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SURVEY OF CROSS-BASIN BOAT TRAFFIC, ATCHAFALAYA BASIN, LOUISIANA
Citation:
Beek, J. AND B. Small. SURVEY OF CROSS-BASIN BOAT TRAFFIC, ATCHAFALAYA BASIN, LOUISIANA. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/3-77/090.
Description:
For flood control and for the preservation and enhancement of environmental quality of overflow swamp habitats, introduction of sediment from the Atchafalaya Basin Main Channel into backwater areas of the Atchafalaya Basin Floodway should be minimized. This introduction occurs mainly through diversion of Main Channel discharge into the old Atchafalaya River Channel and the four dredged and maintained cross-basin channels that function as distributaries. Therefore, reduction of sedimentation requires structural control over the volume of flow diverted. A boat-traffic survey was conducted to evaluate the need for control structures with regard to navigational use of the West and East Freshwater Distribution Channels and the West and East Access Channels. The survey shows that the highest number of traffic occurrences relates to recreation and involves only small boats. The second most frequent usage is for commercial fishing with use of the East Access Channel being heaviest. Usage by the oil and gas extraction industry ranks third. Survey data suggest that only oil- and gas-related traffic requires, at low river stage, the channel dimensions presently maintained. In order of importance to navigation, the East and West Access Channels rank highest. The East Freshwater Distribution Channel has by far the least number of traffic occurrences.