Among those influential in getting the study started, the late Robert C. Averett played a central role, and the completion of this report is part of Averett's lasting legacy as our colleague and mentor. Other important instigators were E.M. Thurman, R.G. Wolff, and E.D. Andrews.
Once the program was under way, we received help and encouragement at critical junctures from: U.S. Senator Rudy Boschwitz; Holly Stoerker, Upper Mississippi River Basin Association; Gail Carmody, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Dan Helwig, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency; John Sullivan, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources; Donald F. Boesch and Paul W. Sammarco, Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium.
In our field operations, we received the unstinting support of the staff of Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON): Steven C. Rabalais and Daniel C. Guidry at LUMCON's home base in Cocodrie, Louisiana; AcadianaCaptains Wayne G. Simoneaux, Craig J. LeBoeuf, and C.L. Black, who were exemplary in their dedication to the scientific effort; Acadiana crew members Cheryl Blanchard, George Collier, Bob Cutting, Wilton Delaune, Mike Detraz, Derral Dupre, D.C. Guidry, Jean Hough, Kevin Hutchinson, Jonathan Landry, Daniel Lapeyrouse, Suzanne Moody, Ken Olivier, Renee Rizzo, David Robichaux, and Elaine Robichaux. Mike Theriot, of Chauvin, Louisiana, was most helpful in fabricating unique equipment on short notice and mounting it aboard Acadiana.
Scientists who participated as colleagues in the field but did not, for one reason or another, end up among the chapter authors included: Brent McKee, LUMCON; Alan Shiller and Jim Krest, University of Southern Mississippi; Patircia Brown, Wesley Campbell, C.C. Cranston, T.F. Kraemer, D.A. Martin, James Ranville, T.F. Rees, and R.F. Stallard.
Many people visited in the field to observe our operations, lend a hand, and provide essential scientific discourse. Those who were aboard Acadianafor more than a day were: Lesly Conaway, Missouri Department of Conservation; Dirk DeBoer, Andre´ Germain, and Claire Lemieux, Environment Canada; Dolly Dieter, National Science Foundation; Daphne Frilot, University of Southern Mississippi; Densie Reed, LUMCON; J.M. Sainz, Venezuelan Ministry of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources; John Sullivan, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources; Harold Wiegner, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency; Ellen Axtmann, Briane Adams, Jerry Glenn, William Kaehrle, Donovan Kelly, Lois Koehnken, Gail Mallard, Richard Martin, Tim Miller, William Moody, Fred Morris, Charles Patton, Dale Peart, James Seeley, Michael Simpson, A. Richard Tagg, E. Michael Thurman, Lisa Torick, Peter Voll, Woodrow Want, and Timothy Willoughby.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was exemplary in providing logistic support and supplying hydrologic information for planning and carrying out the sampling cruises and interpreting the data. Those who were especially helpful in the St. Paul District were Joe Dvorak, Ed Eaton, Dennis Erickson, Gordon Heitzman, Jon Hendrikson, Dan Wilcox, and Kelsey Willus; in the Rock Island District, Bob Allen, Jerry Bledsoe, Bryan Goodrum, Bill Gratten, Bill Koelner, James Morgen, and Harvey Vance; in the St. Louis District, Don Coleman, Ray Kopsky, Paul Kornberger, and Claude Strauser; in the Cincinnati District, David Legg; in the Louisville District, Bob Biel; in the Memphis District, Whit Barton, Janet Graner, Sam Lehr, and Dorothy Wilson; in the Vicksburg District, Wesley Bird, Henry Noble, and Thomas Runnels; in the New Orleans District, Billy Garrett, John Miller, Nancy Powell, and Cecil Soileau; in the Lower Mississippi River Valley Division, James Farrell and Don Flowers. The lockmasters and crews at the navigation locks of the Upper Mississippi and Lower Ohio Rivers, as well as Norrell Lock no. 1 on the Arkansas River, graciously allowed us to tie up for the night at their facilities.
Many people along the river provided permission for docking, loading, and repairing the ship and equipment, and they often went out of their way to be helpful: Renee Ory and people at Ory Brothers Marine Service of America in Hartford, Illinois; Rusty Sutton in Grafton, Illinois; Pablo Lara, Ron Brant, and people at the Central Illinois Power Company in Meredosia, Illinois; Daniel Gipe and people at Hermann Sand and Gravel Company in Hermann, Missouri; Captain William Carroll and the people at Gateway River Cruises in St. Louis, Missouri; Kent Hoffmeister and the workers at Missouri Dry Dock and Repair Company in Cape Girardeau, Missouri; the U.S. Coast Guard Station in Keokuk, Iowa, and Hickman, Kentucky; John Janoush and the people at Janoush Marine, Inc., in Rosedale, Mississippi; Mary Hosemann and the people working on the Spirit of Vicksburgin Vicksburg, Mississippi; and the people running the New Roads Ferry at St. Francisville, Louisiana, and the Belle Chasse Ferry at Belle Chasse, Louisiana.
Laboratory analyses of our samples were provided by C.J. Anderson, P.J. Cinotto, B.F. Connor, J.A. Kammer, C. Klimper, W.J. Matthes, E.K. Naughton, M.C. Noriega, M.P. Pavelich, M.P. Schroeder, M.J. Werito, and M.T. Woodworth. Assisting in our laboratories were Johnathan Fischer, P.W. Mahan, Mike Meyer, Mike Pomes, and Diana Aga.
John Flager reviewed the entire manuscript three times, at different stages of completion. Eugene Hampton reviewed several chapters at early stages of preparation, and provided valuable advice about formats. Colleagues who reviewed individual chapters were: I.B. Brenner, Geological Survey of Israel; J.N. Huckins and C.J. Schmitt, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Ola Saether, Geological Survey of Norway; John Sullivan, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources; Michael Trehy, Monsanto Company; G.R. Aiken, M.J. Baedecker, C.R. Demas, M.C. Goldberg, J.W. LaBaugh, G.R. Marzolk, C.J. Patton, C.S. Phinney, M.M. Reddy, R.F. Stallard, and E.M. Thurman.
The final preparation and layout of the rpeort was a team effort led by R.J. Olmstead. Other team members: C.L. Anderson, N.L. Bruce, J.M. Evans, M.A. Kidd, Aleta Moores, S.A. Rafferty, A.G. Sanchez, Ann Marie Squillacci, E.J. Swibas, Margo Van Alstine; and K.A. Jackson of Moonlight Mapping.
All photographs were taken by the editor.