=

THE HOLOCENE GEOLOGY OF

THE CENTRAL
SOUTH LOUISIANA COASTAL ZONE

by

Ivor Ll. van Heerden, G. Paul Kemp' and Harry H. Roberts'

, LOUISIANA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Baton Rouge
II
 THE HOLOCENE GEOLOGY OF
THE CENTRAL
SOUTH LOUISIANA COASTAL ZONE

by

Ivor Ll. van Heerden, G. Paul Kemp' and Harry H. Roberts'

Louisiana Geological Survey

Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, La 70803

Contract Report for the U.S. Geological Survey

March 1996

'Natural Systems Management and Engineering Program

'Coastal Studies Institute

Center for Coastal, Energy, and Environmental Resources
CONTENTS PAGE

Summary ............................................... . . ............ 3

Introduction ............................................................... 4

Methodology ............................................................... 4

Earlier Studies of Delta Plain Development and Stratigraphy ........................... 5

a. The Delta Cycle ..................................................... 5
b. Early Depositional Models ............................................ 6

Western Terrebonne Basin ..................................................... 7

a. The Maringouin Delta Complex ......................................... 7
b. Lafourche Delta Complex.............................................. 9
1. The deltas .................................................... 9
2. The Caminada-Moreau ridge plain ................................ 11
c. Modern-day processes ............................................... 12

Point Au Fer Island ......................................................... 13

a. The Maringouin Delta Complex. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
b. Lafourche Delta Complex ............................................ 15
c. Modern-day processes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Atchafalaya Wax Lake Delta Complex-The New Mississippi River Delta Lobes ............ 18
a. The Maringouin Delta Complex. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
b. Modern-day processes ............................................... 19
1. Delta development -channel elongation and bifurcation ................. 19
2. Delta development-channel abandonment and lobe fusion ............... 20
3. Sedimentary architecture ....................................... 20
a. Depositional environments and sedimentary characteristics ........ 20
b. Stratigraphic relationships ................................. 23
c. Impacts on adjacent wetlands .............................. 24

Discussion ................................................................ 25
a. Western Terrebonne Region ........................................... 25
b. Point au Fer Island .................................................. 26
c. Atchafalaya Bay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......... 26

Conclusion ............................................................... 27

Acknowledgments .......................................................... 28

References ............................................................... 28

Appendix ................................................................. 33

Figures .................................................................. 34

2
 THE HOLOCENE GEOLOGY OF CENTRAL SOUTH LOUISIANA
COASTAL ZONE

by

Ivor Ll. van Heerden, G. Paul Kemp, and Harry H. Roberts

SUMMARY

The Holocene stratigraphic sequence, for south-central coastal Louisiana, was determined
from vibracore and borehole data. The sequence is up to 35m thick consisting offour major delta
cycles deposited during the last 6,000 - 7,000 years. These are the Maringouin, the Teche, the
Lafourche, and the Atchafalaya.

The stratigraphy ofthe western Terrebonne region generally reveals Maringouin deposits, at
least 5000 years old, occurring deeper than 11 m below sealevel and resting on an eroded surface that
dips to the east. Ship Shoal represents a drowned, transgressive barrier island complex which
originated from eroded Maringouin delta material. The shoal is approximately 5 meters thick and the
shoal base and crest shallow to the west. The shallowing reflects differential subsidence of sediments,
beneath the shoal, within a drowned alluvial valley cut into the Pleistoocene. Locally, a shell hash
layer is present at or near the top of the Maringouin sequence. This shell hash appears to be either
a storm (Hurricane) reworked surface or a ravinement surface separating the Maringouin and
overlying Lafourche deposits. Teche delta complex sediments were not to be found in the study area.

There is a very complex sequence, up to 9 m thick of Lafourche delta deposits in the western
Terrebonne region. Generally, an upward coarsening sequence is overlain by an upward fining
sequence which terminates in the modern marsh surface or bay deposits. This complex of four
distinct Lafourche delta cycles accumulated during the last 2,500 to 2,800 years until Bayou
Lafourche was sealed from the Mississippi River in 1904. The Caminada-Moreau headland was
formed as a consequence of Gulf swells reworking landwards the coarest fractions of Bayou
Lafourche distributaries' sediment load that had been displaced to the south east by strong currents
generated during cold front passages. The sands thus moved updrift to the east while the fines moved
downdrift to the west.

Interpretation of shallow vibracores suggests that Point au Fer Island aggraded as mudflats
analogous to the mudflats presently forming along the Chenier Plain. The sediment source for these
mudflats appears to be the Lafourche deltas distributaries to the east.

The recent capture by the Atchafalaya River of a portion of the Mississippi River discharge
has initiated a new delta building cycle in Atchafalaya Bay. Two deltas are prograding into the bay
and will shortly extend out onto the adjacent shelf. There are stratigraphic differences between the

3
two deltas although they have the same sediment source and their mouths are only 18 km apart. The
differences reflect that the Wax Lake is a man-made diversion and the Atchafalaya, while it is a
natural delta, is bisected by a navigation channel that is regularly dredged.

This study dramatically illustrates the direct consequences of large-scale Mississippi river
diversions (distributaries) in the formation of delta lobes, and the indirect consequences some distance
from the distributary mouth, namely mudflat accumulation. The influence of ocean swells, subsidence,
and winter cold front passages in shaping delta lobes is apparant. All of these factors should be taken
into consideration in planning artificial diversions off the Mississippi River for coastal restoration and
maintenance projects.

Additionally, it illustrates one of the paradoxes of the Louisiana coastal environment. Point
au Fer Island was built as a down drift recipient of Lafourche deposition but is now eroding despite
the adjacent development of the Atchafalaya deltas.

INTRODUCTION

The Louisiana coastal zone evolved during the Holocene as a consequence of delta building
associated with the Mississippi River. Numerous studies (Fisk 1944, Kolb and van Lopik 1958,
Frazier 1967, amongst others) have recognized that the basic cycle consists of delta lobe
progradation; channel switching and lobe abandonment; and subsequent development of a new lobe.
These authors have attempted to map the various lobes and establish their chronology. The present
study's aims are to decipher the Holocene stratigraphic evolution of the south central Louisiana
coastal zone utilizing this historic data as well as that obtained from boreholes and vibracores. The
study area consists of three distinct physiographic zones, the western Terrebonne basin, Point au Fer
Island, and Atchafalaya Bay (Figure I). In each area the objectives were:

1. Undertake a literature review as to the historic concepts of Holocene stratigraphic

development of the area.

2. Re-interpret the stratigraphy by assembling the various historic data sets, unpublished
borehole data, and an extensive vibracore data set collected in the study area since 1977.

3. Develop the details of the Holocene stratigraphic history of the coastal zone, with particular
reference to process-response relationship when this approach is applicable.

METHODOLOGY

The historic scientific literature for the study area was drawn together in a first attempt to link
these stratigraphic data sets and determine the regional stratigraphy. Subsequently, consulting and
pipeline companies were contacted in an attempt to secure unpublished borehole data.

4
 Extensive use was made of vibracores. The Louisiana vibracoring program was initiated in the
late 1970's by the Coastal Studies Institute and was subsequently extended by the Louisiana
Geological Survey. These data were augmented with vibracores collected from Point au Fer Island
and the adjacent shelf Selected vibracores were analyzed by X-ray radiography and over a hundred
radiographs were produced. The vibracore data sets have allowed refinement of the earlier delta plain
stratigraphic models reported in the literature and better interpretation of the Holocene stratigraphy
of the south central Louisiana coastline.

