, and HYDRIC areas within our classroom, we selected appropriate
plants based on these conditions which added to the variety of plant specimens we could incorporate.
In setting up irrigation for our plants during the crucial "establishment period," we selected drip
hoses for maximum effectiveness and water conservation. As this project continues from year to
year, we plan to make changes and additions as necessary.
Since we have closed circuit television, I was able, with my students, to inform and educate students
and staff as to each of the steps involved in our year-long project, including an "introduction" to,
and details about, each of the plant species we used, with explanations as to WHY specific plants
were selected. To accomplish this and to motivate students about all aspects of our environmental
program, I created the character of "Earth Lady" (complete with costume) to present all "Earth
News" to the school "body" (many times with accompanying newsletters sent home with students).
"Earth Lady" has been, and continues to be, a big success.
Incidentally, my kindergarten students, two years ago, established a scholarship fund to provide a
$100.00 (minimum) scholarship to a high school senior entering some type of environmental field
of study in college; funds are earned by my students through money-making projects in which they
are directly involved.
The adaptability of such a program is unlimited, as the degree and depth of student involvement
would naturally increase proportionately with the age and ability of the students, as would the
"depth" and complexity of material presented in the areas of science and environmental studies. The
actual "workload" would be carried by students rather than teachers and parents to a greater degree;
however, I recommend involvement by all of the above to some degree at least, since environmental
concerns should be shared by everyone.
Disappearing Drops; Exciting investigations with Liquids
Rick Tinnin
University of Texas Marine Science Institute
Pam Stryker
Barton Creek Elementary
Participants will explore a variety of common liquids, make and record observations of properties
of the liquids and how they respond to the addition of food coloring. From their observations, they
will make predictions about the density of the liquids tested and then attempt to make simple density
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columns to test their predictions. Common household liquids are tested and density columns made
out of soda straws and clay will be used during the workshop. This is a simple but very effective
activity that introduces students to density and reinforces the importance of making good
observations and predictions. Hands-on activities and lots of handouts. For elementary and middle
school teachers and students.
Earth Connections: Environmental Education Curriculum for Youth
Sheila Gray
Pinellas County Cooperative Extension Service, 12175 125th St. N., Largo, FL 34644-3695
Earth Connections is a curriculum designed for 5-8 and 9-11 year old youth to understand the
environment and stewardship issues associated with soil, air, and water conservation and quality.
The curriculum helps youth develop a personal environmental ethic and to understand each person's
individual impact on the environment in Florida, the United States and the world. It follows two
principles: first to show that learning about the environment can be fun. The project provides simple
and inexpensive, yet fun, hands-on activities that teach youth about major concepts of the
interdependence of the earth's soil, water and air. Second, to provide learning activities to youth
educators in an easy-to-use format. The educator notebook was designed to be teacher-friendly and
takes much of the guesswork out of teaching this subject. Through a grant provided by the
Environmental Protection Agency. Earth Connections was distributed to 36 summer day camp
facilities in Pinellas County during 1994. Over 2,345 youth participated. Of the parents surveyed,
(n=64) 72% reported a change in the child's attitude regarding his/her environment upon completion
of the program. The presentation will include hands-on activities from the notebook as well as a
review of the curriculum materials and methodology for reaching the target audience.
Adopt-a-Wetland Program - Aquatic Pollution
Nivra Kelley, Russell Hooten, Christina Garcia
Adopt-a-Wetland Program, Center for Coastal Studies, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, 6300
Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi, TX 78412
The Adopt-a-Wetland Program (AAWP) is an integrated wetland conservation education program
based in Corpus Christi, Texas, which was developed to increase public awareness about wetlands.
The goal of the AAWP is to promote wetland conservation through a hands-on interactive education
program for the general public. Initial participants have included public school children (K-12), and
other youth groups including 4-H, scouts, and boys and girls clubs.
Habitat destruction is one of the major causes of wetland loss in the United States. One of the main
sources of habitat destruction is pollution. A 90-minute workshop will be conducted to include both
classroom and field oriented activities which address aquatic pollution and methods of assessment.
Activities will be modified versions of Project Aquatic Wild and will include: 1) classification of
various kinds of pollution, 2) using aquatic organisms as pollution indicators, and 3) hands-on water
quality analysis.
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III. Challenge Track
The Challenge Track, like previous technical tracks, was organized into sessions to
address each of the Gulf Program's eight specific issue areas - nutrient enrichment, for
example. One big difference is that we focused this year on what we have done to meet
the challenges we set for ourselves. We also encouraged more discussion in our sessions
by inviting technical papers from resource managers and scientists as before - and, from
involved citizens, business and industry leaders, and the international community as
well. Responses were great enough that we were able to add two completely new
sessions: 1) a Gulf of Mexico Stewardship Session that highlighted some public outreach
and citizen monitoring efforts, and 2) an International Session that included speakers
from Mexico and several countries in the Caribbean.
Toxics & Pesticides
The Reduction of Toxic Loading from Coastal Oil and Gas Discharges
Gary Petrazzuolo, Ph.D. and Lynn Bowler
Avanti Corporation, 2102-C Gallows Road, Vienna, VA 22182
A goal of the Gulf of Mexico Program is reducing toxic loadings to the Gulf. As part of this effort,
the Program produced a report through its Toxics and Pesticides Subcommittee that quantifies mass
and toxic unit loadings from point sources of pollution to estuarine drainage systems of the Gulf.
That report includes a preliminary analysis of the contribution of oil and gas production wastes to
total loadings. Data from Louisiana and Texas on produced water pollutants and flows have been
assessed further to complete the analysis of mass and toxic unit loadings. Different estimations of
mean produced water pollutant concentrations, based on treatment of data at or below the detection
limit, are compared. Comparisons are drawn between mass and toxic unit loadings attributed to oil
and gas discharges and the total loadings from all industrial and municipal point sources.
A number of state and Federal actions have regulated and reduced produced water discharges to
coastal waters of Texas and Louisiana. This assessment and the Program's Subcommittee report
have documented both the substantial relative contributions of oil and gas production wastes to the
Gulf of Mexico and the significant reduction in mass and toxic unit loadings over the last 10 years.
Baseline Chemical Contaminant Assessments for Three Bays in Northwest Florida: St.
Andrew Bay, St. Joseph Bay, Perdido Bay
Michael S. Brim
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1612 June Avenue, Panama City, Florida, 32405
Baseline chemical contaminant surveys of sediments, invertebrates and fishes have been
accomplished for St. Andrew, St. Joseph, and Perdido Bays, Florida. Results reveal moderate
contamination of sediments in localized areas. While organochlorine pesticide contamination
appears minimal, contemporary and historic contamination by metals, polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons, and dioxin compounds have resulted in significant habitat degradation of some sites.
Bioconcentration in some fishes and invertebrates now appears to be at moderate levels.
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Progress of the U.S. Pulp and Paper Industry in Reducing the TCDD/TCDF Content of
Effluents, Pulps, and Wastewater Treatment Sludges
William J. Gillespie, Robert P. Fisher
National Council of the Paper Industry for Air and Stream Improvement, Inc., 260 Madison Avenue,
New York, New York, 10016
Since the finding of chlorinated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans in wastewater treatment sludges
in Maine in the mid-1980's, considerable effort has been expended by the scientific, engineering and
regulatory communities worldwide to understand the sources, significance, and solutions to the
problem of dioxin generation in pulp bleaching. As a result primarily of bleaching process
modifications, the U.S. pulp and paper industry has made significant progress in reducing dioxin
formation and release as documented by studies conducted by EPA with NCASI and by NCASI.
From 1988 to 1993, total TCDD/TCDF releases decreased nationally (from 977-76 mg/d), 93
percent in pulps (from 1384 to 94 mg/d), and 89 percent in wastewater treatment sludges (from 939-
101 mg/d).
Organochlorine Pesticides in Sediments of the Nueces Bay Estuary
V.K. Sharma and S.D. Hicks
Center for Coastal Studies, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, 6300 Ocean Drive, Corpus
Christi, Texas, 78412
Organochlorine pesticides were frequently utilized by farmers for pest control from the early 1940's
to the early 1970's. The majority were banned from use at this time due to environmental
persistence and biomagnification tendencies. Nueces Bay received runoff from agricultural
watersheds during this time period which discharged directly into the bay. Sediment samples have
been analyzed using standard GC methodology and the distribution and implication of
Organochlorine pesticide concentrations will be presented in relation to agricultural watershed delta.
Habitat Degradation
Wetland Mitigation Banking
D.C. Hayes, P.L. Wilkey, R. Sundell and K. Bailey
Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, 60439
Wetland Mitigation Banking is attracting increasing interest as a tool in compensatory mitigation
wetland impacts for industry and Federal and state governments. A cohesive Federal regulatory
guidance is currently under development. Argonne National Laboratory evaluated the regulatory,
management, economic and ecological aspects of Wetland Mitigation Banking from both a
conceptual and practical perspective. To avoid temporal wetland loss in accordance with the
President's "no-net loss" policy, only a priori mitigation should be considered as banking. A critical
step in creating a successful mitigation bank is the development of an MOA/MOU with all parties
agreeing on the development, monitoring and maintenance of the bank as well as the currency
evaluation. Other aspects of wetland mitigation banking will be discussed including its potential
to be an effective tool in safeguarding coastal wetlands from natural degradation due to subsidence.
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The Future of Habitat Restoration: Creating Habitat Mosaics
Michael J. Perry
Southwest Florida Water Management District, 7601 U.S. Highway 301 N., Tampa, FL, 33637
Tampa Bay, Florida has experienced the loss of 45% of intertidal (salt marsh and mangrove) and
80% of subtidal (seagrass) habitats over the past 100 years. While several small restoration projects
have been undertaken over the past 15 years, it has only been within the past five years that true
progress has been made in restoring coastal systems in Tampa Bay. The Surface Water
Improvement and Management (SWIM) Department of the Southwest Florida Water Management
District (SMFWMD) has been involved with waterbody and watershed restoration for many years.
The SMFWMD's restoration efforts in Tampa Bay have focused on physical restoration, primarily
in the form of estuarine habitat restoration and stormwater water quality retrofit. The SWFWMD
has joined forces with the Tampa Bay National Estuary Program. This partnership has significantly
enhanced the restoration activities in Tampa Bay with several projects being jointly funded and
managed.
From a habitat restoration perspective. District projects have ranged in size from less than an acre
to large and complex projects with over 200 acres available for restoration. The experience gained
from these restoration projects has allowed the District to move away from small single species
restoration projects to larger multi-habitat projects that incorporate "habitat mosaics" (many diverse
habitat types in one project site). Habitat mosaics provide a restoration project that more accurately
mimics nature and provides increased natural systems benefits. Several projects already constructed
or in the planning and permitting phases will be highlighted as case studies to illustrate why habitat
mosaics should be the future of habitat restoration.
Seagrass Restoration in Western Galveston Bay
Pete Sheridan
National Marine Fisheries Service, 4700 Avenue U, Galveston, TX, 77551
Seagrass acreage along western Galveston Island declined from 890 hectares in 1956 to 0 by 1982.
Seagrass loss was attributed to waterfront development, dredge spoil placement on seagrass beds.
and subsequent increases in turbidity and erosion. Restoration seems possible now that water clarity
has improved and waterfront development has declined. Successful restoration of seagrasses will
stabilize shorelines, slow erosion, and increase habitat for fisheries species such as penaeid shrimp
and spotted seatrout. The goal of this project was to create about one hectare of viable seagrass
habitat. The objectives are to determine survival and growth rates of transplanted seagrasses, and
to obtain evidence of increases fauna! densities above those in neighboring non-vegetated substrates.
Through cooperative efforts of 35 people from 10 Federal, State and private agencies and
universities, over 10,000 plugs of shoalgrass (Halodule wrightii) were transplanted to western
Galveston Bay in May 1994. Floral and fauna! surveys over the course of the first growing season
(1994) indicated good survival (exceeding 50%) and spread of Halodule plus increased densities of
fishes, crustaceans and benthic organisms compared to unplanted areas. Production of adequate
roots and rhizomes in 1994 will be necessary for overwintering and new seagrass growth during
1995.
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The Mad Island Marsh Project: An Integrated Approach to Protection, Restoration, and
Enhancement of Coastal Wetlands
James F. Bergan
The Nature Conservancy of Texas, Inc., P.O. Box 163, Collegeport, TX, 77428-0163
Through a unique partnership representing nongovernmental, corporate. State, Federal, and private
foundation, four restoration/enhancement programs were developed and implemented on the 7,048
acre Mad Island Marsh Preserve, Matagorda County, Texas, in 1991. These programs are:
Estuarine Marsh Enhancement, Palustrine Wetland Restoration/Enhancement, Coastal Prairie
Restoration/Enhancement, and Ricefield Enhancement. The presentation will detail the evolution
of this integrated approach to protection of coastal wetlands. Saltwater intrusion, erosion, wetland
drainage, exotic plant infestation, and hydrological modifications within the watershed were primary
factors addressed in the wetland restoration/enhancement planning. Restoration of historic fresh
water inflows is the emphasis of the wetland restoration/enhancement philosophy. Coastal prairie
restoration has emphasized control of exotic brush and restoration of sheetflow to the marsh.
Ricefield enhancement strategies utilize rice water as a supplemental source of fresh water for the
tidal marsh. Preliminary results indicate that increasing fresh water inflow ameliorates extremes in
tidal marsh salinities during periods of little or no rainfall. Growth and coverage of muskgrass
(Chara sp.), southern naiad (Najas guadalupensis), and especially widgeongrass (Ruppia maritima)
increased with increasing fresh water inflow. Restoration of historic hydrological dynamics of
freshwater wetlands adjacent to estuarine marsh appears to be a more ecologically and economically
sound approach to addressing saltwater intrusion relative to impounding tidal wetlands.
Utilization of Fruits of Wild Celery, Vallisneria americana, in Restoration/Creation of
Estuarine Submerged Wetlands: Preliminary Tests of Field Germination and Dissemination
Techniques
Judy P. Stout
Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium, P.O. Box 369-370, Dauphin Island, Alabama, 36528
Although success has been demonstrated in establishment of submerged beds of Vallisneria
americana through the use of transplants from natural beds, this method is manpower intensive, time
consuming and disturbs native grassbeds. Some populations of Vallisneria produce prolific fruits,
each with several hundred seeds. Fruits are slightly buoyant and easily collected, thus providing a
potentially significant source of new plants. Experiments examined the viability of stored fruits and
tested field germination methods using paper and cloth fiber mats, sees flats and "tethered" fruits.
