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Preliminary assessment of recent deposition related to a crevasse splay on the Mississippi River delta: Implications for coastal restoration

Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies Transactions
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Abstract

Historically, the Mississippi River has replenished sediment across the lower deltaic plain, abating land loss. However, flood-control structures along the river now restrict this natural process and divert sediment from the modern delta offshore to the shelf break, thereby removing it from the coastal system. Localized crevasse splays, however, can deposit significant amounts of sediment in a short span of time.

Satellite imagery and field investigations, including eight sediment vibracores, have identified a recent crevasse splay originating from Brant Bayou within the Delta National Wildlife Refuge on the lower Mississippi River delta. The splay deposits are estimated to be as much as 3 m thick and are located stratigraphically above shallow interdistributary-bay deposits. In addition, the deposits exhibit physical characteristics similar to those of large scale prograded deltas. The Bayou Brant crevasse splay began forming in 1978 and has built approximately 3.7 km2 of land. Coastal planners hope to utilize on this natural process of sediment dispersion to create new land within the deltaic plain.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Preliminary assessment of recent deposition related to a crevasse splay on the Mississippi River delta: Implications for coastal restoration
Series title Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies Transactions
Volume 55
Year Published 2005
Language English
Publisher Association of Gulf Coast Associations
Contributing office(s) St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
Description 10 p.
First page 185
Last page 194
Country United States
Other Geospatial Mississippi River delta
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