EARLIER STUDIES OF DELTA PLAIN STRATIGRAPHY AND

DEVELOPMENT

a. The Delta Cycle

Since the end of the Holocene transgression, the Mississippi River delta plain has been built by
a process of sequential episodes of delta building followed by abandonment and barrier shoreline
generation (Fisk 1952; Kolb and Van Lopik 1958; Scruton 1960; Coleman and Gagliano 1964;
Frazier 1967; Roberts 1997). Through this process the Mississippi River built a delta plain
encompassing some 26,000 km2 (van Heerden 1994a).

The depositional history of each Holocene Mississippi delta complex is initiated with the
progradational (regressive) phase in which a new Mississippi River begins to deposits its sediment
load in the Gulf of Mexico. Long-term delta lobe progradation leads to overextension of the
distributary network, a decrease in hydraulic efficiency, followed by stream capture upriver. The bulk
of the river discharge switches to this shorter course with a steeper gradient and hence more efficient
route to the sea. A new locus of delta development is then initiated.

Upstream diversion initiates the transgressive phase of the delta cycle. Discharges through the
abandoned distributary channel do not transport sufficient quantities of sediment to balance
progradation of the delta against the effects of subsidence, and marine processes erode and rework
the seaward periphery of the abandoned delta. After abandonment, and where organic matter
production results in significant accumulation, marshes maintain their elevation at or above sea-level
for a period of time longer than the period of active delta growth. The combined effects of reduced
discharge of fresh water and sediment plus subsidence facilitates the transgressive phase. A salinity
gradient is established from fresh water at the landward end, toward the salt water of the Gulf of
Mexico. Vegetation patterns follow with fresh marsh inland, grading to salt marsh near the Gulf (van
Heerden 1997). As marine forces begin to dominate, the shoreline is reworked into sandy headlands
and barrier shorelines, and tidal channels form (Boyd and Penland 1984). The marsh is increasingly
eroded or flooded and the land opens to form shallow interior lakes and bays connected to the sea
by tidal channels (Kwon 1969). The sandy headlands and barrier shorelines are thus eventually
separated from the mainland to form discrete barrier island chains. Under marine processes the barrier
islands slowly migrate landward, at a lower rate than the outer shoreline of the marshes. Ultimately,
the outer coastal marshes are eroded into islands, with the barrier islands separated from the marshes

5
by large, open estuaries (e.g., Barataria Bay). The estuarine system continues to open and is
eventually replaced by a sound (e.g., Breton Sound) (van Heerden 1997).

After subsidence and development of new accumulation space, sites of abandoned deltas may at
a later date be occupied by a new delta. When this new episode of deposition occurs, Mississippi
River sedimentation has completed a full cycle of regression, abandonment, transgression, and re-
occupation.

Relative sea level changes can have a very strong control on both the transgressive and regressive
cycles oflVlississippi River sedimentation. Relative sea level (RSL) in the Gulf of Mexico is inferred
to have risen from depths of 120 m, 18,000 years ago before present (BP), to around -9 m, by 8,000
years BP (Curray 1960). This rise in sea level reflects a transgression rate of 172 cm/century. A
subsequent rate ofRSL rise around 20 cm/century is then believed to have occurred until eustatic sea
level reached it present level around 3,600 BP (Coleman and Smith 1964). Since this time RSL along
the lYlississippi Delta coastline has continued to rise, mainly in response to submergence of the land
surface. Subsidence is primarily caused by the compaction and dewatering of deltaic deposits and
varies as a function of sediment thickness and age (Morgan and Larimore 1957). Until recently, sea
level rise rates were thought to vary from 7.5 cm/century for old shallow-water delta complexes
(Coleman and Smith 1964), 60 cm/century for intermediate age deltas, to 600 cm/century for the
presently active Balize Delta (Kolb and van Lopik 1958). Ramsey and Penland(1989) utilizing
extensive tidal records have shown an acceleration in RSL during this century. The present study area
is apparently experiencing RSL rates of 104cm/century to 117cm/century.

b. Early depositional models

Fisk (1944) produced the first depositional model of the Mississippi River delta plain. This model
depicts a single delta plain approximately 4,000 years old consisting of five delta complexes (Figure
2). From the oldest to the youngest these are the Maringouin, Teche, Lafourche, St. Bernard, and
Modern Mississippi. Within these delta complexes, Fisk (1944) identified 20 different stages. Kolb
and Van Lopik (1958) presented a simplified depositional model for the Mississippi River delta plain,
5,400 years old, consisting of seven delta complexes: the Sale-Cypremont, Cocodrie, Teche, St.
Bemard, Lafourche, Plaquemine, and Balize in order of decreasing age (Figure 3). The most recent
depositional model of the Mississippi River was developed by Frazier (1967, 1974), which depicts
a plain 7,250 years old, consisting of a sixteen separate delta lobes organized into five delta
complexes (Figure 4). From oldest to youngest they are the Maringouin, Teche, St. Bernard,
Lafourche, and Plaquemine-Modern Mississippi delta complexes.

There is a remarkable similarity between the major delta cycles within each of the above delta
plain depositional models (Figure 5). Each model suggests that during transgression from the last
glacial maximum, relative sea level rise rates were sufficient to overwhelm Mississippi River
sedimentation, transgress the lower alluvial valley, and prevent development of a shelf-phase delta
plain. Thus, the shoreline moved over 100 km landward under the effects of RSL during the

6
transgression. It was not until approximately 8,000 years BP that Holocene transgression rates
dropped below a threshold rate that allowed the Mississippi River delta building process to operate.

WESTERN TERREBONNE BASIN

Both Fisk (1944) and Frazier (1967) have termed the oldest delta complex in the western
Terrebonne Basin, the Maringouin. Although this delta complex occupies more or less the same area
as Kolb and van Lopik (1958) Sale-Cypremort delta complex, we shall utilize the term Maringouin
when referring to these oldest deltaic deposits in western Terrebonne Basin. All of the above authors
consider the next youngest delta complex to be the Teche delta complex followed by the Lafourche
delta complex.

a. The Maringouin Delta Complex

Frazier (1967) presented data from numerous borings across coastal Louisiana (Figure 6). Section
A (Figure 7) from Frazier (1967) extends from Bayou Little Coteau southward for 85 km to just
beyond Ship Shoal (Figure 6). The oldest deposits occur at depths greater than 11 m for the last 48
km of the section and are believed to belong to the Maringouin delta complex (Frazier 1967).
Seaward of Ship Shoal these deposits occur deeper than 15 m below sea level. It is important to note
the Frazier interpretation for seaward of the coastline is based on very limited borehole control. A
seismic profile (Figure 8), approximately 30 km west of Frazier's (1967) Section A (Figure 9),
presented by Suter et. al. (1991) indicates that immediately landward of Ship Shoal a large
distributary charmel system is to be found. This channel and associated deltaic deposits overlie a very
crenelated (erosive) surface as a distinct unconformity. The average depth of this unconformity is
20 m. below mean sea level (msl) in the vicinity of the channels and -15 m msl in adjacent non-channel
areas. Suter et. al. (1991) present additional seismic data from Ship Shoal (Figure 10). This profile,
which is located approximately 5 km southeast of that depicted in Figure 8 reveals the high amplitude
reflector, or unconfonnity, to be somewhat shallower, suggesting a regional deepening of this surface
to the west.