Fruits tethered to the bottom were destroyed within ten days, due probably to the combined damage
of herbivores and physical impacts of water movement. Both types of mats (cheesecloth and paper)
provided good anchorage and protection for fruits, but were completely covered by algal fouling
within a month and no seedlings survived to transplantable size within the mats. Transplant-size
seedlings were successfully reared in shallow trays of screened sediments, covered with large mesh
screening and incubated in situ near the fruit source bed. Rate of transplant production was low, .05
to 3.0 plants per fruit. However, this technique has potential as a low tech, low effort, low impact
means of producing transplant materials that are pre-acclimated to local conditions.
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Marine Debris
Padre Island National Seashore-Marine Debris Point Source Investigation
John E. Miller
U.S. National Park Service, Padre Island National Seashore, 9405 S.P.I.D., Corpus Christi, Texas
78418
Padre Island National Seashore (PAIS) has initiated the most comprehensive marine debris survey
in the United States. Padre Island National Seashore is unique as a marine debris survey area
because the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) current patterns converge at PAIS. The magnitude of marine
debris is such that as much as one ton per linear kilometer has been reported. To date, PAIS has
collected 48 months of debris data from six quarterly transect sites; 18 months of debris data from
four daily transects (5 days/week/covering 8 miles); and 12 months of debris data from 16 daily
transects (7 days/week/covering 16 contiguous miles).
Various methodologies were utilized to determine the best protocol for obtaining scientific data to
indicate the effectiveness of MARPOL Annex V regulations. Data gathered from the daily survey
indicated that specific debris items could be related to specific point sources. Data generated from
the marine debris survey culminated in 1993 with a multi-agency law enforcement undercover
operation to identify and apprehend MARPOL violators.
The percentage of backshore debris, at four daily transects, varied between 28% to 45%. Debris
surveys indicated that this debris is not post-MARPOL debris but, debris deposited over the past
several decades (pre-MARPOL). For these reasons, at PAIS, previously collected marine debris
data which combines both tidal and backshore debris are inaccurate and scientifically questionable
in judging the effectiveness of MARPOL Annex V.
Survey analysis from daily surveys indicated that the amount of debris items deposited in the tidal
areas was variable and did not display noticeable trends. Analysis of these data indicate that, as with
variations in daily debris amounts, there is not a consistent monthly trend because of the significant
role of environmental influences on deposition of marine debris.
Due to tidal influences, many debris items are cycled back into the offshore currents and,
subsequently, are redeposited at another beach location. There is a possibility that redeposited
debris may be counted multiple times, thereby resulting in an inflation of the data. For this reason,
it is imperative that all debris items be removed from each transect, or survey area, after being
counted, to prevent recounting errors.
In July, 1992, large quantities of marine debris washed onto park beaches. After analysis, it was
determined that the majority of this debris included 11 specific debris items. An increase in
deposition of the eleven items appeared to correspond to the opening of the shrimping season, when
numerous shrimp boats were observed parallel to the park's shoreline. At the end of August, 1992,
a marked decrease in the occurrence of these 11 items was noted. This decrease coincided with
shrimping fleet movement away from the park's shoreline. Marine debris survey data for 1993 and
1994 indicate a similar increase and decrease of the 11 specific items, coinciding with the shrimping
fleet movement along the Texas coast. Analysis of the point source survey indicated that the
shrimping industry is a contributor to GOM pollution.
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Buy Recycled - Don't Let a Good Thing Go to Waste
(abstract not available)
Upland Sources of Marine Debris in Puerto Rico
(abstract not available)
The Hazards of Plastic Entanglement to Texas Gulf Coast Wildlife
Andrea R. Wickham and Anthony F. Amos
University of Texas-Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, Texas, 78373
As rehabilitators for marine birds, turtles, and mammals, we have encountered many instances of
entanglement of these animals in discarded plastic materials. Additionally, over the years, the
incidence of entanglement of marine animals, including birds, turtles, dolphins, and fish, has been
documented in notes and pictures. Many of the birds could not be captured for treatment as they
could still fly. One of the principal types of plastic trap is discarded monofilament fishing line, often
replete with hook(s) which increase the likelihood of entanglement. Another is the woven plastic
onion sack, often found floating in the Gulf of Mexico. This seems to attract the hawksbill turtle
which becomes entrapped in the sack's broken plastic fibers. This presentation shows many
examples of these various entanglements, and discusses the difficulty of assessing the magnitude
and trends of discarded plastic as a hazard to our marine wildlife.
The Coast Guard's Effort to Reduce Marine Debris
Harry J. March, Marine Science Technician 2nd Class
This presentation covers the efforts made by the Coast Guard to reduce marine debris in the oceans
and includes information on the Coast Guard's new program, SEAPARTNERS, a joint effort from
the Coast Guard reserve and active duty to involve the public in marine debris awareness.
Information will also be presented on Operation Crescent Moon, an undercover operation to catch
ocean dumping of garbage, plus the daily boarding on vessels' throughout the country to verify
MARPOL compliance.
Waste Elimination and Minimization in Exploration and Production Operations
Robert J. Redweik, Jr. and Karen G. Haynes
Shell Oil Company. 900 Louisiana. Houston, Texas, 77002
In an effort to protect the environment and to reduce liabilities associated with solid waste disposal,
a Water Management Program was developed to eliminate and minimize solid waste generated in
offshore Gulf of Mexico exploration and production (E&P) operations. Using the Shell waste
management hierarchy, waste streams were reviewed and prioritized. Management options were
then selected and implemented to eliminate or minimize the volume of waste generated.
Management commitment and training for all personnel associated with waste management were
essential to the success of the program.
Initially, the Waste Management Program focused on hazardous wastes. During its first six years
of implementation, the Program resulted in a 93% reduction in hazardous waste generation.
Examples of hazardous wastes managed under the Program included solvent distillation, painting
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operations, and batteries. With hazardous wastes well managed, the focus has shifted to the other
solid wastes generated by E&P operations. Examples included drilling mud (slag mix) and
completion fluids.
Source reduction, recycling, treatment, and proper disposal all contribute to the success of the
program. The Waste Management Program demonstrates that in reducing volumes of solid waste
generated, we not only protect the environment and reduce potential future liability, but may also
be able to reduce waste management costs.
Distribution and Abundance of Floating Debris in the Gulf of Mexico: Is MARPOL Working?
Karen Mitchell
National Marine Fisheries Service, P.O. Drawer 1207, Pascagoula, MS, 39568-1207
Floating debris is found in shipping lanes, around oil rigs and in high density areas. In order to
determine the impact of MARPOL Annex V on floating debris in offshore waters in the Gulf of
Mexico, there is a need for a reporting system. The National Marine Fisheries Service has
conducted aerial surveys in the Gulf of Mexico. These surveys covered both inshore and offshore
waters. The inshore surveys were from the U.S.-Mexico border to the mid-Louisiana coast and
extended approximately 9.3 m beyond the 100 frn isobath. These surveys have been conducted since
1992 quarterly each year with the last one completed this past summer. The offshore surveys were
from the U.S.-Mexico border to Key West, Florida from 100 frn to 1,000 fm. The objective of the
surveys was to estimate the abundance and distribution of cetaceans in the Gulf of Mexico. Other
data was also collected such as floating debris and other animals. The Gulf of Mexico Program has
funded the National Marine Fisheries Service to analyze the marine debris data which was collected
during these surveys. Once the analysis is completed it may be possible to locate the source of the
debris and appropriate steps can be taken to stop the dumping of debris into the Gulf of Mexico.
The analysis will be completed by March and presented at the Gulf of Mexico Symposium.
Dealing with Ship-Generated Solid Wastes on Navy Vessels
Lawrence J. Koss
Environmental Protection, Safety & Occupational Health Division, Office of the Chief of Naval
Operations (N45), Department of the Navy, Washington, DC, 20350
The U.S. Navy will meet the challenge posed by the MARPOL Annex V prohibition of all plastics
discharges at sea, using a four-prong approach: Operational Changes, Technology Development.
Supply System Changes, and Environmental Education. In the area of Fleet operations. Navy sailors
are separating plastics from other trash on board to comply with 3-day/20-day rule. Plastics disposal
will be completely eliminated from surface ships by the end of 1998, as navy ships are outfitted with
plastics processors, which will compress and sanitize plastics waste for on-board storage. To reduce
plastics in the supply system, Fleet supply centers minimize plastics overwrap and practice
conservation and reuse/recycle policies. And educationally, the Navy has developed instructive
materials for ships, supply centers, and procurement offices, including motivational videos, posters,
brochures, and a comprehensive Ship's Guide. Regarding nonplastic solid wastes, the Navy has not
yet found a technology solution for the restriction against all nonfood solid waste discharges in
designated Annex V Special Areas. The Navy is searching for advanced mature shipboard
technologies that would be suitable for destroying all solid wastes generated on Navy ships at sea.
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Freshwater Inflow
Procedures for Estimating Freshwater Inflow Needs to Maintain the Ecological Health of an
Estuary
Albert Green and Warren Pulich
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Fountain Park Plaza 1, Suite 320, Austin, Texas, 78704
Texas has over one million acres of open water estuary and approximately one million acres of
estuarine wetlands having varying hydrologic conditions. Estuaries located along the northeastern
coastal area are characteristically fresher (less saline) than those located in the southwestern coastal
area. The extremes in these conditions are represented by the very fresh Sabine Lake (salinities
often less than 15 ppt) and the often hypersaline upper Laguna madre (salinities often greater than
35 ppt). These very different conditions provide natural experiments in which to investigate the
need for freshwater to deliver nutrients and sediments to estuaries and the maintenance of different
salinity regimes in the bay and how the ecology and productivity of an estuary is affected by
different hydrological conditions. Texas has limited water resources and wants to develop water to
improve economic conditions and conserve its rich natural heritage. Therefore, the Texas
Legislature has required The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Water
Development Board to study freshwater inflows to develop procedures for determining inflow needs
to maintain the ecological health of its estuaries. The studies, synthesized information, and tools
developed in this process provide an approach to estimate these needs.
Biological Validation of Modeled Freshwater Inflow Requirements for a Texas Estuary
Warren Pulich, Jr., Wen Y. Lee, Peter Eldridge and Duane German
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 3000 South 1H 35, Suite 320, Austin, Texas, 78704
The State of Texas, through its legislated interagency Bays and Estuaries Program, has developed
procedures and methodology based on computer modeling techniques for determining freshwater
inflow (FWI) requirements of its estuaries. Two theoretical models, including a multiobjective
system optimization analysis and a hydrodynamic circulation model, are applied in succession to
predict seasonal inflow regimes which achieve management objectives of fishery harvest and
salinity control. However, because they are predicted solutions, it is important to independently
verify whether the results are effective and reasonable for maintaining estuarine biological
productivity. In an effort to validate the effects of model-predicted inflows on fish and shellfish
indicator species and their critical estuarine habitat, Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) has designed
analyses for correlating biological distribution and species abundance with actual hydrologic
regimes in the estuary. This validation process involves using geographic information system (GIS)
analysis and time series graphic techniques to correlate biological parameters with salinity gradients
in the estuary under known inflow conditions, either predicted or historical ones. An example
analysis will be presented for the Guadalupe Estuary in Texas using TPWD Coastal Fisheries
sampling data for three years (1984, 1987, and 1990), which represent a very dry, an extremely wet,
and a moderate inflow year, respectively. These results provide more biological certainty to
resource management agencies for making FWI recommendations.
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Lake Texana Water Supply Reservoir Operation and Fresh Water Releases for Bays and
Estuaries
Jack C. Nelson, Director of Water Resources, Lavaca-Navidad River Authority (LNRA), P.O. Box
429, Edna, Texas, 77957
Stephen Densmore. Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), P.O. Box 13231, Austin, Texas,
78711-3231
Traditionally, water supply reservoirs were required to honor downstream senior water rights
holders and were managed for maximum yield. Lake Texana was the first reservoir in Texas that
had a stipulation in the water rights permit, dated May 24,1972, which allowed the Texas Natural
Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) "the release of water for the maintenance of the
Lavaca-Matagorda Bay and Estuary." This permit language left LNRA not know how much water
could be sold under the conditions stipulated.
In 1989, the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) with the Lavaca Navidad River Authority
(LNRA) and Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) developed operating rules to meet the needs of bay
and estuary requirements of the permit for Lake Texana while protecting the permitted yield for
municipal and industrial water supply. Texana provides water to industrial complexes near the cities
of Point Comfort and Lolita and in the future will supply municipal water for the cities of Corpus
Christi and Point Comfort. Lake Texana is permitted to divert 75,000 acre-feet per year of
municipal and industrial use. The effect of various proposed release schedules on the available yield
varied from approximately 80,000 acre-feet per year to 52,000 acre-feet per year. The agreement
set out a two stage operating rule which provided a firm yield of 74,500 acre-feet per year for
industrial and municipal use, and provide an average bay salinity of 17.7 ppt with an average of over
400,000 acre-feet per year of releases to the bay. A memorandum of agreement undertaken to
resolve the firm yield of Lake Texana was completed on May 26,1992 between TWDB, TPWD, and
LNRA. The agreement was accepted by all parties including the Sierra Club on October 7,1994 and
has been submitted to the TNRCC for amendment of the Certificate of Adjudication. This process
will provide for the first officially quantified bays and estuaries required releases from an existing
reservoir project in Texas. LNRA began a trial fresh water release program from Lake Texana in
January, 1994 for the bays and estuaries.
Freshwater Inflow and Reservoir System Operations: Managing Scarce Resources in South
Texas
James A. Dodson
Regional Water Director, City of Corpus Christi, P.O. Box 9277, Corpus Christi, Texas 78469-9277
The City of Corpus Christi owns and operates the Choke Canyon/Lake Corpus Christi Reservoir
System on the Frio and Nueces Rivers in South Texas. This regional water supply system presently
provides water for about 370,000 residents in seven counties. Under the water rights permit for
Choke Canyon Reservoir, the City is required to provide 151,000 acre-feet per year of freshwater
inflow to the Nueces Estuary. The City is presently making required releases of freshwater from the
reservoir system under an operating plan that effectively diminishes the amount of freshwater
available for municipal and industrial use by 30,000 acre-feet per year. Alternative reservoir
operating plans have been investigated that would provide the same level of productivity for the
estuary, as measured by commercial fisheries harvests, while improving the situation in terms of
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water supply for human usages. This paper describes the interaction between the scientific/technical
issues involved in establishing the freshwater needs of the Nueces Estuary and the policy issues
involved in managing scarce freshwater resources in a situation of competing demands.
A Nutrient Balance for the Lavaca-Colorado Estuary (Matagorda Bay), Texas
Cynthia T. Gorham
Lower Colorado River Authority, P.O. Box 220 Mail Stop H219, Austin, Texas, 78767
A freshwater inflow study of the Lavaca-Colorado Estuary has been initiated to determine
freshwater inflow needs required to maintain or increase biological productivity in this estuary.
