Subtask 2.1: Geologic Framework and Holocene Coastal Evolution – Eastern Louisiana Region

Subtask Leader: David Twichell - USGS Woods Hole Science Center for Coastal and Marine Geology

Subtask 2.1 Aim:

Bathymetry offshore of the Chandeleur Islands collected aboard the research vessel Acadiana [enlargement] Survey tracklines along which geophysical data were collected by the research vessels Gilbert and Acadiana [enlargement]

Information on the shallow stratigraphy and geologic framework of the inner shelf of the northern Gulf of

Mexico study area is needed to understand its influence on the evolution of this coastal system. Due to the size and geological variability of the study area, the region has been divided into two parts: eastern Louisiana and Mississippi-Alabama.

This subtask addresses the eastern Louisiana region which extends from approximately the birdfoot delta northward nearly to Cat Island. This subtask has a Louisiana state partner, the Barrier Island Comprehensive Monitoring (BICM) project, funded by the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources.

Subtask 2.1 Activities:

The goal of Subtask 2.1 is to map the late Holocene stratigraphy of the eastern edge of the Mississippi delta system.

The specific objectives are to:

• Refine the facies distribution of this part of the delta system;
• Evaluate the control that facies distribution may have on barrier island location and evolution;
• Assess the response of the various identified facies to modern coastal processes.

USGS Research Vessel Gilbert

Louisiana University Marine Consortium (LUMCON) vessel Acadiana