The sequence beneath the unconfonnity has a crenelated and undulatory surface. The nature of
this surface suggests it must have been exposed to subaerial erosional processes, rather than marine
processes. The latter would result in a more uniform surface. The possibility exists that this surface
was eroded during the early Holocene when the shoreline was much further to the south. Radiocarbon
dates from the top of the sequence resting on the unconformity range from 5930-6682 yr
B.P.(Penland et.al. 1991). These dates suggest this sequence is Maringouin in age. Thus, the
sediments beneath the unconformity must be older shelf fluvial/deltaic deposits. Overlying the
unconfomlity, Frazier's (1967) stratigraphic section reveals a thin transgressive sequence, followed
by up to 5 m of prodelta material which in tum is overlain by a maximum of3.2 m of delta front silty
sand and silty clay (Fi~,'ure 7). Thus there is a discrepancy between our interpretation of the Holocene
stratigraphic sequence seaward of the coast and that ofFrazier(1967). Frazier feels the sediments
below the unconformity to be the Marinqouin delta complex, however, our interpretation suggests
that the delta complex is older and that the Maringouin deposits overly the unconformity.

7
 Frazier( 1967) does not comment on the progradational material overlying the transgressive
sequence, but apparently believes that these are Lafourche delta complex sediments. The question
thus becomes; do these delta front sediments represent the seaward extreme of the Teche delta
complex or are they part of the younger Lafourche delta complex? As revealed in Figure 14 the
Maringouin complex is overlain by one complete delta package up to 7 m thick. Fresh and brackish
marsh at the top of this complex (Figure 13) was dated at 187 and 357 years BP (Penland et. aI.,
1987). This means that the upper delta complex must be Lafourche in age (Figure 5). Thus the data
presented by McBride et.al. (1990), Penland et. al. (1987) and Suter et. al. (1991) support Frazier's
earlier conclusion that the Teche delta did not extend into western Terrebonne.

After abandonment of the Maringouin complex the seaward edges, as is typical of Mississippi
delta complexes, were eroded and reworked up into the Ship Shoal barrier island complex (Figure
11). Continued transgression and submergence of the delta complex resulted in a uniform reworked
surface, over which Ship Shoal initially migrated. However, the shoal characteristics vary from east
to west. Penland et. al. (1987) and McBride et. al. (1990) collected a series of vibracores in
Terrebonne Parish (Figure 12). In order to present a true north-south section from the Terrebonne
marshes to the shoal, Figure 13 was constructed from data presented by McBride et. al. (1990),
Penland et. al. (1987), and Suter et al.(1991). This presentation allows for a more accurate
representation of Section B-B' (Figure 12) which heads due south from a point 5 km south of Houma
(Core TB-6) to Ship Shoal. These vibracore data suggest the eastern half of the shoal is presently
migrating over a lagoon sedimentary sequence at a depth of 13 m below present sea level, which
separates it from underlying delta front/prodelta deposits. The transgressive shoal package is
approximately 5 meter thick. Based on Suter et. al. (1991) data (Figure 14), the delta front/prodelta
sediments beneath the eastern half of the shoal are believed to represents regressive Maringouin
sediments. As the prodelta facies is being transgressed, and, it can be assumed that most of the rest
of the delta package (delta front and distributary) has been eroded, the coarse fractions thereof must
comprise the shoal. Core ID-83-18 was taken immediately seaward of the present day Isles Dernieres
(Figure 12). Beneath the sand sheet are Maringouin delta front and distributary deposits that
stratigraphically overlie the Maringouin prodelta sediments of core Ship Shoal 15. Transgressive
bay(lagoon) deposits are topped by a sand sheet which forms the base of the next progradational
(regressive) sequence. Tracing the top of these transgressive sediments landward reveals a salt
marsh age of 6682 years BP (core FC-2), a sand sheet age of 5930 years BP (core TB-4), and cypress
swamp deposits near the top of core TB-6 of 3340 and 4690 years BP (Figure 13). All of these ages
fit those given by Frazier (1967) for the Maringouin delta complex (Figure 5). Thus by inference, the
eastern half of Ship Shoal represents the remnants of a barrier island complex which originated as
eroded outer Maringouin delta deposits. The situation for the western half of the shoal is somewhat
different.

The shoal base in the west is 8.8 meter below present sea level and the shoal package some 4
meters thick. The shoal is migrating across lagoon and distributary channel material and the shoal base
is some 4 meters shallower in the west than the east. The crest of the shoal is thus also shallower than
in the east (compare Figures 13 and 15). Recently, Roberts et al. (1994) discussed the positive
relationship between the thickness of Holocene sediments and subsidence rates (Figure 16). The

8
eastern half of Ship Shoal appears to be positioned above the deepest part of an entrenched alluvial
valley where subsidence rates were deternlined to be 40.7cmlcentury (Figure 16). The western half
of the shoal, situated closer to the edge of the entrenched alluvial valley, has subsidence rates of
about 33.4cmlcentury. Assuming an age of approximately 6000 B.P. for the Maringouin delta
complex means that during this 6000 year period the western half of the Ship Shoal package would
have subsided some 4.38 m less than in the east (40. 7cmll OOyr - 33.4cmll00yr X 6000yr). Thus the
difference in subsidence rates across this 50 km long feature explains why the shoal base is 8.8m
below M. S.L. in the west and 13 m below M. S.L. in the east. Besides this difference the shoal has
a relatively uniform thickness. The difference in subsidence rates also explains why the crest of the
shoal is shallower in the west.

c. Lafourche Delta Complex

1. The deltas.

Frazier's (I 967) data (Figures 4 and 7) suggests five Lafourche delta lobes are present south of
Houma. The oldest ofthese, the Bayou Terrebonne lobe was active for approximately 1,500 years
beginning around 3,500 years BP and built a lobe out to the southeast (Figure 4). Thereafter the main
channel switched to a more easterly course and apparently extended seawards as far as the present
location of Grand Isle. Frazier (1967) termed the results of this depositional event the Bayou Blue
lobe. Approximately 1,800 years BP the main channel switched towards the present Atchafalaya Bay
and prograded the Bayou Black lobe. Approximately 900 years BP, Frazier's (1967) data suggest
that Bayou Terrebonne was reoccupied and along with an elongating Bayou Lafourche, were
responsible for the development of the largest Lafourche delta lobe, which is presently exposed at the
surface.

McBride et. al. (1990) present a section generated from vibracores that extends south from
Houma to Isles Dernieres (see Figure 13). Their section parallels Frazier's (1967) section for
approximately 26 km south of Houma, whereafter Frazier's section trends in a southeasterly directions
towards Wine Island. The upper 4 m of the McBride et al. (1990) core FPB-I0 (Figure 17) shows
an upward fining cycle varying from distributary into marsh. This cycle overlies an upward
coarsening prodelta/delta front cycle approximately 3.5 m thick that rests on a sand sheet
approximately 7.5 m down core. Core FPB-I0 is located approximately at the same latitude as
Frazier's (1967) second-most seaward boring (Figure 7), but 24 km to the west. Directly relating
Frazier's (1967) section with FPB-I0 allows the following comparisons. McBride et. al. (1990)
suggest that the upward coarsening and upward fining cycle are one package. Thus, Frazier's delta
complex 12 (Bayou Black) is equivalent to the upward fining cycle, and his delta front is equivalent
to the delta front in FPB-l O. Likewise, prodelta sediments in FPB-l 0 are in stratigraphic agreement
with the prodelta facies as depicted by Frazier (1967). Additionally, both authors agree that the
prodelta deposits overlie a fine-grained sequence with shells. McBride et al. (1990) suggest that this
basal sequence is lagoonal while Frazier (1967) describes this sequence as a bay fill. The question then
is, what is the significance, ifany, of the thin sand sheet (shell hash)(Figure 13 and 17) as encountered
in core FPB-l O? Does the shell hash represent a ravinement surface marking a marine transgression