Computing a nutrient balance is included in this study. The physical, chemical, and biological
dynamics of this estuary have changed due to the diversion of the Colorado River into Matagorda
Bay in 1991. The Colorado river inflows provide a larger portion of nitrogen to the estuary than all
other sources. Wastewater discharges from municipalities and industries surrounding the estuary
provide a minor amount of the total nutrient input to the estuary. Denitrification rates determined
for other Texas bay systems were used to estimate the yearly denitrification amount for the total area
of the Lavaca-Colorado Estuary. These calculations indicate that a significant portion of nitrogen
input is lost to denitrification. This estuary is one of the largest of the seven major Texas estuaries
but it receives only an average amount of freshwater inflow, and therefore, has an overall low
nutrient input per unit area.
Characterization of Long Term Riverine Discharge to 23 Estuaries in the Gulf of Mexico
Russell C.P. Ives
NOAA/NOS, Strategic Environmental Assessments Division, N/ORCA13, SSMC 4 Work Station
#9351,1305 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland, 20910-3281
Efforts to describe and characterize flow from river systems which discharge into the various
estuaries along the Gulf of Mexico have identified long term changes in the flow. A method was
developed which reduces long term data sets containing up to 80 years of average daily flow rates
into data made up of a moving 25 year average. Daily data were categorized as occurring either
during the wet season months or the dry season months for a given river. Those values were then
averaged in that season for a particular year and then these yearly values averaged over a moving
25 year period. The data was also normalized over the range of the yearly seasonal values and then
plotted as a percentage of that range. This was performed to detect both small dry season values as
compared to wet season values and to provide a basis for across estuary comparisons. The resulting
smoothed data reveals long term behavior which would otherwise be obscured by short term
fluctuation. The graphs were compared by estuary to each other and then grouped according to the
five estuary types defined by Orlando et.al. The result shows distinct similar behavior of long term
seasonal flows by estuary type. The graphs provide an ability to observe the effects of climatic
variation and, perhaps, systemic drainage basin modification such as dams, flood control, and
urbanization. This type of analysis can provide a means to ascertain situations where freshwater
inflow to an estuary may be exhibiting long term changes and should therefore be evaluated in
greater detail for stress to the estuary due to these changes in fresh water inflow.
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Nutrient and Primary Productivity Responses to Freshwater Inflow into Nueces/Corpus
Christ! Bay
Terry E. Whitledge and Dean A. Stockwell
The University of Texas-Marine Science Institute, P.O. Box 1267, Port Aransas, Texas, 78373-1267
Starting in 1990, mandated releases of freshwater and natural spills from precipitation events have
increased the freshwater inflow into Nueces Bay. Monthly measurements of temperature, salinity,
nutrients, water transparency, phytoplankton pigments and primary productivity at 25 stations in the
lower Nueces River, Rincon Delta and Nueces Bay have been used to determine the possible
benefits of the water releases to biological productivity. The release of freshwater for 1990 through
1994 lowered bay salinities and increased nutrient concentrations leading to an enhanced rate of
primary productivity. The productivity data are being used to design demonstrations projects for
the enhancement of delta and bay productivity by diverting river water and treated municipal
wastewaters.
Characterization of the Causes of Changes to Freshwater Inflow into the Waters of the Gulf
of Mexico
Miranda D. Harris
NOAA/NOS, Strategic Environmental Assessments Division, N/ORCA13, SSMC4, 9341, 1305
East-West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland, 20910-3281
Efforts have been made to identify long term changes in freshwater inflow from the riverine systems
which discharge into the various estuaries along the Gulf of Mexico (R. Ives et.al.). This paper
complements that effort in that it attempts to identify some of the anthropogenic causes for these
long term changes in freshwater inflow. This was done by using land use data and population trends
as indicators of changes of freshwater delivery into the estuaries. The data include; information on
dams in the drainage area, population trends, land use trends, surface water withdrawal trends,
irrigation practices, and wastewater treatment plant discharge quantities. These data helped to
identify the causes for either consumptive freshwater loss (total loss) or non-consumptive freshwater
loss (location and timing of inflow has changed) into the estuary. Using this information,
predictions were made about what change in the trends of freshwater inflow could have occurred,
as well as when and where they could have occurred. Taking these predictions in conjunction with
the results from Ives, et.al., the actual trends in freshwater inflow were compared with the predicted
trends to see if they match. A match indicates that the cause for the change in freshwater inflow
trend has been identified.
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Living Aquatic Resources
Development and Validation of a Benthic Index of Estuarine Condition for Gulf of Mexico
Estuaries
J.K. Summers and John Macauley. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Gulf Breeze, Florida.
V.D. Engle, National Biological Survey, Gulf Breeze, Florida
Benthic organisms, in estuaries, are the major trophic link between primary producers and higher
trophic levels, including fish, birds, and other wildlife. Benthos also provide an important food
source, affect water quality and productivity, and can alter contaminant distributions in sediments.
As an important link in Gulf of Mexico food webs, the condition of benthic communities is an
important factor in the biological and ecological condition of estuarine resources. A series of
benthic indices, based on structural community parameters, were constructed from benthic
community information collected during the 1991 through 1993 EMAP sampling efforts in the
Louisianian Province. The indices were constructed using an objective multi-variate statistical
process. The final benthic index has variables relating to proportion of expected number of species
or species diversity (adjusted for salinity) and several variables related to the abundance of indicator
species. The index for the Gulf of Mexico estuaries showed 29% ± 6% of the estuarine bottom
habitat in the province to be characterized by benthic community structures like those observed in
environments stressed by contaminants, hypoxia, and sediment toxicity. Validation testing showed
that the benthic index properly categorized impacted and non-impacted environments with a 96%
and 94% success rate, respectively. Comparisons of overlapping conditions and statistical
correlative investigations revealed that most impacted benthic communities were associated with
elevated levels of sediment contaminants.
Gulf-Wide Marine Mortality Scientific Response Network
William S. Fisher, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Marine and Estuarine Disease
Research, Environmental Research-Laboratory, Gulf Breeze, Florida, 32561
Jan H. Landsberg, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Marine Research
Institute, 100 Eighth Avenue SE, St. Petersburg, Florida, 33701
The Living Aquatic Resources Committee (LAR) of the Gulf of Mexico Program is developing a
programmatic approach to ensure quality scientific responses to marine mortality events in the Gulf
of Mexico. The primary purpose for investigating mortality events is to obtain evidence of probable
cause(s) so that steps can be taken to reduce the risk of reoccurrence. Mortality events are important
because of the loss of organisms and because they may signal degrading environmental conditions
or public health hazards. Response networks and agendas are already in existence for marine
mammals and sea turtles. Additionally, most states bordering the Gulf of Mexico have mortality
response teams for a variety of marine and estuarine organisms. However, these networks are not
substantially integrated, and many response needs have not been met. The LAR study group is
characterizing those needs and examining different strategies for their resolution. Current strategies
for a Gulf-wide network (GMNET) include better integration of ongoing programs through
information transfer, scientific support, response assistance in cases of unusual mortality events,
contingency planning and research.
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Habitat Description for Cetaceans in the Gulf of Mexico; A Preliminary Analysis
R.W. Davis, G.S. Fargion, B. Wursig, W.E. Evans, R. Benson, L.J. Hansen, K.D. Mullin,
G.P. Scott, L.N. May, Jr., T.D. Leming
Texas Institute of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, Galveston. Texas, 77553, and National
Marine Fisheries Service, SEFSC, 75 Virginia Beach Dr., Miami, Florida, 33149
We used visual sighting and hydro-acoustic data from six seasonal ship and aerial surveys to
characterize the preferred habitats of cetaceans along the continental slope (100m to 2000m
isobaths) in the north-central and western Gulf of Mexico. Hydrographic data were simultaneously
collected by CTD, XBTs and remote sensing. Data were analyzed using frequency plots, GIS
mapping and canonical correspondence analysis. This is the largest study of its kind ever conducted
in the Gulf of Mexico. Seventeen species of whales and dolphins have been identified. For this
analysis, we focused on bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella
frontalis), pantropical spotted dolphins (Stenella attenuata). and sperm whale (Physeter
macrocephalus). Bottlenose dolphins and Atlantic spotted dolphin sightings occurred in shallow
water (84% < 200m) and seldom more than 30 km beyond the shelf break (100m isobath). Stenella
attenuata and Physeter macrocephalus sightings occurred in deeper water (95% > 500m) up to 240
kn beyond the shelf break and were associated with mesoscale eddies. The abundance and
distribution of cetaceans, one (sperm whales) which is listed as endangered, should be considered
in the exploitation of marine living resources and petroleum hydrocarbons in this area of the Gulf
of Mexico. This study was funded, in part, by the Minerals Management Service under Contract
No. 14-35-0001-30619 to Texas A&M University and Interagency Agreement 16197 to the National
Marine Fisheries Service.
Population Trends in Selected Species in Galveston Bay, Texas, and the Role of Climate Cycles
Anne Walton, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Science, Texas A&M University, College
Station, Texas, 77843
Al Green, Aquatic Studies Branch, Resource Protection division, Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department, 3000 S. IH 35, Austin, Texas, 78704
Trend analyses were performed on fishery-independent monitoring data from Galveston Bay to
reveal potential problems in community ecology and suggest possible causes. Initial analyses were
performed on trawl samples collected during 1983-91, bag seine samples from 1978-91, and gill net
samples from 1976-91. Results showed considerable interannual variation in catch per unit effort
(CPUE) and a mix of trends among species at different life stages. Only blue crab and white shrimp
showed a strong climatic signature. Mean annual CPUE was correlated with an array of local
environmental variables (river inflow, rainfall, water level, salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen),
and the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI). Several species showed the effects of one or two factors,
but the bag seine data collectively correlated more strongly with El Nino events than with any single
hydrological variable in Texas. During El Nifio years there were high populations of white shrimp
and strong recruitment of spotted seatrout and red drum. The mechanism of El Nino's effect on the
estuarine biota in unclear, but probably involves a combination of covarying conditions on the local
(bay-wide) and regional (continent- and Gulf-wide) scales.
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Productivity of the Subtropical Seagrass Haloduie wrightii Along an Estuarine Gradient
Kenneth H. Dunton
The University of Texas at Austin-Marine Science Institute, P.O. Box 1267, Port Aransas, Texas
78373-1267
Seasonal patterns of above- and below-ground biomass, leaf chlorophyll (chl) content, and in situ
differences in photosynthetic parameters were examined in the shoal grass Haloduie wrightii along
an estuarine gradient in south Texas, in the western Gulf of Mexico. Continuous measurements of
biomass were collected over a five-year period with respect to several abiotic factors in three
estuarine systems that were characterized by significant differences in salinity and ambient dissolved
inorganic nitrogen (DIN; NO2 + NQ ) regimes. There were no significant differences in
photosynthetic (P vs. I) parameters, leaf chlorophyll content and chl a:b ratios among sites over the
entire five-year period. In addition, no consistent correlations could be established between plant
parameters and sediment pore water NH4+ (range 50 to 400 uM) or salinity (range 5 to 55%). The
high productivity of Haloduie wrightii under a variety of light, nutrient and salinity conditions
explains its ubiquitous distribution and opportunistic strategy as a colonizing species. However, the
persistence of a dense algal bloom in Laguna Madre coincident with low DIN levels (< 5 uM)
contradict previously accepted relationships on nutrient stimulation of algal growth.
These data provide strong evidence that water quality parameters for estuarine seagrasses are
decidedly estuarine specific, a factor that must be considered in establishing minimum water quality
for submerged aquatic vegetation.
Oyster Reef Bioengineering
Sherwood M. Gagliano and Mark H. Gagliano
Coastal Environments, Inc., 1260 Main Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70802
Oyster reefs can be initiated along the muddy shorelines of lakes and bays to form barriers against
future erosion. Seed oysters placed in specially designed and fabricated units are utilized to
establish the reefs. The growing shells fuse together and the oysters proliferate to produce large
quantities of calcium carbonate. A community of secondary organisms in turn becomes encrusted
on the shell. The technique results in more rapid formation of reefs than through natural reef
evolution (decades instead of hundreds of years). Shell liberated from the reefs washes onto the
shore to form beaches. Additionally, the reefs provide aquatic habitat diversity and enhanced
fisheries production along with recreational and commercial fishing benefits. Food supply and
habitat for shore birds is also enhanced.
This human acceleration and sculpturing of a natural process provides an important new
management tool for reducing erosion and increasing the abundance of fish and shore birds. The
process has application along the shores of lakes and bays, around islands, and along banks of
natural streams and canals in any coastal waters where oysters will grow.
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Foraging Ecology of Redheads Wintering in Chandeleur Sound, Louisiana
Thomas C. Michot
U.S. National Biological Survey, Southern Science Center, 700 Cajundome Boulevard, Lafayette,
Louisiana, 70506
Redheads (Aythya americana), like other species of diving ducks, congregate in large flocks on the
wintering grounds with the largest concentrations found in estuarine open-water areas on the
northern and western coasts of the Gulf of Mexico. A population of about 20,000 redheads winters
in Chandeleur Sound, Louisiana, U.S.A. We studied diet, body composition, time-activity budgets,
and nutrition in that population over the winters (November through March) of 1987-88 and 1988-
89. We collected 287 birds over the two year period. For the 190 birds with esophageal food
present, 83% of the diet was plant material (primarily roots and rhizomes of the seagrass Halodule
wrightii). Animal matter (primarily marine gastropods) was higher (P < 0.05) in the diets of birds
collected > 50m from the shoreline, and in adult males and females from late winter. Body protein
did not change (P < 0.05) over the same period. Birds fed more (P < 0.05) during low tides and
close to shore. Head dipping and tipping accounted for 83% of the feeding behaviors; only 6% of
the birds fed by diving. Nutritional composition and energy content of Halodule did not change (P
< 0.05) over the winter, but aboveground and below ground biomasses showed decreases (P <
0.0001). Halodule was neither the most nutritious, nor the most abundant, seagrass species on the
study area. Food availability, tides, nutritional needs, and energetics likely play a role in the
differences shown.
