Corpus Christi/Coastal Bend
Ecosystems along the south Texas coast are subject to a multitude of environmental problems which are directly related to land-sea coupling. At the global level, there are strong indications that sea level is rising. If this occurs, coastlines will retreat, and terrestrial ecosystems will shrink in size. Additionally, in many areas, efforts to protect property from inundation will constrain development of coastal marsh habitats. Because productivity of coastal waters is higher when associated with a marsh ecosystem, reduction of marsh area could reduce marine food production.
While sea level rise combined with global climate change will significantly change the dynamics of Texas coastal ecosystems, as well as patterns of land use, fresh water inflow is even more critical to maintaining Texas estuarine ecosystems. Adequate freshwater inflow is important for maintaining biological productivity in bays and estuaries. The diversion of fresh water from natural systems for industrial, municipal, and agricultural purposes has had a profound effect on the living resources of the nation's bays and estuaries. This is especially true in semi-arid areas such as the south Texas coast where fresh water is scarce. The changes in these estuaries resulting from poor water management strategies are striking and can include: high or hyper-salinity, groundwater or water table changes, low biological productivity, sediment trapping, and habitat losses.
Finally, the artificial waterways dredged through the barrier islands modify natural exchange of water and affect species migration. An appropriate resource management plan for the Coastal Bend region would maintain critical wetland habitats and produce high levels of species diversity with desirable community structure and high yields of living marine resources. Unfortunately, very little is known about the influence of landscape morphology on estuarine ecological processes.
Overview of Proposed Research
The South Texas coast is an ideal laboratory for a collaborative multi-university, State of Texas, NASA research effort to study a range ofcomplex issues including- Land surface topography and hydrology;
- Land cover mapping and changes;
- Response of biological systems to environmental inputs in bays and estuaries; and
- Sea level change and circulation.
Rincon Bayou
Last Modified: Wed Apr 14, 1999
CSR/TSGC Team Web