9
as suggested by Penland et. al.(1987) or is this whole sequence in fact a storm (hurricane) deposit.
Van Heerden (1983), in studies in Atchafalaya Bay, traced buried shell hash layers laterally for many
kilometers. He could correlate the shell hash layers and similar erosional sequences with hurricanes
that directly impacted Atchafalaya Bay. His hypothesis was that during the passage of a hurricane
the high wind-wave energy greatly agitated the bottom so that the finer particles were winnowed out
and a lag of coarser sediment and shell remained. Thus, there is a probability that the shell hash
encountcred in core FPB-I0 (Figure 17) is in fact a hurricane storm deposit rather than a major
marine transgression. Core TB-4 (Figure 13) is very similar to core FPB-I0. Certainly, the material
overlying the shell hash is a single parasequence (McBride et. al. 1990). Thus, it would appear that
Frazier failed to recognize that the upward coarsening sequence, overlying the shell hash, is a part
of the Bayou Lafourche delta complex. If this shell hash is in fact a stoml deposit rather than a
ravinement surface then it means there was not a major transgression, or Teche shoreline. As the shell
hash is in bay/lagoon deposits and overlain by delta front sediment we believe that this is in fact a
graded surface created during a major tropical storm passage. It is very similar to storm deposits
documented by van Heerden (1983) in Atchafalaya Bay. In Atchafalaya Bay we also see these
deposits in sediments transitioning from bay/lagoon to delta front.

McBride et. al. (1990) collected a vibracore, FC-2, approximately halfWay between the position
of core FPB-lO and Houma (Figure 13). Frazier's (1967) sixteenth core from the seaward end of his
section (Figure 7) was acquired at approximately the same latitude as FC-2. Frazier's line is close to
Bayou Grand Caillou, while core FC-2 is in the same interdistributary basin but closer to Bayou du
Large. Core FC-2 (Figure 18) is very similar to core FPB-lO in that a sand sheet (shell hash) is
overlain by a upward coarsening sequence followed by an upward fining cycle. The major difference
between the two cores is that core FC-2, which penetrated 6.8 m (Figure 18), encountered a salt
marsh deposit rather than bay sediments beneath the sand sheet. Frazier's (1967) data would suggest
core FC-2 should have terminated in a silty-clay to silty-sand delta-front deposit. Once again
McBride et al. (1990) suggest that the shell hash is evidence of a regional rapid marine transgression.
Alternatively, the shell hash could represent a hurricane storm deposit. This sediment could have
been deposited upon the surface of a salt marsh that had subsided below sea level. Such a marsh
would have formed at or close to sea-level on top of delta material deposited when Bayou du Large
had previously been active.

Penland et. al. (1987), through detailed radiometric dating and correlation with archaeological
data (McIntire 1958; Weinstein and Gagliano 1982), revised Frazier's (1967) Lafourche delta
complex chronology. Penland et. al. (1987) recognized 4 distinct deltas: Bayou du Large, Bayou
Terrebonne, Bayou Grand Caillou, and Bayou Lafourche. Firstly, the Bayou du Large complex built
out to the west from 2,490 to 1,620 years BP. This development includes Frazier's (1967) Bayou
Black (#12) delta. Thereafter, the main river discharge was to the east. Frazier's complex 14, Bayou
Lafourche and Terrebonne, has been divided into 3 separate deltas by these authors. The Bayou
Terrebonne delta complex prograded to the east from 1,270 to 830 years BP. This complex includes
Frazier's (1967) Bayou Blue (#10) and overlies his Bayou Terrebonne complex (#6). Penland et. al.
(1991) state the Bayou Grand Caillou Complex then developed from 910 to 420 years BP. This delta
complex occupied the middle ground between the Bayou du Large and Bayou Terrebonne complexes.

10
Lastly, the Bayou Lafourche complex developed from about 710 years BP to about 1,900 AD. The
Bayou Lafourche complex is equivalent to Frazier's (1967) Bayou Lafourche (#15) delta. It is
important to note that Frazier's (1967) chronology presented in Figure 20 is based on dating peat
samples which developed during the aggradational phase, and does not reflect the time that individual
delta lobes prograded prior to aggradation. Penland et. a!. (1987) presented dates for active delta
growth. This explains why Penland et. a!. (1987) dates of active delta initiation are in each case older
than the individual delta lobe chronology presented by Frazier (1967). The discrepancy between these
authors as to the exact extent of each of their delta lobes suggests that the actual delineation of delta
lobes would require a far more extensive data set than presently exists.

2. The Caminada-Moreau ridge plain.

The Caminada-Moreau system represents an anomalous region of coastal morphology within the
lVlississippi River deltaic plain (Gerdes 1978). The ridge plain is located in southernmost Lafourche
and Jefferson parishes and is associated with the Lafourche delta complex (Figure 20). The plain
occupies approximately 60 square km immediately inland of the present Gulf of Mexico shoreline.
Whilst most of the sand ridges comprising the system are located between Bayou Moreau and
Caminada Pass, a few ridges exist peripheral to tlus group. The main part of the ridge plain consists
of about sixty sub-parallel, generally concave-seaward arcuate ridges (Gerdes 1978). The length of
the individual ridges comprising the system ranges from several hundred to several thousand meters.
The northeast-southwest trending ridges are oriented at an angle to the present coastline. Some ridges
are truncated in places by the modern beach.

The continuity of ridges and large areal extent of the plain distinguishes the Caminada system
from the ridge plains found on nligrating deltaic barrier islands (Kwon 1969, Gerdes 1978). The lugh
subaerial expression and concave-seaward nature of the Caminada-Moreau ridges are
morphologically similar to ridges found within the Chenier plain of south-west Louisiana. This
morphologic sinlilarity led early researchers (Dtvos 1969) to speculate a similar origin for both the
Caminada and Chenier Plain features. Gerdes (1978), as a consequence of an extensive vibracoring
program, concluded that the central ridge fan of the Caminada-Moreau system fonned as a beach
ridge plain up drift ofa prograding distributary (Bayou Moreau) of the Lafourche delta complex. He
believes the system was initiated 600 yr B.P. and ceased prograding no later than 250 years ago.
Gerdes (1978) concluded that the interdistributary area between Bayous Lafourche and Moreau
formed contemporaneously with the fan complex but the small interdistributary ridges were
stratigraphically distinct. These interdistributary ridges were apparently derived from reworking of
finer-grained fluvial sediments and encased, chenier like, in dominantly muddy sediments.

The presence of Caminada-Moreau complex demonstrates the significance of wave processes

during development oftlus portion of the Lafourche delta complex. Figures 21 a, band c from Gerdes
(1978) shows his interpretation of the development of the Caminada-Moreau ridge system from
about 1200 yrs. B.P. to approximately 200 yrs. B.P. Harper (1977) states that at the time of the
fonnation of the beach-ridge system, the dominant wave induced drift would have been to the west,
opposite to that of the present. The change in drift direction being related to the subsequent

11
development of the Mississippi river bird-foot delta, which created a wave shadow to the east. Gerdes
(1978) feels that the Caminada-Moreau ridge system reflects reworking of the outer edges of a
prograding delta system due to high wave energy associated with a relatively steep continental shelf,
and, movement of the coarse fraction was to the east in an up drift direction. However, the exact
mechanism of up drift coarse sediment movement was not discussed by Gerdes (1978). If the
morphology of this system reflected only wave reworking processes then one would have expected
some evidence, albeit minor, of beach ridges down drift, that is, west of the bayou mouths. Instead
low ridge deposits are encountered with very little coarse grained material.