Shrimp Trawl Gear Modifications to Reduce the Bycatch of Fish
John Watson and Wil Seidel
National Marine Fisheries Service, Pascagoula Laboratory, MS
Research to develop bycatch reduction devices for use by the shrimp trawl fishery in the Southeast
United States has been conducted under a regional cooperative program involving industry, state and
federal research agencies, and state universities. This research was initiated in response to the need
to reduce fish mortality in shrimp trawls in order to recover stocks of depleted fish, in particular the
red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus). A total of 82 gear designs have been evaluated since this
project was initiated in 1990. Evaluations have included observations of fish behavior, video
documentation of operational characteristics, water flow measurements, and delineation of water
flow patterns. Prototype designs have been developed by commercial fishermen, nets shops, gear
technicians, and fishery biologists. Proof of concept evaluations have been conducted on
commercial shrimping grounds for 24 designs and three designs are being evaluated by commercial
fishermen. The designs with the best performance were the top position fisheye and the extended
funnel design. Shrimp retention rates were 92% for the fisheye design and 100% for the extended
funnel design. Total fish reduction rates were 70% for the fisheye design and 41 % for the extended
funnel design. Reduction rates for red snapper were 10% for the fisheye and 18% for the extended
funnel. Red snapper reduction rates were between 40% and 60% for red snapper over 130 mm in
length for the extended funnel design and between 40% and 80% for the fisheye design. This data
indicates that fishing mortality for red snapper by shrimp trawls can be reduced by 50-60% through
the use of these devices in the shrimp trawl industry and allow for recovery of snapper stocks to a
20% spawning stock potential by 2009 if the total allowable take by directed fisheries is limited to
6.0 million pounds.
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Toxics and Pesticides
Air Toxics Deposition Monitoring in Galveston Bay, Texas
Terry L. Wade and Stephen Sweet, Geochemical and Environmental Research Group 833 Graham
Road, College Station, Texas, 77845
Luis Cifuentes, Niel Tindale, Peter Santschi, and Gary Gill, College of Geosciences and
Maritime Studies, Texas A&M University
In order to fulfill the mandates of the Great Waters Program and portions of the Clean Air Act
Amendments of 1990, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has initiated atmospheric
monitoring research in important and representative water bodies, including coastal waters, for
evidence of atmospheric deposition of pollutants. These pollutants include nutrients, trace metals,
polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, PCBs and chlorinated pesticides. A site was established in
Galveston Bay, Texas as a representative southern, coastal water system. This study determines
selected environmental pollutants of potential concern to Galveston Bay and other Gulf coastal
waters. While information is currently being generated by other investigations in Galveston Bay,
such as EPA EMAP, Galveston National Estuary Program, NOAA Status and Trends and other
programs on contaminants in sediments and organisms, little reliable data is available to assess
atmospheric deposition. This study is producing information on atmospheric deposition of
pollutants to Galveston Bay, as well as on long-range transport of pollutants to other water bodies.
These research results are critical to the understanding of the relative importance of pollution inputs
to Galveston Bay by estimating atmospheric depositional fluxes. The results from the Program will
also be compared with the results from other Great Waters Program sites.
Contaminant Distribution in Gulf Coast Sediments: Results from EPA EMAP-E Program
Terry L. Wade, Adolfo G. Requejo and Thomas J. Jackson, Geochemical and Environmental
Research Group, College Station, Texas, 77845
J. Kevin Summers and John M. Macauley, US EPA, Sabine Island, Gulf Breeze, Florida, 32561
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designed the Environmental Monitoring and
Assessment Program-Estuarine Program (EMAP-E) to provide a quantitative assessment of the
extent of coastal environmental problems by measuring the status and changes in selected indicators
of ecological conditions. Sediment samples from over 400 sites were collected and analyzed for a
suite of contaminants including trace elements, butyltins, aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons,
chlorinated pesticides, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The EMAP-E program utilizes a
probability-based sampling design in order to provide unbiased, statistically valid estimates of
contaminant concentrations. Many sediments had concentrations of these contaminants below the
method detection limit. Generally, sediment contaminant concentrations are low when compared
to concentrations reported from biased sampling in close proximity to input sources. Most
contaminant concentrations when plotted on a log scale produce a normal distribution, indicating
that a statistically random sampling was achieved. Principal component analyses show the
usefulness of this technique when applied to a large unbiased data set. Most contaminant
concentrations were below levels expected to produce ecological effects in benthic biota; however,
these sediments may be the source of contaminants found to bioaccumulate in estuarine organisms.
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Response of Salt Marsh Vegetation to in situ Burning as an Oil Spill Technique, Coastal South
Texas
Beau Hardegree, David W. Hicks and John W. Tunnell, Jr.
Center for Coastal Studies, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas, 78412
On 7 January 1992, a rupture in an underground oil transfer pipeline resulted in the spillage of
approximately 2,950 barrels (469 m3) of crude oil into a high marsh community near Chiltipin
Creek, San Patricio County, Texas. Authorization for burning the oil, as a cleanup method, was
given by the Texas General Land Office (the designated state On Scene Coordinator). The purpose
of this study is to monitor changes in the associated floral community and soil Total Petroleum
Hydrocarbon (TPH) content over time. Ultimately, 6.5 hectares (ha) of oil and vegetation out of the
15.5 ha surrounded by sorbent booms were burned, causing them to become barren. These bare
patches produced by the bum were rapidly colonized by grasses, mainly Distichlis spicata.
Secondary succession by perennial climax species is slow resulting in significantly lower species
diversity and biomass in the oiled and burned area even after 30 months. The values of the TPH
measurements collected in December, 1992, and repeated in July, 1993, are consistently decreasing.
The obvious disadvantages of burning as a cleanup method in this high marsh area are the
substantial initial damage to plants and the high residual hydrocarbon levels in the sediment.
Nutrient Enrichment
Estimated Responses of Water Quality on the Louisiana Inner Shelf to Nutrient Load
Reductions in the Mississippi and Atchafalaya
V. J. Bierman, Jr., Limno-Tech, Inc., 20780 S. Gatehouse Dr., South Bend, Indiana 46637
S. C. Hinz and D. Zhu, Limno-Tech, Inc., 2395 Huron Parkway, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
W. J. Wiseman, Jr., Coastal Studies Institute, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
70803
N. N. Rabalais, Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium, Chauvin, Louisiana 70344
R. E. Turner, Coastal Ecology Institute, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803
The Mississippi-Atchafalaya River (MAR) system is the largest single source of freshwater and
nutrient inputs to the coastal waters of the United States. An extensive and persistent zone of
seasonal hypoxia has been documented in the nearshore bottom waters of the Louisiana Inner Shelf
(LIS). A deterministic mass balance model was developed for the LIS and calibrated to field data
representing summer average conditions in 1985,1988 and 1990. The calibrated model was used
to conduct predictive simulations to estimate the responses of dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll
concentrations to potential reductions in nutrient loadings from the MAR. The objectives of this
analysis were to determine whether water quality on the LIS was sensitive to changes in MAR
nutrient loadings and to estimate the approximate magnitudes of potential reductions in nutrient
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loadings that might be necessary to improve present water quality conditions. Results indicated that
dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll concentrations on the LIS were responsive to reductions in MAR
nitrogen and phosphorus loadings. For a given reduction in MAR loadings, there were large
uncertainties in response magnitudes. These uncertainties were due to two principal factors: (a)
lack of information on relationships among MAR nutrient loadings, seaward boundary conditions
and sediment oxygen demand; and (b) inter-annual variability in hydrometerological conditions and
advective flow fields on the LIS.
Nutrients in Gulf Estuaries: Ail Bays Are Not Created Equal
Frank S. Shipley, Galveston Bay National Estuary Program, Bay Plaza One, 711 West Bay Area
Boulevard, Suite 210, Webster, Texas, 77598
In relation to nutrient dynamics, Gulf bays do not uniformly follow accepted dogma established by
studies of East Coast systems. Galveston Bay serves as a good example of how unique features in
a Gulf system lead to unique estuarine responses to nutrient inputs. Although water volume and
flushing rates would indicate Galveston Bay is at least as susceptible to problems as other bay
systems suffering from nutrient over enrichment, the open bay experiences few algae blooms,
episodes of dissolved oxygen depletion, or fish kills. Studies at the estuarine ecosystem level carried
out under the National Estuary Program have developed loading estimates for point, non-point and
riverine sources of nutrients, and a compilation of 28 ambient water quality data sets has provided
information on how these loadings affect the estuary. Specifics of watershed hydrology, wastewater
management, and the natural shallow, wind-driven character of the western Gulf Coast significantly
influence nutrient dynamics. Nitrogen and phosphorus sinks in upstream reservoirs on both major
rivers, the advent of secondary wastewater treatment, and naturally low light penetration have
mediated against many of the nutrient impacts seen in some other systems. These findings have
helped shape The Galveston Bay Plan, a comprehensive planning document recently completed to
guide future management of the estuary.
Dissolved Oxygen Conditions in Gulf of Mexico Estuaries
Virginia D. Engle
National Biological Survey, 1 Sabine Island Dr., Gulf Breeze, Florida, 32561
Nutrient enrichment in estuaries has been consistently associated with low dissolved oxygen
conditions. The consequences of either or both of these conditions can be severe to fisheries by
directly affecting the demersal catch. Low dissolved oxygen indirectly affects fisheries populations
by reducing macrophyte habitat that is critical to recruitment and reducing the abundance and
diversity of benthic fauna, an important food source. The Environmental Monitoring and
Assessment Program (EMAP) in the Louisiana Province has monitored dissolved oxygen and water
clarity in estuaries throughout the Gulf of Mexico for four years. Dissolved oxygen and light
penetration measurements were taken during the summer index period at over 100 sites per year.
Instantaneous measures of dissolved oxygen were sampled at every meter depth from surface to
bottom. Continuous 24-measurements of DO were taken at 0.5 meters from the bottom. Water
clarity was measured as the percent of ambient light penetrating to 1 meter depth. The areal extent
of low dissolved oxygen conditions and poor water clarity was determined for each year for the
entire Louisianian Province as well as selected subpopulations of the province. Associations
between dissolved oxygen, water clarity, and fish and benthic populations were explored.
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Sarasota Bay: Reclaiming Paradise
Mark Alderson, Director
Sarasota Bay National Estuary Program, 1550 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, Florida, 34236
Since the inception of the Sarasota Bay National Estuary Program in 1989, significant action has
been taken by the community, State of Florida, U.S. EPA and the Southwest Florida Water
Management District to restore Sarasota Bay. Wastewater treatment improvements at the Manatee
County and City of Sarasota treatment plants have resulted in a 25% nitrogen load reduction
baywide; 45% in Central Sarasota Bay. Further improvements to the system are anticipated as an
additional 23% nitrogen load reduction is anticipated by fully implementing the proposed
comprehensive restoration plan, the restoration plan includes:
1) Expansion of the City of Sarasota wastewater treatment service area to provide service to areas
in Sarasota County on septic tanks and small treatment plants;
2) Expansion of existing wastewater reclamation systems to limit discharge to the bay;
3) Stormwater retrofit on the five (5) priority basins; and
4) Implementation of pollution prevention programs through the "Florida Yards &
Neighborhoods" initiative.
Habitat loss (bottom and wetland) is also a major threat to bay ecology as 39% of intertidal wetlands
and 30% of seagrasses have been lost. The SBNEP has embarked on a variety of wetland restoration
projects throughout the region, increasing available shoreline habitat by approximately 5%.
Restoration of bottom habitat has focused on water quality improvements. Approximately 130 acres
of seagrasses have been restored to date. Innovative artificial reefs for canal communities have also
been developed to enhance juvenile fish habitats.
As water quality continues to improve and more habitat becomes available, it is anticipated that
overall productivity of the bay will increase and the fishery will recover. Scallops were introduced
to the bay and reproduced during 1994.
The Role of the Mississippi River in the Formation of Seasonal, Severe Hypoxia on the
Louisiana-Texas Shelf
Nancy N. Rabalais
Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium, 8124 Highway 56, Chauvin, Louisiana, 70344
Close linkages exist between freshwater inflow (and subsequent nutrient flux), net surface water
production, and bottom water oxygen deficiency on the Louisiana-Texas continental shelf adjacent
to the Mississippi and Atchafalaya deltas. Long-term trends in changes in nutrient structure
(riverine and continental shelf) and the responses of the various components of the ecosystem
document these linkages. Oxygen-depleted bottom waters are seasonally dominant features of the
Louisiana (and sometimes Texas) continental shelf. The areal extent of bottom-water hypoxia (<2
mg/1 dissolved oxygen) in mid-summer may reach up to 16,500 km2. Hypoxic bottom waters occur
as early as February and as late as October, with widespread, persistent and severe hypoxia/anoxia
from mid-May through mid-September. Spatial and temporal variability in the distribution of
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hypoxia is, at least partially, related to the amplitude and phasing of Mississippi River discharge and,
consequently, to nutrient flux to coastal waters and subsequent carbon flux from surface waters to
lower water column and sea floor. Physical features of the system also control the dynamics of
hypoxia. The influence of the Mississippi River outflow was particularly notable during the later
spring and summer of 1993, because sustained freshwater input and nutrient flux occurred when
flows are usually lowest (the "Great Flood of 1993"). The areal extent of bottom-water hypoxia in
1993 was twice that of the average sized area mapped during the previous eight years. The large
size of the hypoxic area in 1993 was not unexpected, because of the known interactions of
freshwater and nutrient flux to the system. An extensive hypoxic area was also documented in mid-
summer 1994, comparable in size and shape to that of 1993. This result was unexpected, because
flow of the Mississippi River during spring and summer of 1994 was "normal." The similarity of
the 1994 hypoxic zone to that of 1993 suggests some residual effects of the 1993 summer flooding
well into the summer of 1994.
Reducing Non-Point Source Pollution in Nearshore Coastal Environments
Craig D. Martin and Keith D. Johnson
The University of West Florida. Institute for Coastal and Estuarine Research, Pensacola, Florida,
32514
Overloaded and poorly sited septic tank systems contribute to non-point source pollution and
potential groundwater contamination. This is particularly true when septic tanks are installed in the
proximity natural waters. In such cases, septic tank leaching can cause eutrophication of adjacent
coastal waters. A research grant was awarded by the Environmental Protection Agency's Gulf of
Mexico Program to examine the potential of retrofitting existing septic tank systems to constructed
wetlands for single family residential wastewaters treatment. In conjunction with the Three Rivers
Resource Conservation and Development Council, the University of West Florida's Institute for
Coastal and Estuarine Research developed a system that would treat wastewater generated by a
single family residence. This design incorporated a three cell series of wetlands that would replace
the traditional leach field. The effluent from the septic tank flows through the treatment cells;
maximizing exposure of the wastewater to the plants, rhizomes, and associated microbial flora in
the sediment. Vegetation was established on two foot centers to accelerate overall coverage of the
treatment cells. The plant material was cultivated at the greenhouse facility at the University.
