LOOP ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PROGRAM 2000-2001 VEGETATION AND WILDLIFE

The Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP) Environmental Monitoring Program (EMP) was initiated in 1978 to monitor the condition of the marsh ecosystem surrounding the LOOP pipeline. The goal of the EMP is to determine if the LOOP facility and pipeline adversely impact surrounding wetland plant and wildlife communities as a result of the construction (1978-1981) and operation (1982-current) of the LOOP pipeline. This year's EMP utilized one elevational ground survey, three ground-based vegetative surveys, and four wildlife aerial surveys to generate quantitative and qualitative data for the analysis of impacts. In 2000-2001, C-K Associates conducted the elevational, vegetative, and wildlife surveys as mandated by the EMP. Vegetative biomass and species diversity within existing wetlands were used to estimate primary production within the project area. Low-altitude helicopter flights were used to count muskrats, wading bird/seabird rookeries, and wading bird and pelicans. The monitoring data were compared to control areas within the established corridor and to historical data to identify correlations using standard statistical methods. The construction of the LOOP facility and pipeline resulted in a decrease in marsh surface area and corresponding primary production. The results of the vegetative biomass survey did not indicate that the operation of the LOOP facility and pipeline have recently or historically resulted in adverse impacts to the marsh. Results also indicate the beach-dune area overlaying the subsurface pipeline is stable in regard to elevation and vegetative cover, but exhibits natural shoreline erosion along the Gulf of Mexico. This is significant in regard to the overall stability of the dune itself since open waters border its landward side. Analysis of data generated during the wildlife surveys failed to show any correlation to the construction and operation of the LOOP pipeline, except that wading bird densities decreased during the construction and early recovery years of 1978 through 1984.

• Summary URL:
  https://www.ltrc.lsu.edu/pdf/techsumm367.pdf
• Summary URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/39889
• Corporate Authors:

  C-K Associated, Incorporated

  17170 Perkins Road
  Baton Rouge, LA  United States  70810

  Louisiana Transportation Research Center

  4101 Gourrier Avenue
  Baton Rouge, LA  United States  70808

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • LaBar, D
  • Nesbit, S
  • Bostock, H
  • ROBERTS, A
  • Courtright, S
• Publication Date: 2002-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: v.p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aerial surveying; Beach sands; Correlation analysis; Data collection; Dune sands; Ecosystems; Environmental impacts; Erosion; History; Marshes; Monitoring; Pipelines; Surveys; Vegetation; Wetlands; Wildlife
• Identifier Terms: Louisiana Offshore Oil Port
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Design; Environment; Highways; History; Pipelines; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00941241
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/LA-367,, Final Report,, State PN 736-99-0921
• Contract Numbers: LTRC No. 01-12MP
• Files: NTL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Mar 31 2003 12:00AM