Adams et. al. (1982) investigated patterns of sediment movement along the central Louisiana
coast immediately seaward of the modem Atchafalaya delta complex. Along this portion of the coast
the flow field is represented by a tidally dominated regime superimposed upon a slow wind-driven
westward drift, perhaps some what analogous to the Caminada-Moreau coast some 600 years ago.
During the winter, Adams et. al. (1982) showed that mean westerly flow is interrupted by brief
periods of intense easterly flow resulting from the passage of continental cyclonic storms (cold
fronts). Predominance of eastward displacements during periods when bottom stress is high enough
to cause resuspension of sand-sized sediments suggest that sand-sized sediments, together with small
quantities of silts and clays, are moved selectively eastward and offshore, while the finer sediments
are moved down current with the mean flow. The implications for the Atchafalaya delta once it
extends beyond the confines of Atchafalaya Bay, is that much of the coarser material will remain in
the immediate vicinity of the delta front, and perhaps move to the southeast and thus tend to skew
the coarser size components of the advancing delta in that direction (Adams et. al. 1982). This
scenario could have held true for Bayou Moreau, which is believed to be the principal source of the
Caminada-Moreau beach ridges. Winter storm events could have displaced coarse distributary bar
materials to the southeast. Wave energy was apparently higher off the Caminada-Moreau coast, than
the Atchafalaya coast with its shallow, wide shelf As a consequence, the coarse sediments moved
south east by winter northerlies, would have been subsequently moved landward, especially in the
summer to form the "updrift" beach ridges. If this was the case then what happened to the fine
grained portion ofthe distributaries' sediment load. Part of this suspended sediment load appears to
have been trapped between bayous Moreau and Lafourche. Either during periods of hurricane passage
or low discharge years, the small interdistributary ridges between the bayous could have been created
through reworking of shoreline deposits. Differentiation of the sediment load offshore explains why
there are updrift sand ridges, and down drift chenier-like formations. However, the area between
Bayou Moreau and Lafourche is too small to account for all the fine sediments that would have exited
these distributaries. The fate of the rest of the fine suspended load will be considered when dealing
with the Point au Fer section of the coast.

d. Modern day processes

Through the analysis of2 tide gauge records from the National Ocean Survey (NOS) and the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers (CaE) in the Terrebonne coastal zone, the rate ofRSL rise since 1945 was
determined to range from 98 to 109 cm/century (Ramsay and Penland 1989).

12
 The National Academy of Sciences and the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency forecast
accelerated relative sea level rise rates due to the green house effect (Barth and Titus 1984). This
trend in accelerating relative seal level rise rates in the modem transgression is believed to be reflected
in increasing land loss occurring in the Terrebonne Coastal Zone (CWPPRA 1994). However, while
eustatic forcing is important, one must also consider changes that have occurred in the processes of
wetlands maintenance, since the early 1900's.

Man has greatly manipulated the lower Mississippi River system to aid settlement and
infrastructure development. These activities have dramatically reduced sediment input to Louisiana
coastal wetlands. Mississippi River flood control has been an issue since New Orleans was established
in l7l7 (Davis 1993). Although never very substantial, various levee systems were constructed along
the lower Mississippi River after 1717. The wlississippi River flood of 1927 was considered the
"greatest peace time disaster in our history" (Simpich 1927, p.245). The severity of the 1927 flood
resulted in the passage of the 1928 Flood Control Act. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
constructed an artificial levee system that has confined the river ever since. Bayou Lafourche was a
major distributary of the Mississippi River carrying about 12% of the Mississippi discharge until it
was closed in 1904 as a flood protection measure (van Heerden 1994). Closure of Bayou Lafourche
and levee construction after 1928 cut off the annual delivery of sediments to Louisiana's coastal
wetlands. As a consequence many wetland areas cannot maintain base level and are slowly losing
elevation. Ultimately, the marsh plants become so waterlogged and the soils so organic that the
plants die. Additionally, stressed waterlogged marshes cannot tolerate rapid salinity changes, which
is aiding the loss of marsh plants and hence landloss.

The Caminada-Moreau shoreline is the most rapidly transgressing portion of the Louisiana coast
(Morgan and Larimore 1957). Shoreline retreat rates have historically averaged up to 20 m per year
(Harper 1977), with values over 40 m per year measured recently (Penland and Ritchie 1979).
Sediment movement is dominated by north westerly long shore transport, and occurs primarily
during high energy events (storms) rather than seasonally. Of the material transported down drift, 41
percent is captured on the Grand Isle barrier. The sediment crosses Caminada Pass through lateral
migration of inter channel shoals (Harper 1977). The remaining 59 percent of the material is either
lost offshore or incorporated into the tidal delta complex.

POINT AU FER ISLAND

Point au Fer Island covers 15,200 ha. and is situated between Atchafalaya Bay and Western
Terrebonne (Figure 1). Its southern shoreline is the Gulf of Mexico and Four League Bay separates
it from western Terrebonne. The island incorporates the following habitats: intermediate marsh,
brackish marsh, saline marsh, natural shallow ponds and bays, natural bayous, and man-made canals
with associated levees (van Heerden 1994b).

The coring program included vibracores on the island, seaward of the island, deep borings from
the eastern portion of the island, and seismic data from the shallow shelf off the island (Figure 22).

13
a. The Maringouin delta complex.

Frazier (1967) presents subsurface data from a line of cores that parallels the east bank of the
lower Atchafalaya River, cuts south-west across Atchafalaya Bay and then crosses Point au Fer Island
heading in a south-westerly direction (Figure 23). The Maringouin deposits generally occur 13 m
below sea level with a surface peat which dates at 6,150 years B.P. Frazier (1967) feels that Trinity
Shoal, which is located approximately 32 km seaward of Point au Fer Island in about 9 m of water,
represents the reworked outer limits of the Maringouin delta.

McClelland Engineering Company (MCE) obtained 3 long borings along a N-S transect from
western Point au Fer Island (Figure 2). Boring 3 (Figure 23) was taken on the Gulf shoreline and
penetrated to 49 m below sea level (Appendix A). The lower 12.5 m of the section have a relatively
low water content and higher cohesion strength than the overlying material. Additionally, it is more
tan in color than the grey clays above and is thus considered to be Pleistocene with an unconformity
at 36.5 m below sea level. This depth ties in with data recently reported by Roberts (1997), who
showed that the Pleistocene valley wall some 20 km north of Point au Fer occurred at a depth ranging
from 30 to 40 meters (Figure 14). The assumed Holocene package appears to consist almost entirely
of grey clays with some inclusions, with the upper 18 m of the section being softer than that below.
Based on the data presented by Frazier (1967) this boring should have encountered the top of the
Maringouin delta complex approximately II m to 12.5 m below sea level. At 11.6 m below sea level
the boring does indicate a marked reduction in water content, increase in cohesion and the presence
of silt seams to a depth of 15.3 m below sea level. Following Frazier (1967), we place the top of the
Maringouin delta complex at a depth of 11. 6 m in boring 3.