Monitoring of the systems performance began in May 1994, with sampling occurring every two
weeks. Parameters to be measured include Ph, NO3+NO2, BOD5, TSS, NH3, TKN, TPO4, and fecal
coliforms.
SAMPLE SITE TSS TPHOS NH, TKN BOD. F.C. mpn/lOOml
NTM0 1000 36 42 210 400 >160,000
NTM3 33.2 .9 13.3 17.5 20 4227
Figure 1: Data from Wetland treatment unit where NTM0 is an average of two sampling events and
NTM3 is an average of 10 sampling events.
Results thus far indicate that various physical and chemical processes occurring within constructed
wetlands can provide effective treatment alternatives to standard septic tank systems.
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Coastal Erosion
Historic Erosion Rates in the Gulf of Mexico
(abstract not available)
Apaiachicola Shoreline Stabilization Demonstration Project
H. Lee Edmiston and George O. Bailey
Apaiachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve, 261 7th Street, Apaiachicola, Florida, 32320
The Apaiachicola Bay system is a highly productive lagoon/barrier island complex that typically
yields $12 to $16 million in dockside seafood landings annually. Currently between 60 and 85
percent of the local people make a living either directly or indirectly from the fishing industry.
Increases development around the Bay, a National Estuarine Research Reserve, has resulted in an
increasing number of shoreline stabilization structures being permitted and built. This has resulted
in concern over the long term threat to the environmental integrity of the bay from the cumulative
impacts of armoring the shoreline.
Almost all of the shoreline stabilization projects currently permittable involve the construction of
riprap structures or seawalls placed either directly landward of mean high water, or within the
intertidal zone, which involves the reclamation of eroded property below the mean high water line.
Both types of structures usually involve substantial backfilling of material, which is usually followed
by the establishment of a planted lawn at the expense of the buffer of existing native vegetation. The
shifting sand in front of the structures constructed above mean high water is usually eroded away
before construction is finished, or soon thereafter, due to high winds and tides. This results in these
riprap structures becoming intertidal in a relatively short time. Therefore, not only do both types
of structures result in the loss of intertidal habitat and upland native vegetation, but they also cause
erosion of nearby shorelines, which results in the loss of marsh habitat in many instances.
The Apaiachicola Shoreline Stabilization Demonstration Project, funded through the Environmental
Protection Agency's Gulf of Mexico program and in cooperation with Florida Department of
Environmental Protection and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, has resulted in the construction of
a riprap structure on eroding state property on St. George Island, approximately 20 feet seaward of
mean high water. This structure acts as a small breakwater and requires no backfill. The
"breakwater" stretches approximately 150 feet, with a small (5 feet) opening in the middle. The
structure is located in approximately 2 feet of water at MHW and extends approximately 1 foot
above water at MHW. An eroding Spartina alterniflora saltmarsh is located 75 feet west of the
structure. The area behind the breakwater is unvegetated. Sections of shoreline behind and adjacent
to the breakwater have been planted with transplanted Spartina on two-foot centers.
Changes in the profile of the shoreline behind and adjacent to the breakwater, as well as the offshore
area, have been monitored for 13 months, 10 months of which were prior to construction. Changes
in the existing marsh and the newly planted marsh will be compared. Monitoring of the marsh and
shoreline profiles will continue for the next several years. This type of stabilization structure is
currently not permittable for small residential projects in the State of Florida. The Apaiachicola
National Estuarine Research Reserve hopes to demonstrate to local, state, and Federal regulatory
agencies that there is a way to not only protect estuarine shoreline from erosion, but also reduce the
loss of intertidal marshes usually associated with shoreline stabilization structures and improve the
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habitat value of man-made stabilization structures and improve the habitat value of man-made
stabilization structures.
Expected benefits will be environmentally sound permitting decisions based upon proven techniques
for Apalachicola Bay. Shoreline protection structures are a fact of life given current permitting
regulations and guidelines, therefore, environmentally sound structures should be utilized. The
creation or preservation of saltmarshes not only helps maintain and enhance the commercial fisheries
in the area and reduces erosion, but also are important in filtering pollutants from runoff associated
with increased development.
The Belle Fontaine Beach Erosion Control Model Demonstration Project: A Gulf of Mexico
Program "Success in '93" Coastal Erosion Demonstration Project
Stephen M. Oivanki, Mississippi Office of Geology
Joseph N. Suhayda, Louisiana State University
Belle Fontaine, in Jackson County, is the only remaining natural beach area on the mainland coast
of Mississippi. Since the 1850s this area has lost over 473 acres to erosion. The shoreline is heavily
populated and many homes are at risk as a result of shoreline retreat. A study of erosion trends at
Belle Fontaine by the Mississippi Office of Geology resulted in the development of a computer
model (Shoreline Evolution Model) of the shoreline which can be used to predict future erosion as
well as the effects of possible erosion control measures contemplated for the area. The model
suggests that sand nourishment of the beach at selected locations coupled with breakwater protection
should alleviate the erosion problems at Belle Fontaine, hi order to test the validity of the model
under actual conditions, the Gulf of Mexico Program awarded a grant to Jackson County to place
30,000 cubic yards of sand from an upland source on the beach at Belle Fontaine in those sections
indicated by the model for erosion mitigation. The Office of Geology is monitoring the movement
of this added sand in response to the natural wave climate over the next five years, and the
monitoring results will be compared with the model predications of sand movement under the same
conditions. Any variations between the actual and modeled sand movement will be incorporated
into the model to refine its predictive capabilities. Once the model is proven correct by field testing,
additional local funding and support will be sought to expand the erosion controls recommended by
the model to cover the entire beach area. By using the model to predict the success of proposed
erosion control measures, acquisition of additional funding should be made easier. This same
technology and approach can be used elsewhere in the Gulf of Mexico where similar erosion
problems exist.
Use of a Shoreline Change Analysis to Assist in Development of a Shoreline Management Plan
in Alabama __
Scott L. Douglass, Ph.D., P.E., Tina A. Sanchez
University of South Alabama, Department of Civil Engineering, EGCB 280, Mobile, Alabama,
36688
Phillip E. Hinesley, Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, Coastal Programs
A shoreline change analysis for Alabama Gulf Coast Beaches was used as input to the development
of a shoreline management plan to meet the Gulf of Mexico Program challenge of reducing critical
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coastline erosion. The shoreline change analysis focused on the available period of high quality, low
altitude, air photos-the past 25 years. The study produced a map that showed which areas were
stable and which areas were experiencing accretion or recession. The results indicate that the bulk
of beaches were fairly stable. Exceptions to this stability are attributable to engineering works and
inlet related instabilities. These technical results were applied in a recommended shoreline
management plan to improve coastal zone management in Alabama by focusing on treating beach
sands as a valuable resource. Specifically, the development of state-sponsored inlet management
plans was recommended. Another coastal zone management application of the technical study is
an ongoing re-evaluation of the state's construction control line. A remaining technical question
concerns whether or not the 25-year stability is indicative of the longer-term changes. In summary,
local governments, planners, and state agencies were able to take this information into consideration
when developing shoreline management strategies for this increasingly popular vacation spot.
Erosion Management Plan for Texas
(abstract not available)
Inlet Management Techniques for Beach Erosion Control
Ralph R. Clark, P.E., P.L.S.
Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Beaches and Coastal Systems, Office
of Research, Analysis & Policy, 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard, Mail Station 320, Tallahassee,
Florida, 32399
Much of the barrier island beach erosion around the Gulf of Mexico has resulted from the
stabilization, construction, and development of barrier tidal inlets. Many of the natural undeveloped
inlets, dynamic in their geomorphology, are also responsible for much of the erosion conditions of
adjacent beaches. To address the inlet influenced erosion problem, the State of Florida has initiated
the development of inlet management plans at 21 of the approximately 55 barrier beach inlets along
the Gulf of Mexico coast of Florida. These plans address, pursuant to their statutory mandate, the
extent to which each inlet causes beach erosion and recommendations to mitigate the erosion impact
of the inlet. The recommendations include inlet sediment bypassing and backpassing modifications
to navigation channel dredging, beach and nearshore disposal of navigation channel maintenance
material, the construction and modification of jetties, weirs, or other structures, the excavation and
maintenance of sand traps, supplemental beach nourishment, and inlet closure. A good
approximation of the sediment budget is necessary in order to develop a plan to bypass sediment
across the inlet or to backpass ebb shoal sediment to adjacent eroded beaches. The plans also
provide cost estimates and are limited to activities which can be expected to result in acceptable
environmental protection.
Calcasieu-Sabine Cooperative River Basin Study
Bruce Lehto
Area Conservationist, National Resource Conservation Service, P.O. Box 387. Crowley, Louisiana.
70527-0387
Coastal wetlands in Louisiana are being lost at a rate of about 25 square miles per year. Louisiana
contains 40 percent of the nation's coastal wetlands, but has 80 percent of national loss of these
habitats annually. During the 50 year period from 1933 to 1983, western Cameron Parish, Louisiana
lost about 124 square miles to erosion, that is, the area was converted from land or vegetated marsh
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to open water. A Cooperative River Basin Study was initiated to address wetland loss in this
475,000 acre coastal wetland ecosystem.
The five study sponsors included state agencies, local government, and Federal agencies. The Soil
Conservation Service had overall responsibility for the study. Twenty additional agencies,
universities, companies, and land owners participated in the study.
Problems associated with the coastal wetlands in the Calcasieu-Sabine River Basin are both natural
and man-made. The natural occurrences are sea level rise, subsidence, saltwater intrusion, grazing
damage to vegetation by wild herbivores such as nutria or muskrats, and erosion. Man-made
hydrologic changes such as the Calcasieu Ship Channel, oil exploration canals, roads, and
hunter/trapper boat trails resulted in increased saltwater intrusion, increased water level fluctuations,
rapid freshwater removal, ponding, and erosion of interior marsh.
An overall plan was developed for the entire study area and for each of the 47 hydrologic units in
the area. The objective of the overall plan was to provide a method wherein plans for each of the
hydrologic units could be installed independently of one another and still fit in the overall plan. A
description of physical setting, problems, alternatives, and analysis of "with" and "without"
conditions was developed for each hydrologic unit. Many of the planned measures have been
implemented.
Public Health
The Evolution of the National Shellfish Register of Classified Estuarine Waters
Dorothy L. Leonard
Strategic Environmental Assessments Division, N/ORCA 1, SSMC4, 1305 East-West Highway,
Silver Spring, Maryland, 20910
In 1990, NOAA's Strategic Environmental Assessments Division conducted a survey to produce the
1990 National Shellfish Register of Classified Estuarine Waters (Register). The report describes
declines in estuarine water quality, decreases in the acreage of approved molluscan shellfish growing
waters and continuing declines in the Nation's shellfish harvests. The report concludes that although
declines in any given year, and even from 1985 to 1990 are not dramatic, an almost inexorable trend
that threatens to destroy the harvest of wild or natural shellfish continues. The report suggests that
without increases in aquaculture it is likely that harvest of estuarine molluscan shellfish will
continue to decline. Beginning in January, 1995, a team of ISSC members including NOAA is
surveying classified shellfish-growing waters in 23 coastal states as well as the Canadian portion
of the Gulf of Maine. The survey will quantify the changes in acreage since 1990, reasons for these
changes, and the sources of pollution affecting harvest-limited waters. The 1995 activities have
been expanded to include two new components: 1) a summary and assessment of molluscan
aquaculture activities in estuarine and coastal systems, and 2) a survey of habitat and stock
restoration projects.
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Meeting the Shellfish Challenge; Where We Are, Where We Are Going
Dan Farrow
Pollution Sources Characterization Branch, Strategic Environmental Assessment Division, National
Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, 1305 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland, 20910
This presentation will discuss the progress to date and next steps of a one year pilot project to
develop a detailed plan of attack for achieving the Shellfish Challenge, that is, the Gulf of Mexico
Program's (GMP) Environmental Challenge to increase shellfish beds available for safe harvest by
ten (10) percent. The plan will outline options (different strategies) to meet the Challenge, and will
include information characterizing the cost, time frame, predicted outcome, location of impact, and
likelihood of success of each strategy. The plan will also list information and assessment needs
identified during the project, discuss opportunities for integrating existing GMP action items into
the strategies and describe the role of the Gulf of Mexico Program in implementing the strategies.
The plan is being developed through a highly participatory strategic assessment process involving
data collection, analysis, and workshops, and will draw on the knowledge and experience of the
region's experts in shellfish management programs, the shellfishing industry, and environmental
regulatory and management programs. A second goal of the project is to test and gain a better
understanding concerning how a strategic assessment approach may benefit the GMP.
The Gulf of Mexico Program's Shellfish Growing Water Restoration Initiative
Frederick C. Kopfler
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Gulf of Mexico Program Office, Building 1103, Stennis
Space Center, Mississippi, 39529
The Public Health Committee identified improper on-site sewage disposal as a significant source
of human fecal coliforms to coastal and recreational waters and shellfish growing waters. The
Program has sponsored a series of projects to demonstrate several innovative technologies to
determine if improvements in coastal water quality are achieved.
Projects that will be described are the use of peat filtration systems in the Weeks Bay area of
Alabama, an upwelling flow injection system at Port Fourchon, Louisiana; and several constructed
wetland systems in Florida, Alabama and Mississippi. Such systems should reduce the input of
human fecal wastes and the resulting microorganisms and nutrients to Gulf coastal waters.
A New Look at Public Health Risk Communication Techniques-The Interactive Approach
E. Spencer Garrett, Michael Jahncke, Martha Hudak-Roos and Roy E. Martin
National Marine Fisheries Service
Risk communication is one of the four principal components of risk analysis. The other three are
hazard identification, risk assessment, and risk management. Public health risk management
strategies are effective only to the degree that they are successfully communicated and accepted by
the lay public's own perceptions about the risks. Quantitative risk assessment techniques are subject
to numerous flaws which are well understood by the scientific community. Unfortunately, while
scientists continually focus on better measuring the risk of the hazard, oftentimes the public will use
different criteria and focus on the numerous dimensions of outrage. The risk communication process
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acquires more acceptance when the parties involved jointly engage in a fair debate about risk issues
that affect them and arrive at judgement after sifting through diverse analysis and interpretation.
