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COURSE INFO PROVIDER: SWSPCP Webinar
COURSE TITLE: Connectivity and Water Quality in the Afchafalaya Basin

INSTRUCTORS Joe Baustian
Seth Blitch

COURSE DESCRIPTION Abstract:
The Atchafalaya River Basin (ARB) is the largest distributary of the Mississippi River and contains the largest tract of forested wetlands in North America. However, hydrologic manipulations for flood control, logging, and mineral extraction have altered how water flows through the ARB and has led to widespread stagnation and hypoxia. To address this, the State of Louisiana has developed a hydrologic restoration plan to increase connectivity between the Atchafalaya River and backswamp areas on the floodplain. Here, we report on water quality and sedimentation rates over a 6-year period that captured one of the wettest and driest years on record in the ARB. We found that when water levels were high enough to overtop bayou banks and spoil banks, north-to-south flow patterns were reinstated and water quality in the backswamp was improved. While sedimentation patterns were highly episodic and driven by flow patterns and flood duration. Our results suggest that stagnation and hypoxia can be alleviated in the ARB if connectivity between flowing river water and the backswamp is improved.

Speaker's Bios:
Joe Baustian: Joe Baustian has been a wetland ecologist with The Nature Conservancy for 10 years. Currently his work is focused on restoring the hydrology of the Atchafalaya River Basin, and other floodplain habitats across the state of Louisiana. Joe manages TNC’s water quality monitoring program in the Atchafalaya, and coordinates research activities with graduate students in TNC’s Conservation Fellows program. Prior to his work at TNC, Joe spent time as a research scientist in the Dept. of Oceanography & Coastal Science at Louisiana State University, and the U.S. Geological Survey in Michigan.
Seth Blitch: Seth Blitch is a Floridian who moved to Louisiana in 2011 to take a position with The Nature Conservancy. He began as the Directory of Coastal Conservation and currently serves as the Director of Conservation for the Louisiana chapter. He is involved regionally (Southeast) and beyond in the recovery of oyster resources as a habitat and fishery through restoration projects, convening stakeholders and policy and management engagement. He manages these, and other natural infrastructure projects, and the development and application of decision-support tools aimed at coastal resiliency. Additionally, he works with colleagues in the freshwater sphere to develop and implement projects that account for and improve the connectivity among freshwater resources and their impact to coastal processes and ecosystems. He also works on upland projects like longleaf pine restoration and migratory bird habitat improvement. Prior to coming to TNC, Seth was the director of the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve located in the Florida panhandle. While there he oversaw efforts to characterize how changes in water supply from the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint basin were expressed in the natural communities of Apalachicola Bay. Additionally, he oversaw and participated in prescribed burning efforts and selective timber harvests to maintain and restore pine flatwoods habitats.

Credit Points: 0.06

SYLLABUS/TOPICAL OUTLINE Introduction 5 minutes Site history 10 minutes Monitoring outcomes: 20 minutes Questions/Discussion 15 min

COURSE CONTACT

Jason Tucker
9999 Carver Road, Cincinnati, OH, OH 45242-5552
jason.tucker@hdrinc.com
P: 15133492478
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