The upper 3 m of boring 3 is characterized by very high water content and the presence of organic
matter (Appendix A). This sequence corresponds with Frazier's (1967) data, which he considered
to be Lafourche delta complex material. The clays between the base of Lafourche and the top of the
Maringouin delta complexes thus appear to be a shel£lupper prodelta transgressive sequence, some
6.7 m in thickness. The age of this rather thick sequence is not known, but apparently accumulated
from about 6000 yr B.P to 1000 yr B.P.

The MCE boring 2 (Figure 22), which penetrated 16 m below the mudline, is stratigraphically
similar to boring 3; low water content Maringouin delta complex below 10m and Lafourche delta
material above 3 m (Appendix A). Boring 1, taken by MCE was located some 5.3 km inland. The
boring penetrated 56 m below the mudline (Appendix A). The oxidized Pleistocene surface appears
to be at a depth of38.4 m below sea level and stratigraphically generally mirrors boring 3. The top
of the Maringouin sequence appears to be at 14.7 m below sea level, while the Lafourche delta
sequence seems to be thicker with its base 7.2 m below sea level. The major difference between
borings 1 and 3 appears to be a coarse grained sequence 26.6 m down section. Given the present
data set, it is impossible to speculate on the origin or age of this material.

14
b. Lafourche delta complex.

In collaboration with C. K. and Associates (CKA) 14 cores were collected seaward of Point au
Fer Island, while we collected 7 cores from the island (Figure 22). Eight of the CKA cores were
located a few km seawards of MCE boring 3, along 2 lines parallel to the coast. These cores
generally penetrated to a depth of 6.25 m below sea level. The upper lengths of each core contained
recent outer prodelta material interpreted as originating from the Atchafalaya River. Thereafter the
cores encountered cohesive grey clays with occasional silt/sand/shell lenses. This latter material
represents Holocene to Recent transgressive shelf deposits. Previously, MCE boring 3 had revealed
Lafourche delta material down to 5 m below sealevel. There was no evidence of any Lafourche delta
complex material in the CKA cores suggesting that the seaward limit of the Lafourche material would
have been somewhere between CKA core locations and the present shoreline. The same conclusions
can be drawn from the CKA lines of cores collected further to the west, a few km from the Gulf
shoreline of Point au Fer Island.

The east line of vibracores collected by ourselves paralleled MCE line of borings although not
extending as far landward (Figure 22). This line of cores penetrated 5-6m below sea level, and X-ray
radiographs were made of each core. Figure 24 is a depositional environment interpretation of the
cores along section X-X'(Figure 22). Four depositional events are depicted on tlus figure. The oldest
sequence (A) occurs beneath an unconfomuty 4.5 m below sea level. Figure 25 is a X-ray radiograph
of this material which consists of mostly parallellanlinated blue-grey to grey clays and silty clays with
occasional shell and organic fragments. Disruption through bioturbation has destroyed some of the
primary sedimentary structures. Weakly graded beds are sometimes present and probably represent
reworking during violent storms. These grey clays are interpreted as old shelf clays deposited in an
area being influenced by a nearby delta distributary. This sequence must be the top of the
transgressive shelf muds that separate the Maringouin and Lafourche deltas complexes as depicted
in the stratigraphic section of Frazier (1967) that crosses Atchafalaya Bay and Point au Fer Island
(Figure 23).

The next depositional sequence (B) consists of a relatively thin (OJ m) upper prodelta deposit
at a depth of approximately 4.5 m bounded by unconformities. As depicted in the lower half of a X-
radiograph (Figure 26), these deposits consist of vertically stacked cycles up to 6cm thick of parallel-
lanunated silty clays and clays separated by thin (2 to 3 l1ll1l) silt lenses. A distinguishing characteristic
of this upper prodelta facies is its high lateral continuity and low lithologic variation. As revealed in
Figure 26 there is an abrupt change from the upper prodelta deposits to the overlying clays of
sequence C. The latter sequence is mostly clays some 2.6 m thick (Figure 24). As one proceeds
landwards sequence C increases in thickness and complexity. The base is a 1.0 to 1.2 m of bioturbated
grey silty clays that occasionally contain weak parallellan1inations. Diagenetic material is present and
the whole sequence is interpreted as shelf and/or bay deposits. The sheltlbay sediment is overlain by
1.0-1.2 m of grey silty clays with organic bands and mottling (Figure 27 and 28). This material is
very similar to that reported from the mud flats of the Chenier plain (Kemp 1986) and is interpreted
as mudflats. Figure 27 shows the abrupt change in lithology and primary sedimentary stuctures
between the lower mudflat deposits and the underlying shelf sediments. Typically the mudflats

15
display 2 to 10 cm thick beds composed of laminated silts overlain by massive muds (Figure 28).
Scour and fill are sometimes discernable at the base of couplets and some semblance of mud cracks
are present near the top of couplets. Overlying the mudflat material is a sequence interpreted as
marsh/levee deposits (Figure 24). These marsh/levee deposits consists of horizontally laminated silts
and clays with organic horizons and numerous root burrows (Figure 29a). Laminations are not always
very distinct but distinct couplets are discemable. Each couplet appears to have an erosional base and
to be topped by organics (leaflitter).

Although it is clear that fine-grained sediment from the Atchafalaya River is the source of material
for renewed progradation of the Chenier Plain, the actual processes of sediment transport to a shore
face and preservation of that sediment as a permanent part of the coast are still poorly understood.
Kemp (1986) is responsible for the definitive work to date. He postulated that progressive near shore
attenuation of incident waves decreased shear stress on mud bottoms and promoted deposition. Thus,
significant diabathic transport of fluid mud would occur on the near shore shelf. This is the reverse
of the response by sandy surf-dominated coasts. In addition, Kemp et al. (1987) also found low-
frequency flows were associated with shore-amplified water level oscillations which have
characteristics of a standing wave with an antinode at the shoreline. The onshore decreasing shear-
stress gradient developed under attenuating waves causes mud deposition close to shore. Water level
fluctuations, in combination with wave states, wind speed and direction, and atmospheric conditions
associated with the passage of winter cold fronts (Roberts et al. 1987) force cross-shore fluid mud
transport that stabilizes the mud flats.

The upper half meter ofthe stratigraphic sequence (Figure 24) consists of modern marsh deposits.
The material is rich in silty clays and the organic content is much higher than the marsh/levee material
beneath (Figure 29b) but some evidence of weakly defined horizontal laminations and couplets are
present. The upper silty-rich marsh deposit represents the present marsh which is aggrading as RSL
is balanced by sediment influx from the Atchafalaya River system. The shelf through mudflat through
marsh/levee deposits are considered to be one continuous depositional sequence. Thus, to the 5.5
m depth penetrated by the vibracores, four distinct depositional sequences (A-D) were identified.

A second line ofvibracores (WPF 1-4, Figure 22) were collected from the western edge of Point
au Fer Island. The stratigraphic section interpreted from these cores also reveals four depositional
sequences, in similarity to the eastern line of core discussed previously (Figure 30).

Depositional sequence A consisting of bay shelf silts and clays lies beneath an unconformity which
dips seaward from a depth of 5 m to 6 m near the coast (Figure 30). This surface is deeper than the
same unconformity in the east suggesting that at this time the bay deepened to the west. This
relationship would be expected considering that the source of sediments was to the east of Point au
Fer Island. Depositional sequence B, in similarity to the eastern half of the island (compare Figures
24 and 30), consists of upper prodelta deposits separated from the overlying cycle by an
unconformity, which dips to the south.