Because of the wealth of seafood safety, and quality control information which resides not only in
printed material at NSIL but also in staff expertise, the Laboratory serves as a National Seafood
Quality and Safety Information Transfer Center. In the past several years, the Laboratory has been
pioneering a new concept of information transfer known as "Interactive Risk Communication". The
new paradigm, known as the "Scherer approach," allows for more active and effective dialog of
parties affected by the risk under consideration to develop better risk management techniques, and
empowers individuals to appreciate different points of view. The new Scherer approach recognizes
that oftentimes the conventional government approach is a "unidirectional" and "technocratic" model
which doesn't work because it has in its roots the past public belief that only science can resolve
complex issues and that the public is a passive receiver of risk information. The new interactive risk
communication technique allows for a proactive strategy to define problems, set discussion agendas,
provide defined mechanisms for information exchange and set the pace for resolution. This new
technique was successfully tested by NSIL when it conducted the highly controversial Model
Seafood Surveillance Project to design a new mandatory Federal HACCP seafood inspection
program. Converting the menhaden industry to an HACCP inspection program and incorporating
controversial animal rights and consumer advocates on international standards setting activities also
serve as two more successful applications.
Protecting Public Health by Managing Fisheries Affected by Marine Algal Toxins
Karen A Steidinger and Carmelo Tomas, Florida Department of Environmental Protection,
Florida Marine Research Institute, 100 Eighth Avenue S.E., St. Petersburg, Florida, 33701
There are more than 30 species of toxic microalgae in the Gulf of Mexico. Several are associated
with mass mortalities of fishes and invertebrates. About half the species are associated, or
potentially associated, with shellfish intoxications such as Neurotoxic Shellfish Poisoning (NSP),
Diarrheic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP), and Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP), or Ciquatera which
is a tropical fish poisoning. Toxins causing these poisonings have been found in shellfish or fish
tissue in the Gulf of Mexico living aquatic resources.
An estimated 1.000 Ciquatera cases occur in Florida each year while NSP total cases have not
exceeded 100. Shellfish growing areas are managed for NSP. In Florida, management is by rule
and involves criteria for closing and opening shellfish growing areas. It has been successfully
applied; there have been no NSP cases since implementation. DSP and ASP cases have not been
reported for the Gulf of Mexico. Managing shellfish growing areas by monitoring for causative
organisms and their biotoxins is the key to successful public health risk management. Developing
new assays for causative organism or biotoxin detection, standard protocols, and training programs
is necessary to successfully manage resources to reduce public health risk from DSP, ASP, and
ciquatera.
Five State Health Professional Education Program: Relationship Between Seafood
Consumption and Waterborne Illness .
Isabel Stabile, MD., MRCOG., Ph.D., Christopher M. Teaf, Ph.D., Program in Environmental
Health, Education and Training, Center for Biomedical and Toxicological Research, Florida State
University, 226 HMB, 2035 East Paul Dirac Drive, Tallahassee, Florida, 32310
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Mark Tamplin, Ph.D., Department of Human Nutrition, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
This project is conducted by the Florida State University (FSU) Center for Biomedical &
Toxicological Research (CBTR) in Tallahassee, Florida in collaboration with the Department of
Human Nutrition at the University of Florida (UF). The aim of this project is to provide education
on shellfish consumption risks, potential sources of contamination, diagnosis and treatment, patient
education and individual state reporting requirements. The program has to date been responsible
for the training and education of over 700 individuals, representing physicians, nurses, physician
assistants, pharmacists and local public health staff. The effectiveness of our Health Professional
Education project is judged through the evaluation forms which are distributed during each seminar.
The response has been uniformly and demonstrably excellent. Overall, nine out of ten graded
questions had over 80% of responses in the top two categories, indicating that the participants
judged the training courses to be well-designed and delivered, hi addition, over 90% of the
participants indicated that they would be able to use the course information in their medical
practices. Based on the outstanding response to the program, the CBTR has received further
invitations to speak at upcoming meetings of the Mississippi Pharmacists Association and the
Florida Academy of Family Physicians.
International
Status of Wildlife Conservation Issues of Wetland Ecosystems in Puerto Rico
Francisco J.Vilella
Mississippi Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, P.O. Drawer BX, Department of Wildlife
and Fisheries, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, 39762
Since the discovery of the Americas by the Europeans over 500 years ago, tropical wetland
ecosystems have been systematically degraded through various uses. These have varied from
drainage for malaria control, agriculture, and flood control, to the present day threats from diverse
contaminant sources.
Here we present information on various types of Neotropical wetland environments in Puerto Rico,
their present status and conservation needs. The presentation will emphasize resident as well as
migratory shorebird and waterfowl species.
Island Resources Foundation: Coastal and Marine Monitoring in the Wider Caribbean: A
Note on the Selection of Methods and Integration of Results
(abstract not available)
Conservation of Wetlands in Cuba: Management of Fauna and Protected Areas
Xiomara Galvez Aguilera
The National Enterprise for the Protection of Flora and Fauna, Ministry of Agriculture
Antonio Perera
National Center of Protected Areas, Environmental Agency, Ministry of Science, Technology and
Environment
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We evaluated the conservation status of the most important wetlands in Cuba, focusing attention on
the establishment and management of protected areas. Our presentation is based on the following
conservation wildlife projects regarding the management of wildlife and protected areas:
National Project for the Conservation of the Cuban Parrot (Armazona 1. leucocephala) -
scientifically based habitat management efforts caused a notable increase in the parrot
population (e.g., productivity increased from 0.14 to 2.39 birds per hectare in artificial nests
placed in the Los Indios Refuge).
National Project for the Conservation of the Cuban Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis nesiotes) -
preliminary results from this recently initiated project, relate to the few isolated sites where
cranes are found (a total of 10 sites including new records and rediscoveries).
National Project for the Conservation of Greater Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber) - results
include the identification of the principal nesting sites in Cuba (total of 9); estimated nesting
population (62,000-65,000 individuals in total; of these 40,000 to 42,000 are located in the
Delta del Rio Refuge).
National Project for the Conservation of the Cuban Parakeet (Aratinga euops) - this project
provided information on the distribution and population status of the parakeets, an evaluation
of their habitat, as well as initial plans to manage habitat for their reintroduction.
We also cite other projects that are being carried out in protected wetlands on crocodiles and
manatees.
The Hope River Watershed - A Priority Area for Conservation
Marcia Mundle, Gosse Bird Club, 2 Starlight Avenue, Kingston 6, Jamaica WI
The Hope River Watershed covers approximately 19,000 acres of land on the southern side of the
Blue Mountains, Jamaica. The Hope River and its tributaries are the major source of the domestic
water supply for the Kingston Metropolitan Area.
The major threats to this watershed are deforestation - due to poor farming practices and large scale
coffee cultivation, and expansion of urban centers. Coffee production also results in increased use
of pesticides and fertilizers which are the major contaminants in the rivers of the watershed.
The Hope River Watershed has experienced a decline in biological diversity which has been
exacerbated by severe droughts and floods. Protection and conservation of the watershed will have
to address the social and cultural framework of the users as well as those of the policy makers in the
development and implementation of proper land use practices.
Teaching Conservation Through Wild Animals and Trees
Simon Guerrero
Fundacion Vida Silvestra, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
The main purpose of this project is to educate elementary and high school students about the
importance of native wildlife conservation. Calling on the children's patriotism, we are trying to
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teach them that wild trees and animals are an essential part of our Nation. The project includes
activities such as identification of wild animals, the creation of a mini-habitat for wildlife in the
school campus, the construction by students of small nurseries of native plants that produce food for
wild animals; the implementation of small conservation experiments to demonstrate, for instance,
the role of earthworms in the improvement of soils, the importance of wild birds and fish as natural
control of insects and the role of vegetation for preventing erosion.
El Carmen, Pajonal, La Machona and La Redonda Lagoons, Tabasco, Mexico:
Hydrodynamic Modei and Coastal Erosion
G.F. Vazquez, V.H. Alexander, C.A. Frausto, P.H. Fernandez and V.K. Sharma, Institute de
Ciencias del Mar y Limnologia, UNAM, Circuto de Cd, Universitaria 04510. D.F. Center for
Coastal Studies, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, 6300 Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi, Texas,
78412
The El Carmen-Pajonal-La Machona-La Redonda lagoon system is located along the coast of the
State of Tabasco, Mexico. Oil and fish industries are associated with this system. The coastline of
the lagoon system has been eroding for the last fifty years. In 1975, a mouth (Panteones) was open
in La Machona lagoon and has increased in size by twenty times. This has caused social discontent
within the surrounding area. The hydrodynamic model of the lagoon system has been developed
with the MIKE 21 modeling system and will be discussed relative to original and current condition.
A Preliminary Study Which Includes the Survey of Bird Population in Mount Hartman
Coastal Habitat-Maintenance of Coastal Habitats Which Support Migrant and Resident
Species ^________
Aria R. Johnson
Irvine Hall, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica
In this project, an up-to-date account of the migrant species passing through this Coastal area is
given as well as the residents including the endangered endemic species the National bird (Leptotilia
wellsi). Identification of the migrants which frequent this area as well as those which winter here
was noted. Simple point counts of these species in the approximately 1000m2 plot of coastal
vegetation was tabulated. Comparisons were made with previous data sets, to note changes in bird
populations with respect to increased disturbances in the area by eg. farmers. Vegetation
assessments (species variety) were made and the effects of disturbances noted with particular
reference to the endangered endemic species. Interviews were held with farmers, Ministry of
Fisheries officials and Forestry officials who are "in charge" of this section of government land.
Also, information on possible plans for a hotel to include part of this coastal habitat.
Up to present day, plans for the hotel have been put on hold. Conservation Biologist was called in
and recommendations made for a different route to be taken which would enhance the present
condition of the dove and other species of this coastal habitat. World Bank is presently in the process
of approving a recommendation plan which possibly is to include habitat restoration and breeding
programs. The area has been named a protected "reserve area" and part of the National Park system.
Effects of level of disturbances in the area is presently being assessed by two final year Ecology
students of University of West Indies. Our findings will be reported upon as soon as the collection
of data and results have been analyzed.
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Protection and Restoration of the St. Vincent Parrot (Amazona guildingii) and Their Habitat
Fitzroy Springer
Ministry of Agriculture, Industry and Labour, Richmond Hill, Kingstown, St. Vincent & the
Grenadines, W.I.
The conservation of the St. Vincent Parrot (Amazona guildineii) by the establishment of successful
breeding aviaries at the Nicholls Wildlife Complex, Kingstown and biannual parrot census of wild
population since 1988. The protection of the wild parrot habitats through the declaration of parrot
reserves under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1992 serves to protect the remaining 38% of the
island's forest wildlife and other benefits.
The Wider Caribbean Initiative on Ship-Generated Waste (WCISW)
Anders Aim, UNDP, P.O. Box 812, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
The Wider Caribbean Initiative on Ship-generated Waste is a Technical Assistance Project funded
by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to promote MARPOL 73/78 implementation in the Wider
Caribbean Region. The three year project was executed by the developing countries of the region
to overcome legal and technical obstacles preventing an efficient implementation of MARPOL 73/78
in the region. Particular attention is paid to facilitate implementation of the Special Area status for
the Wider Caribbean Area under MARPOL Annex V.
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IV. SPECIAL SESSIONS
Gulf of Mexico Stewardship
The Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Program: An Innovative Approach to Reducing
Pollution
Susan Wellington Walker
Sarasota Bay National Estuary Program, 1550 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, Florida, 34236
The Sarasota Bay National Estuary Program (SBNEP) has documented that 30% of nitrogen loads
comes from stormwater runoff from residential land uses. Intensive use of fertilizers on lawns
combined with nitrogen in rainfall are the major contributors of nitrogen to Sarasota Bay.
Residential property owners in the watershed will be the key to reducing stormwater nitrogen
loadings.
The Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) for restoring Sarasota Bay
proposes to reduce pollution (nitrogen) loads to the Bay by at least 23%. The SBNEP developed
and implemented the Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Program (FLYD&N), an innovative
approach to significantly reduce pollutant loads (nitrogen) to Sarasota Bay through community
education and involvement to meet this pollution reduction goal.
As an implementing action, the FLYD&N has the largest potential for improving the Bay overall
by reducing the quantity and improving the quality of stormwater runoff from residential properties.
The program seek to: improve home and yard design and maintenance to improve and protect the
Bay's water quality and increase native wildlife habitat; reduce water usage throughout the region;
and, provide a way for each resident of the community to play a substantial, active role in water
resource protection.
The FLYD&N provides information and advice on landscape design and maintenance to
homeowners in the Sarasota Bay watershed through the Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners
Training program in Manatee and Sarasota Counties. Another key component of the FLYD&N is
the "Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Handbook/' This guide for homeowners explains how to
design environmentally-friendly landscapes featuring carefully selected plants suited to the climate,
natural conditions and wildlife of Southwest Florida. Tips on cost-saving landscape maintenance
also are included to help residents reduce water, fertilizer and pesticides use. A helpful section for
waterfront homeowners addresses shoreline management. A recognition program for Florida Yard
homeowners, the Florida Yardstick, has also been developed.
Citizen Monitoring in Galveston Bay
Carmen Fitzgerald, Galveston Bay Foundation, 17324-A Highway 3, Webster, Texas, 77598
The Galveston Bay Foundation (GBF) coordinates a volunteer water quality monitoring program
known as GBF TEST (The Estuarine Sampling Team), under the umbrella of Texas Watch, a
division of the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC).
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The TEST volunteers are trained to gather key water quality data-dissolved oxygen, pH,
temperature, salinity, water clarity—and information on general site conditions. The monitors use
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved protocols, and semi-annual quality control
sessions substantiate the quality of the data being collected.
The data are provided to Texas Watch for inclusion in the TNRCC database and used to support and
enhance professional data in assessing water quality trends and making informed water resource
decisions. The data will be included in the biennial water quality inventory (305(b) reports) to the
EPA. Additionally, GBF uses the data to educate the public about local water quality.
GBF TEST coordinates with technical advisors and local and state monitoring agencies regarding
site selection. There are currently more than 35 stations in and around Galveston Bay. All stations
are sampled at least two times per month, with most being monitored on a weekly basis. The TEST
volunteers make a tremendous commitment to the monitoring program by sampling a site on a
regular basis for two or more years.
Cape San Bias Ecological Study Eglin Air Force Base, Florida
Carl Petrick
Eglin Air Force Base, Natural Resources, 107 Highway 85 North, Niceville, Florida, 32578
Cape San Bias is located on a barrier island spit, St. Joseph's Peninsula, between St. Joseph's Bay
and the Gulf of Mexico, Gulf County, Florida. In response to what appeared to be an unusually high
rate of coastal erosion, it was determined that a comprehensive understanding of the area was needed
prior to developing a detailed restoration strategy. This is one of the few areas in Florida where
motorized vehicle use is permitted seaward of the primary dune ridge. The area is utilized as a
nesting site by a great many rare, sensitive, and Federally listed species, including loggerhead sea
turtles, least turns and snowy plovers. A significant number of piping plovers utilize the area during
winter. The site is ranked as one of the top five important shorebird areas in the State of Florida.