16
 The base of depositional sequence B, consisting of a 0.5 m of bay muds thickens and shallows as
one moves inland (Figure 30). A 1.0 to 1.2 m thick bay mud overlies the prodelta in the southern half
of the island, but the prodelta sequence is directly overlain by marsh/pond deposits in the north.
These marsh/pond deposits are laterally extensive and in turn are overlain by marsh deposits. The
marsh and marsh/pond sequence appear an extension of the depositional sequence C mudflat deposits
found in the eastern core section from Point au Fer Island (Figure 24). Depositional sequence D
appears to be a repeat of the upper C sequences, namely marsh/pond deposits overlain by marsh
deposits.

Based on the discussion of the CKA core material the bulk of Point au Fer Island appears to be
related to the Lafourche Delta Complex. Material deeper than 4.5 m and down to the Maringouin
surface ± 12 m depth appears to have slowly accumulated on the open shelf, depositional sequence
A (Figure 24). Depositional sequences Band C appear to be Lafourche Delta Complex material as
defined by Penland et al. (1987) to have been active from 710 years B.P. to about 1900 A.D.
Depositional sequence D (Figure 24) represents the modern marsh, the source of the sediments being
the Atchafalaya River.

c. Modern day processes.

The whole Point au Fer area is influenced by the prograding Atchafalaya delta complex, which
delivers about 30 percent of the Mississippi River's discharge to this portion of the coast. Point au
Fer Island has, until recently, experienced a net surface loss. Since the 1930's the island has lost about
15 percent of its surface area. Reduction in marsh surface area was due to natural subsidence and
natural shoreline erosion; direct loss due to oil/gas canal construction; losses due to impoundment
and natural hydrologic pattern disruption by artificial levees associated with oil/gas canals; and
increased salt loading due to pipeline canals breaching the Gulf shoreline (CWPPRA 1993b). The
introduction of Atchafalaya sediment and water is causing a dramatic reduction in wetland loss rates.
Data from the Natural Wetlands Research Center (as presented by Van Heerden 1992) reveal a
dramatic decrease in wetland loss and substantial gain during the period 1978-1984 as compared to
the 22 years prior to 1956. This reversal reflects the increasing input of Atchafalaya River sediment
into Atchafalaya Bay.

Satellite imagery reveals that sediment -rich waters, especially during floods when Atchafalaya
waters are elevated, readily move into the Point Au Fer marshes, down Four League Bay, and exit
at Oyster Bayou into the Gulf (van Heerden 1994b). During long periods of southerly quadrant
winds, water level set up in Atchafalaya Bay aids in the movement of water into marshes surrounding
the bay, including Point Au Fer. Review of river flood water level data, collected from the center of
the Atchafalaya delta, reveals that the 0.2m to 0.5m NGVD marshes of Point Au Fer are potentially
inundated for many days during the flood period (van Heerden 1992).

The mainland wetlands of the Atchafalaya Basin, as defined by CWPPRA (1993a), extend west
from the Lower Atchafalaya River across Wax Lake outlet to Bayou Sale and cover some 120,000
acres. These wetlands experienced an annual loss of 200 acres for the period 1958 to 1974.
However, during 1983-1990 the wetland loss was 74 acres per year. These data from CWPPRA

17
(1 993a) include loss due to man's activities and do not include any wetland gain data. Nevertheless,
the significant factor is the dramatic reduction in the loss rate reflecting that for many wetland areas,
the introduction of Atchafalaya sediment and water is having a positive result.

Marshes throughout the island are showing a freshening trend in terms of plant composition.
Therefore, it could be concluded that Point au Fer Island is "on the mend" (CWPPRA 1993b).

ATCHAFALAYA - WAX LAKE DELTA COMPLEX

THE NEW MISSISSIPPI RIVER DELTA LOBE

The high sea level stand parasequences, the Atchafalaya and Wax Lake deltas (Figure 31), are in
the process of rapid growth along the central Louisiana coast (van Heerden 1983). The two deltas
developing in Atchafalaya Bay are a product of capture of Mississippi River flow by the Atchafalaya
River several hundred years ago. Rapid sedimentation has been occurring in the bay since the
Atchafalaya River basin (an area characterized by swamps and lakes) was filled to near capacity with
lacustrine deltas and overbank deposits in the late 1940s and early 1950s. These two distinct bay head
deltas consists of rapidly expanding wedges of dominantly silt-to-sand sized sediment that will soon
fill Atchafalaya Bay and emerge as one complex on the open continental shelf. In the sedimentary
framework of the Holocene Mississippi River delta complex, the Atchafalaya-Wax Lake deltas are
important because they represent the embryonic products of a major delta switching event, the
process responsible for off-set and overlapping delta lobes characteristic of the Mississippi River's
depositional style during Holocene times. Presently, the Atchafalaya and Wax Lake deltas have a
combined area of 57 km 2 above the low tide datum (van Heerden 1994b).

In 1963, as a consequence of a fear the Atchafalaya river would capture the total Mississippi
discharge, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers established a control structure at the confluence of the
Atchafalaya and Mississippi rivers. Since then flow down the Atchafalaya has been regulated to -30%
of the Mississippi discharge combined with input from the Red River. The average discharge of the
Atchafalaya River at Simmesport is 226,760 cubic feet per second (cfs). High flows generally occur
between January and June, and the average annual peak flow is 428,000 cfs. Approximately 70% of
the flow at Simmesport now passes through the Lower Atchafalaya River to eastern Atchafalaya Bay,
and the remainder passes through the l3-mi (20.9 km) shortcut to the western part of the bay created
by Wax Lake Outlet (van Heerden 1983).

The average annual sediment load of the Atchafalaya River at Simmesport, for the period 1952-
1989 was 88,223,000 tons (Roberts and van Heerden 1992). Sediment reaching Atchafalaya Bay
changed from a dominance of silt and clay to silt and fine sand between the mid-1950s and mid 1970s
(Roberts et. at. 1980). With increased efficiency of the main channel, the lower parts of the basin are
being filled by an assemblage of channel, lacustrine delta fill, and overbank deposits ranging in size
from clay to fine sand (van Heerden 1994b).

The material carried as bedload in the lower part of the Atchafalaya Basin is in the silt to fine sand
size range and is capable of reentrainment as suspended load. Confinement of the river in the lower

18
basin to a single channel in the 1960s for navigation efficiency has resulted in scouring of previously
deposited channel, levee, and lake fiU sediments, as evidenced by channel deepening (Roberts et. at
1980).

a. The Maringouin Delta Complex

Frazier( 1967) presents subsurface data from a line of cores that paraUels the east bank of the
lower Atchafalaya River, cuts north-west across Atchafalaya Bay and then crosses Point au Fer Island
heading in a south-westerly direction (Figure 23). Based on this data it would appear that the
Maringouin deposits generaUy occur at depth of 13 m or more below sea level. An approximately
7m thick transgressive shelf/outer delta sequence covers the Maringouin. The modem Atchafalaya
delta complex overlies this transgressive sequence.

b. Modern-day Processes

Systematic monitoring of delta growth in the eastern Atchafalaya delta and the Wax Lake delta
by mapping subaerial lobes revealed two entirely different growth responses: one involving channel
elongation and bifurcation and the other related to channel abandonment, leading to lobe fusion and
upstream accretion of lobes.

1. Delta development-Channel Elongation and Bifurcation

Since inception of subaerial growth in the eastern Atchafalaya delta, a three-level hierarchy of
channels has developed. Broad primary channels, wider than 900 m and approximately 3 m deep at
the upstream ends bifurcated to form secondary channels with widths less than 300 m and depths of
2 m. Narrow tertiary channels, 150 m wide or less and about 1 m deep, evolved in subsequent
bifurcations (van Heerden 1983).