A cooperative group assembled to manage and conduct the study with the following objectives; 1)
complete a comprehensive literature and data search, 2) assess physical and chemical parameters
and correlate these parameters with natural communities and cultural sites, 3) correlate faunal
distribution with vegetative and physical parameters, and 4) assess public use of the Cape and Air
Force-owned lands and its impact.
Texas NEP - Corpus Christi Bay
Corpus Christi Bay National Estuary Program: An Ecosystems Approach for Sustainable
Development _
Richard D. Volk, Program Director, Corpus Christi Bay National Estuary Program, TAMU-CC,
Campus Box 290, 6300 Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi, Texas, 78412
The Corpus Christi Bay National Estuary Program has completed its first 15 months of a five year
effort to develop a comprehensive plan for the long-term management of bay resources along an 80
mile stretch of south Texas coast. Towards that goal, the Program has identified six Priority
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Problems to help focus initial status and trends characterization efforts. Those Priority Problems
include: degradation of water quality; alteration of bay circulation patterns; loss of critical habitat;
declines in various faunal populations; marine debris; and changes to the timing and volume of
freshwater inflows to the region's estuaries. This presentation describes the region's ecological and
sociocultural complexities by examining what is currently known about each of the six Priority
Problems and the multiple human uses linked with bay resources. In the context of economic and
demographic projections, the need for a consensus-based, coordinated plan for resource management
will emerge. Finally, the presentation will offer a glimpse of what plan implementation might entail.
Habitats and Living Resources of the Corpus Christi Bay National Estuary Program
(CCBNEP) Study Area
John W. Tunnell, Jr., and Elizabeth H. Smith, Center for Coastal Studies, Texas A&M
University-Corpus Christi (TAMU_CC), 6300 Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi, Texas, 78412
To complete the compilation of the Current Status and Historical Trends of Estuarine Living
Resources of the Corpus Christi Bay National Estuary Program Study Area, the Center for Coastal
Studies (TAMU_CC) defined the following objectives: 1) to summarize the existing knowledge of
key organisms and/or habitats; 2) to attempt to explain the ecological and/or environmental causes
of any observed spatial or temporal population trends; and 3) to identify organisms and habitats for
which data are lacking. The structure and trophic dynamics of important estuarine habitats are being
characterized, including: seagrass meadows; salt marshes; tidal flats; hard shores; open bays; and
barrier island grasslands, ponds, and marshes. The current status and historical trends in
endangered, threatened, protected, or exotic species; and, resident marine mammals are being
determined by a review of all available published and unpublished data and reports and compiled
in the first comprehensive species lists for the project area. The completed report will be used in
decision making and delineating proposed actions in the Comprehensive Conservation and
Management Plan within the Corpus Christi Bay National Estuary Program.
The Possible Role of a Natural Nitrogen Source in the Initiation of the Texas Brown Tide
Hudson R. DeYoc, Corpus Christi Bay National Estuary Program, TAMU-CC, Campus Box 290,
6300 Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi, Texas 78412
The Texas Brown Tide, caused by single-celled microalga, appeared during the winter of 1989-90
in the Laguna Madre, a hypersaline lagoon complex in south Texas. The brown tide may have been
initiated by two consecutive freeze events that resulted in massive fish and benthos kill. As a result
of the mass die-offs, ammonium levels in the lagoon waters rose from <5 ^M to >18 uM. A
nitrogen mass balance calculation indicated that the amount of nitrogen released from the fish and
benthic organisms was sufficient to produce the high algal densities seen in the lagoon. Since the
spring of 1990, the Texas brown tide alga has been a consistent and dominant feature in the Laguna
Madre. No other algal bloom event on record has lasted as long.
There have been numerous effects of the brown tide on the Laguna Madre ecosystem. A significant
decrease in light penetration has triggered a loss in seagrasses (Halodule wrightii and Thalassia
testudinumV The zooplankton community was significantly reduced with the loss of Acartia tonsa
along with many other grazers. Larval fish populations have declined and laboratory studies have
shown that larval mortality is higher in the presence of the brown tide alga.
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There is significant public pressure to find a "solution" to the brown tide. The Corpus Christi Bay
National Estuary Program has begun addressing the problem through sponsorship of a workshop to
identify research needs, funding a study to summarize all the brown tide data and making money
available for action plan demonstration projects.
The Historical and Future Impact of Human Uses on the Coastal Bend Estuary
Dr. Edward R. Jones & Gale Ketcham, Center for Statistical & Quality Improvement Services,
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, 6300 Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi, Texas, 78418
The Coastal Bend Estuary extending from Refugio county in the north to Kenedy county in the south
is currently under study by the Corpus Christi Bay National Estuary Program. This program is
designed to produce a Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan that encompasses all
social and economic uses of the estuary as well as their associated environmental impacts. The
study area includes a growing population of over 300,000 people, 804 miles of bay frontage and
over 100 miles of Gulf of Mexico frontage.
This paper describes the results of the author's study to characterize the historical and future uses
of the estuary. This includes socio-economic and demographic analyses and projections, an
inventory of the direct and indirect uses and their impact on the environment, and projections of
future demands on estuary resources.
Particular attention is devoted to current environmental issues raised by the National Estuary
Program, including competing demands for freshwater, dredging of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway,
and water circulation within the Laguna Madre.
Texas NEP - Galveston Bay
The Changing Environment Within Galveston Bay
George H. Ward, Associate Director, Center for Research in Water Resources, The University of
Texas at Austin, PRC-119, Austin, Texas, 78712
Neal E. Armstrong, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Texas at
Austin, ECJ 8.6, Austin, Texas. 78712
The environment presented by the Galveston Bay system is fundamentally determined by its
morphology, its water circulation and transports, and its distributions of waterborne substances. In
the characterization studies of the Galveston Bay National Estuary Program, historical trend
analyses have established that all of these have been gradually changing, a fact with important
implications for the ecology of the bay. Since the turn of the century, the bay has been extensively
channelized and its shoreline and watershed modified. Relative to its 1900 configuration, its volume
has been increased 30% due to a combination of navigation projects, shell dredging, subsidence and
other factors. In the last three decades, the usual indicators of water and sediment quality have
exhibited generally positive trends, suggesting that the quality of the bay has been improving. But
also there has been a declining trend in salinity and temperature, at present unexplained and certainly
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not directly associated with freshwater inflow. There are, as well, declining trends in inorganic
nitrogen, suspended sediment and chlorophyll, which have raised concerns about maintenance of
bay productivity.
Consensus Building in the Galveston Bay National Estuary Program
Jim Kachtick
OxyChem, 5 Greenway Plaza, Suite 2400, Houston, Texas, 77046
The Galveston Bay National Estuary Program (GBNEP) has attempted to elevate the hands-on
management of a coastal environment to the level of an ecosystem by encouraging the
communication, cooperation and consensus of traditionally disparate groups. The structure and
process established by the GBNEP show a strong commitment to consensus-building in problem
solving and planning among all of the Galveston Bay user groups, government agencies and the
public.
Business and industry, who believe it is possible to sustain a healthy, productive and useful bay
while monitoring the sound economic development of the Galveston Bay area, support the
management plan which has been created by the GBNEP. The key reasons for this support are:
»• The cooperative nature of the work by the various interests utilizing the National Estuary
Program format/process.
»• The sound scientific basis for the characterization of the Bay from which the Plan was
developed.
>• The proposed creation of the Galveston Bay Council to provide the foundation for
continuing communications and cooperation by all parties.
* The ability to review and adjust the Plan in the future through the advisory function of the
Galveston Bay Council.
Geographic Targeting of Water Quality Problems in the Galveston Bay System in Support of
NPDES Watershed Activities
Kenneth G. Teague
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 (6W-QM), 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas,
75214-2733
The Galveston Bay Plan is a Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP)
developed by the Galveston Bay National Estuary Program under Section 320 of the Clean Water
Act. As EPA Region 6's Water Management Division begins to plan for implementation of some
of the actions in the plan, there is a need for increased resolution in terms of identifying specific
"problem" water and sediment quality parameters, and specific geographic areas of the bay
exhibiting water and sediment quality problems. While The State of the Bay, the characterization
report produced by The Galveston Bay National Estuary Program, describes water and sediment
quality problems more or less in a general way, additional detail is needed to prioritize actual
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting and enforcement activities.
With the new emphasis in EPA on "watershed" NPDES activities, the need for such tools is even
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greater. In response, we have synthesized water and sediment quality reports produced by the
Galveston Bay National Estuary Program and others, and identified several high-priority "problem"
water and sediment quality parameters, as well as several geographic areas of the bay and its
watershed, which are high priorities for water quality activities. This "geographic targeting," or
similar approaches, can be used by EPA, other Federal agencies, State agencies, local governments,
dischargers, and others, to focus limited water and sediment quality management efforts and
resources.
Clear Creek/Clear Lake Marsh Restoration Project
John Huffman
Galveston Bay Foundation, 17324-A Highway 3, Webster, Texas, 77598
Wetland habitat loss has been declared the problem of highest priority by the Galveston Bay
National Estuary Program. The Galveston Bay Foundation's (GBF) goal is to create or restore 9-15
acres of smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) intertidal marsh in the Clear Creek/Clear Lake
watershed in 1994-1995. The program started as a cooperative effort between GBF and Houston
Lighting and Power, but has increased with gifts from other government and industry entities. The
project uses hundreds of volunteers from industry, agencies, clubs and concerned citizens.
GBF established a Clear Creek/Clear Lake Marsh Task Force, with representatives from Federal and
State agencies and industry leaders, to guide the planning process. GBF is using various restoration
technologies such as brush fences, wave barriers, and cultivating and planting different strains of
cordgrass. The program provides valuable fishery habitat in addition to foraging grounds for
waterbirds.
The Clear Creek/Clear Lake Marsh Restoration Program is much larger than GBF's 1993 efforts,
with as much as four times the acreage of smooth cordgrass marsh being restored. New techniques
are being evaluated for their feasibility in areas where the bathymetry has been altered to unsuitable
elevations for smooth cordgrass planting. If successful, the project may be the prototype for similar
projects by other organizations.
The Galveston Bay Information Center: What Can We Learn from Our Users?
Cathy L.P. Palmer
Galveston Bay Information Center, Texas A&M University at Galveston, P.O. Box 1675, Galveston,
Texas, 77553-1675
One of the first projects for the Galveston Bay National Estuary Program was development of the
Galveston Bay Information Center (GBIC), which formally opened its doors in May, 1992. Citizens
and scientists called for the establishment of the GBIC, to serve as a repository for information on
the Bay's problems and solutions to those problems and to create electronic resources which would
serve remote users. The National Estuary Program took a watershed or regional approach and so
did the GBIC. Today, the GBIC continues with the goal of acquiring, preserving and providing
access to a specialized collection of materials and other resources concerning the Bay. An Internet-
accessible Galveston Bay Bibliography and NOAA's stand-alone electronic resource called
COMPAS-Texas are maintained at the GBIC. In June, 1992, we began recording our information
requests to help us learn more about GBIC users. Our user record was designed to tell us who our
users are-students, professors, government agencies, etc. Also, user geographic location, questions
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and responses are recorded. Analysis of our GBIC user record provides not only quantitative
statistics, but also reveals important trends. Therefore, this presentation concerning GBIC users will
tell us both what has happened in our past and where we may need to go in the future regarding
regional information resources and services.
Business and Industry
Zero Discharge Gulf of Mexico Initiative
Diane Wilson, Elizabeth Goreham, Jack Matson, Ph.D., P.E.
CCRW, Inc.
Technology is now available to allow industrial plants to achieve zero discharge and produce no
permitted effluent. With the use of such sophisticated technologies as reverse osmosis, multistage
evaporators, water cooling towers and crystallizers, zero discharge can be accomplished at
reasonable cost.
The bays and estuaries have long been impacted by industrial discharge along the Gulf Coast. With
partnerships between citizens, industry, and regulators, a strong movement toward zero discharge
is possible. Such an initiative will be outlined with what could be accomplished within a short
period of time (a decade or less) to significantly improve the natural condition of this most precious
coastal resource.
TNRCC Pollution Prevention Outreach Programs to Industry
JeffVoorhis,P.E.
Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, Office of Pollution Prevention & Recycling,
P.O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas, 78711-3087
Prevention of pollution in Texas is the primary goal of the Texas Natural Resource Conservation
Commission (TNRCC). Despite a 15% reduction in chemical releases reported through the Toxic
Release Inventory (TRT) since 1987, Texas still ranks among the nation's highest generators of
hazardous waste and TRI chemical releases.
To tackle this problem, the State of Texas sponsors a wide array of programs to reduce many
different sources of pollution throughout the state and along the border with Mexico. Two programs
that aim at industrial pollution prevention are Clean Industries 2000 and the Permanent pollution
Prevention Program (P4). Clean Industries 2000 recognizes industries that have active community
involvement and have agreed to significant reductions in pollution by the year 2000. P4 is an effort
to bring together industrial facilities in a region for training in pollution prevention. The program
is voluntary, non-regulatory and free. P4 presents the facilities an eight step process to initiate their
own permanent pollution prevention program. It uses on-site visits, workshops and follow-up
discussions to build environmental partnerships between companies.
Stewardship Sharing Our View
(abstract not available)
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Major Developments in Used Oil Recycling
Brad Jones
The American Petroleum Institute
Background:
Every year in the U.S., Do it Yourselfers produce enough used motor oil to fill up five supertankers--
over 200 million gallons. The sad truth is that, according to the EPA, only about one-third of this
used oil is collected and reused. Instead, many DIYers simply dump this valuable resource in their
backyards or into the sewer drain. As you might guess, this practice is damaging to our groundwater
and our streams and rivers. For example, it only takes one quart of used motor oil to foul 250,000
gallons of drinking water. It also wastes a valuable resource. A local power plant can provide
enough energy to run the average household for 24 hours by burning just two gallons of used oil.
Used oil can also be re-refined into new lubricating oils.
API Involvement In Used Oil Recycling:
Our involvement in this issue is defined by our three-prong position:
1) We believe used oil should not be regulated as hazardous waste;
2) We support the EPA's decision to issue management standards that regulate the handling and
storage of used oil;
3) We support state initiatives to increase the collection and recycling of used motor oil from the
DIYer.
Let me explain these three points.
First, used oil is a resource-not a waste. After a decade of debate, EPA wisely decided not to list
used'oil as a hazardous waste. The petroleum industry strongly supported this decision. Listing
used oil as a hazardous waste would have only discouraged public participation in used oil recycling
programs. It would have also reduced the value of used oil as a commodity, and unnecessarily
increased the costs of management and collection.
Secondly, API supported the agency's decision to issue management standards for the handling and
storage of used oil. In fact, our industry led the charge to adopt management standards for handling
of used oil. We recognized that cost-effective and reasonable labeling, storage, and handling
regulations were necessary to ensure the safety of our health and environment.
Finally the petroleum industry realized that the DIYers were creating an environmental problem-
with our manufactured product. In essence, we wanted to take responsibility for this issue by taking
a leadership role in addressing this problem. The industrial and commercial sector generators of
used oil have been recycling used oils of all types for many years. However, DIYers often were
uninformed regarding the dangers imposed by dumping used motor oil in their backyards and storm
drains Furthermore, we recognized that drop-off locations for DIYers were not always available
or convenient. Consequently, in 1991, the petroleum industry began a major effort to increase used
oil collection from the DIYer.
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API Used Oil Program
Our program is designed to assist and supplement the used oil recycling efforts by states and local
governments. In particular, our focus is to:
1) Serve as the focal point on this issue by developing and distributing promotional and technical
materials and to provide technical advice;
2) Increase the number of major oil company service stations and quick lubes that collect DIY
oils; and
3) Work to pass our model used oil collection legislation in appropriate state legislatures.
Our Accomplishments: A Three Year Critique
Publication:
Over the past three years, API has developed several major publications to assist states on the used
oil recycling issue. First, our "Guidebook for Implementing Curbside and Drop-off Used Oil
Recycling Programs" has been our cornerstone publication. This document walks the municipal
program manager through the details of establishing a program. It contains information on budgets,
estimating DIY volumes, equipment, and other useful information to assist local governments in
setting up either drop-off or public used oil collection programs.
Secondly, API developed a Public Relations Kit which contains camera-ready artwork materials,
which can be customized to promote used oil recycling programs though a public education
campaign.
Third, we put together a used oil bibliography. This document provides citations on used oil
recycling articles and publications which can be found in most libraries. Also, this provides a list
of other used oil information resources which can be accessed for further study.
Company Collection Efforts:
One of the most important components of API's program was to increase the number of collection
centers (i.e. service stations and quick lubes) for the public to return their used oil. In 1991, our
companies offered about 800 centers to the public. Presently, our member companies now provide
almost 8,000 used oil collection centers in 48 states and the District of Columbia. Twelve major oil
companies have formally announced used oil collection programs, and we expect that other
companies may be announcing similar programs soon. API members were also involved in setting
up curbside used oil recycling program with the City of Houston. This program has collected over
12,000 gallons of used motor oil since its inception in April, 1992. Our industry has developed a
video entitled "Curbside Patriots" which shows how this program was developed and implemented.
This video is available to any community wishing to start such a program.
API Model Used Oil Act
The industry's used oil program is designed to focus at the state and local level in assisting the
establishment of used oil collection sites for the public. Ideally, our program is best implemented
through the passage of the API model bill or similar language. The model bill sets up a used oil
collection fund which is to be administered by the respective state environmental agency. This fund
typically receives dedicated revenues from an "environmental fee" on motor oil-usually between
2-5 cents/quart. These monies are then distributed in the form of grants to municipalities and local
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governments to set up public used oil collection centers. The bill also provides that the fund be
available to pay for disposal of contaminated used oil received by used oil collection centers. In
addition, it requires the state to set up a 1 -800 number to provide information to the public regarding
the nearest collection centers in their area.
The API model used oil bill was developed in 1991 and was based upon legislation that was passed
by the State of Florida with assistance from the Florida Petroleum Council and other interested
parties. Since the introduction of the model bill by API, it has been met with great enthusiasm by
the states. At present, 13 states have adopted legislation similar to the model bill. Another 14 states
are currently considering the model bill language for adoption. The bill has also been adopted by
several public policy groups including the Council of Governments, the American Legislative
Exchange Council, the Southern Legislative Conference, and the National Association of Counties.
What Happens to the Used Oil Once It's Collected?
Industrial Fuel Use
The majority of the oil—over 60 percent-is burned for energy recovery in industrial boilers and
furnaces such as asphalt plants, electric utilities and cement kilns. Some of the generators of used
oil, such as service stations and car care facilities, also burn used oil onsite in space heaters. The
U.S. EPA strictly regulates the burning of used oil to ensure that this practice does not pose a threat
to human health and the environment.
Re-refining
An estimated 100 million gallons—about seven (7) percent of all the used oil—is re-refined into
lubricating oil. Several of API's members are involved in re-refining used oil into lubricating oil.
Processing Used Oil in Petroleum Refineries
Several of our companies are currently collecting and processing used motor oil in their petroleum
refineries for use as feedstock for products like jet fuel, kerosene, home heating oil, and gasoline.
Regulations recently issued by the EPA may increase the amount of used oil currently being
processed by refineries.
Conclusion
In summary, we believe the petroleum industry used oil program is off to a good start. We realize
that we must continue to make progress on this issue in the future. In recognition of that fact, our
industry stands ready to assist states and communities that wish to establish used oil collection and
recycling programs.
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Exhibitors at the
Technical Poster Session
International
• Interannual Variation of the Primary Producers in Celestun Coastal Lagoon, Yucatan
Mexico - Hurricane Gilbert Effects, Javier Ramirez and Jorge A. Herrera-Silveira
• Dune Vegetation and its Biodiversity Along the Gulf of Mexico, Patricia Moreno-Casasola
• Undersecretary for Education Planning, State Government of Campeche, Mexico, Jose M.
Farias
• Oil Pollution in the Southern Gulf of Mexico, Gerardo Gold, Omar Zapata, Elsa Norena,
Miguel Herrera, and Victor Ceja
• Regionalizacion de la Vulnerabilidad del Litoral A Los Efectos del Ascenso del Nivel del
Mar En Las Costas Bajas del Golfo de Mexico, Mario Arturo Oriliz. Alejandro Yanez-
Arancibia and Jose Luis Rojas Galaviz
• Pollution and Environmental Impact in the Epomex Program. David Zarate Lomeli, Jorge
Benitez Torres and Cristina Barcenas Pazos
• The Epomex Program's Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems
Laboratory, David Zarate Lomeli, Carlos Santishbon Monies de Oca and Michael J. Roberts
• Ecology and Management of Coastal Ecosystems in the Epomex Program, Guilemo J.
Villalobos Zapata, Ana Laura, Lara-Dominquez, Evelia Rivera Arriaga, Alejandro Yanez-
Arancibia, John W. Day Jr. and Jose Luis Rojas-Galaviz
• Ecological Diagnostic and Environmental Impact Laboratory, Guillemo J. Villalohos
Zapata, Alejandro Yanez-Arancibia, Jose Luis Rojas Galaviz, John W. Day Jr. and Francisco
Vera Herrera
• Fishery and Ecological Atlas in the Southern Gulf of Mexico, Patricia Sanchez-Gil,
Alejandro Yanez-Arancibia, Francisco Arreguin Sanchez, Daniel Pauly, Julio A. Sanchez,
Domingo Flores Hernandez and Julia Ramos Miranda
• Pesquerias de Camaron del Sur el Golfo de Mexico. Estado Actual y Alternatives de
Manejo, Adolfo Gracia and Anna R. Vazquez-Bader
• Historical Landing and Population Dynamics of the Little Tunny (Euthynnus alletteratus)
From Campeche Bank, Mexico, Miguel A. Cabrera, Omar Defeo and Francisco Aquilar
• Fishbase, A Biological Data Base on Fish: Mexican Module: Francisco Arreguin-Sanchez,
Julio A. Sanchez and Cristina Barcenas
• Bioeconomic Analysis and Modeling of Yucatan Shelf Fisheries for Resource Conservation
and Management, Juan Carlos Seijo and Miguel Cabrera
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• Capsicum frutescens: New Possible Insecticide for the Control of Phyllophaga vandinei,
Herson I. Quinones
Student
• Electrical Discharges at Landfills, Environmental Effects and Possible Solutions, Katty O.
Estrella
• Roll With the Tide and Go With the Flow; Impacts of Currents and Tides at Sea Rim State
Park, Texas, Hani Raja Ataya, Henry Totten, III and Colby Crenshaw
• Types of Marine Debris, Shannon Meyers, Beau White and Silvana Zuleta
• Fingerprinting and the Seasonality of Marine Debris, Stephanie Hanchey, Sarah Sibley and
Molly Matthews
• CMC Survey Data, Alexa Crow and Christina Chavez
• A Winning Cooperative Partnership, Darlene Gooris
Challenge
• Flower Gardens Ocean Research Project: Using Offshore Platforms as Research Stations,
Quenton Dokken, Ph.D
• Eliminating Hazardous Waste From Public Landfills, Paul Hayes
• Mississippi Sound: Temporal Spatial Pattern of Nutrients, Charles K. Eleuterius, Ph.D
• The Alabama Sea Grant Extension Program, William Hosking
• The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Galveston Bay/Texas Coast Program, Will Roach and
Bryan Pridgeon
• Design of Pilot-Scale Constructed Wetlands for Tertiary Treatment of Refinery Effluent,
Phil Dorn
• Brown Shrimp and Spotted Seatrout Growth Studies in San Antonio Bay (1991-1994),
Roger L. Thomas and Dr. Kenneth L. Heck
• Chemical and Biological Studies of the Guadalupe River and Victoria Barge Canal, Dr.
Raymond W. Bouchard
• Changing Habits: Are Marine Debris Reduction Efforts Having a Positive Influence?
William D. Holland and Bryon Griffith
• Can Zooplankton Grazers Be Used As a Biological Control Agent for the Brown Tide?
Edward J. Buskey and Cammie J. Hyatt
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Cogener Specific Poh/chlorinated Biphenyl Patterns in Aquatic Birds of the Lower Laguna
Madre, Texas, Miquel A. Mora, Ph.D
Mussels Muscle in the Gulf of Mexico, David W. Hicks
Seven and One-Half Fathom Reef: A Hard Bottom Reef Located in the Northwestern Gulf
of Mexico, Roy L. Lehman and John W. Tunnel I, Jr.
Whale Sharks in the Gulf of Mexico, Carolyn Rogers
The Impact of Nutrient Enrichments, Sediment Contamination and Other Environmental
Perturbations on the Diversity and Distribution of Fish and Benthic Organisms in Back
Bay Biloxi, MS, W. David Burke. Richard A. Heard, Chet Rakocinski, William W. Walker,
Randy Reed and Jeff Thomas
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry; Structure and Activities for
Addressing Environmental Public Health Concerns, Jeffrey A. Kellam
Million Points of Blight Network, Laurel A. Halperin
Zero Solid Waste Discharge Program, Kathryn J. O 'Hara and Betsy Schroder
International Coastal Cleanup. Seba B. Sheavly
A-35 Wetland Mitigation Project, Diana C. Maes, P.E.
Stress Protein Induction in Grass Shrimp Exposed to Mercury-Contaminated Sediment
from Lavaca Bay, Texas, C. L. Howard and L. M. Arndt
Stress Protein Responses to Multiple Metal Exposure in Grass Shrimp, L. M. Arndt and C.
L. Howard
Biodiversity and Biological Productivity in the Houston Ship Channel, Robert N. Ferebe,
Cynthia L. Howard and Jennifer Reaves
Reproductive Impairment in Female Atlantic Croaker Collected in the Houston Ship
Channel 1991-1993, Peter Thomas
Improvement Strategies for Onsite Wastewater System Regulations, Kevin M. Sherman
The South Mississippi Environmental and Agricultural Coordination Organization: An
Example of Networking Programs and Expertise, Susan G. Merr[field
Texas Watch Environmental Monitoring, Anne C. Rogers
Shoreline Erosion Control with Smooth Cordgrass, John Lloyd-Reilley and David McKay
Salt Marsh Nursery, Eddie Seidensticker
Waste Elimination and Minimization in Exploration and Production Operations. Robert
J. Redweik, Jr. and Karen G. Haynes
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The Seco Creek Quality Demonstration Project: An Ongoing Field Success Story in
Voluntary Water Quality Management, Phillip N. Wright and Melony C. Sikes
Potti-Training Boaters in Galveston Bay, Julie Massey, Samra Jones-Bufkins and Barbara
Currie
Ecology of Redhead Ducks Wintering Along the Western Gulf of Mexico, Marc C. Woodin
Trace Metal and Organic Contaminants in Organisms and Sediment from Three
Reference Texas Coastal Bays, David Sager and Jarrett Woodrow
Characterization of Organochlorinated Pollutants in the Houston Ship Channel Area, A
Source of Contamination for Galveston Bay, Piero R. Gardinali, Jose L. Sericano, Jennifer
M. Wong and Terry L. Wade
The National Sediment Inventory: Focus on Gulf of Mexico Estuaries, Catherine A. Fox
Monitoring Pathological Abnormalities in Finfish From Gulf of Mexico Estuaries, J. W.
Fournie, L A. Courtney and J. K. Summers
Habitat Restoration in Sarasota Bay: Strategies for Managing a Coastal Ecosystem, Susan
Wellington Walker
Contaminant Residues in Edible Tissues of Finfish and Shellfish From Gulf of Mexico
Estuaries, J. K. Summers andJ. M. Macauley
Potential Conflicts Between Ecosystem Management and Sustainable Development
Objectives for Galveston Bay, L. James Lester and Priscilla A. Weeks
Nonpoint Source Pollution in the Coastal Region, Erinn L. Wilczynski
Sea Turtle Stranding Phenology on Matagorda Island NWR, Texas, Felipe G. Prieto
Sea Turtle Strandings Along the Texas Coast, Donna Shaver
The Fallacy of Biweekly or Monthly Monitoring of Estuarine Environmental Conditions,
H. Lee Edminston and George O. Bailey
Recycling for a Cleaner Marine Environment: A Guide for Marinas, Ports and Terminals,
Dewayne Hollin, Michael Liftman and Marily Barrett O 'Leary
Marine Debris Outreach Campaign in the Wider Caribbean, Linda Maraniss
Status of the Coastal Texas Mapping Project of the National Wetlands Inventory, Daniel
W. Moulton
Development of a CIS to Depict and Analyze Unusual Mortality Events (UME) in the
United States Waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Lyman E. Barger and Herman E. Kumpf
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The Environmental Assessment Program: Estuaries of the Louisiana Province, 1991-1993,
J. M. Macauley andJ. Kevin Summers
Pinellas Seabird Rehabilitation Center's Oiled Wildlife Preparedness Program, Lee Fox
Constructed Wetlands for Water Quality Improvement, Keith D. Johnson and C. D. Martin
Restoration of an Intertidal Saltmarsh: Assessment of Functional Ecology. A Gulf of
Mexico Program Success in a 1991 Demonstration Project, Lee Stanton and Judy Stout
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