The Wax Lake delta, when compared to the eastern Atchafalaya, displays a similar hierarchy of
channel sizes. However, channel elongation and bifurcation patterns vary across the delta. In the
western third ofthe delta, tertiary sized channels have formed at bifurcations of secondary channels.
As in the Atchafalaya case, the bifurcation with the orientation most similar to the parent channel
assumes dominance (Figure 32). With time, this channel enlarges in size at the expense of its sister
distributary, and its orientation aligns that of the parent channel. Through a succession of such
bifurcations, the secondary channels in the western Wax Lake delta have prograded since 1973, and
continue to date. Progradation of the mid section of the delta is also through secondary channel
elongation. However, here the channels extend through linear subaqueous levee growth, rather than
through bifurcations (Figure 32). The progradation pattern in the eastern third onVax Lake delta
is similar to the eastern Atchafalaya delta.

19
 2. Delta Development-Channel Abandonment and Lobe Fusion

Aerial photography and LANDSAT interpretation (van Heerden 1983) revealed no significant
seaward extension or channel bifurcation after 1977 in the eastern Atchafalaya delta. Delta area,
expressed as subaerial land, increased, during this period through two processes; lobe fusion by
channel abandonment and accretion of the upstream ends of some subaerial units (van Heerden and
Roberts 1988).

Upstream growth of delta lobes has been one of the growth processes in the Wax Lake delta since
1978. Additionally, channel infilling and lobe fi.tsion has occurred throughout the delta, but not at the
scale that characterized the eastern Atchafalaya delta after 1976.

Channel abandonment and lobe fusion in the eastern Atchafalaya delta become the dominant
process once channel bifurcation and progradation ceased. However, in the Wax Lake delta
progradation and lobe fusion occur concurrently. The marked difference between growth patterns
of the two deltas suggests that the sediment load is bypassing the eastern Atchafalaya delta because
of the more efficient navigation channel, whereas the Wax Lake is in a more natural state with
sediments being distributed by all channels.

3. Sedimentary Architecture

a) Depositional Environments and Sediment Characteristics

The following discussion is based on 50 short cores and 44 vibracores obtained from the
Atchafalaya delta (Figure 33) and 16 vibracores from the Wax Lake delta (Figure 34).

1. Subaqueous Depositional Environment

Old Bay Bottom

These deposits include Frazier's (1967) transgressive sequence overlying the Maringouin delta
deposits. They are typically highly bioturbated blue-gray clays and silty clays, with numerous oyster
shell fragments (Figure 35a). Disruption through bioturbation has destroyed most of the primary
sedimentary structures; although, weakly graded beds are sometimes present and probably represent
reworking during violent storms.

Micro-fossil examination reveals that old-bay-bottom deposits are dominated by the brackish
water ostracod, Perissocvtheridea bracll'o?,fonna. The transition from old bay sediment to lower
prodelta deposits is rather abrupt and is accompanied by less evidence of biogenic activity in the
prodelta sediment.

20
 Prodelta

The bayhead delta complex, initiated by prodelta sediments, overlies the old bay deposits. Because
sedimentary structure associations differ, prodelta deposits can be divided into two distinct
subenvironments. Lower prodelta sediment consists of highly bioturbated brown-grey clays and silty
clays and contain one or two layers of shell lag that are generally about 1Ocm thick. Brackish water
Rangia and Mulinia shells and casts of the freshwater ostracods, Candona laclea and Cyuridousis
vidlKI, (Engel and Swain 1967) are conunon. The foraminifera, Ammonia beccarii and Eluhidium su.,
showed marked reductions in numbers from old bay to lower prodelta sediments.

The upper prodelta sequence consists of vertically stacked cycles 10cm thick of red-brown,
parallel-laminated silty clays and clays separated by thin (2 to 3 mOl) silt lenses (Figure 35b) that may
contain clam shell fragments. Small, polychaete worm burrows originate in the silts and penetrate
into the underlying material. A distinguishing characteristic of the upper prodelta facies is its high
lateral continuity and low lithologic variation. Upper prodelta median grain size is smaller and the
sorting is better than the underlying lower prodelta and old-bay-bottom sediment .(van Heerden 1983).
Unlike prodelta deposits of the modern Mississippi delta these deposits are thin and laminated, as
compared to the thick and massive Mississippi examples.

Distal Bar

Overlying the prodelta facies is a coarsening-upward sequence that varies from silty clays to
coarse silt (median grain size, 20 microns). These deposits constitute the distal bar, which is
characterized by textually variable parallel laminations and lenticular laminations. Individual
lamination may be 2 Col thick (Figure 36). Closer to the individual river mouths, distal-bar deposits
become coarser with small scale cross-laminations, scour and fill and other similar sedimentary
structures. Distinct, vertical textural contrasts are present throughout the distal-bar facies; although,
lateral continuity is lower than in the prodelta environment. Deformation structures are common in
distal-bar sediments. Like the prodelta deposits this facies is thin, less than I m to 1.5 m.

Distributary Mouth Bar

Close to distributary mouths, distal-bar sediments grade upward into a shallower and coarser
distributary-mouth-bar facies. Although the distributary-mouth-bar deposits also coarsen upward,
they consist of upward fining cycles of cross and parallel-laminated fine sands, silts, and clayey silts
which alternate with parallel-laminated silty clays (Figure 37). The distributary-bar cycles vary in
thickness from 3 to 9 Col. Some upper horizons of distributary-mouth-bar deposits contain up to 10
Col thick layers of parallel-laminated silts and clays with numerous erosional surfaces (lenticular
bedding, Reineck and Wunderlick 1968).

Deformation structures are common in these deposits. Highly structured and sand-rich
subaqueous levee deposits are difficult to distinguish from the coarsest distributary-mouth-bar facies
in thin deltas like the Atchafalaya and Wax Lake.

21
 Channel Fill

Clayey, silty, and sandy channel fill have been recognized. Clayey channel fill is generally found in
small abandoned channels that are usually flanked by vegetated levees (Figure 38) (van Heerden
1983). Parallel laminations are the most common primary structures.

The large, primary and secondary distributary channels in the eastern Atchafalaya delta are
undergoing reductions in cross-sectional area by aggradation of chalmel flanks and general shallowing
of the chatmels. The silty fill material deposited in these channels consists of parallel-laminated silts
and clays (Fih'Ure 33). Erosional surfaces and worn1 burrows are common. Occasionally, thin lenses
of cross-laminated silts that represent starved ripples are present.

Sandy channel fill consists of parallel- and cross-laminated, gray, silty sand which acts as a
capping layer in channels of the eastern Atchafalaya delta area and is part of the lobe-fusion process
(Figure 38).

2. Subaerial Depositional Environments

Natural Levee

Because subaqueous and subaerial natural levee deposits are similar and gradational, they have
been considered one environment. N aturallevee deposits are composed of silts and fine sands, with
minor amounts of clay, atld display various sedimentary structures that reflect differing intensities of
flood-related sedimentation (Figure 39). Trough and climbing-ripple cross laminations are the
dominant structures because of high sedimentation rates associated with high flood conditions. When
minimal sedimentation occurs during low floods, simple cross laminations are the most common
structures found.

Back-Bar Algal Flats

Algal flats form the central part oflobes between subaerial levees. Generally, algal flat sediment
is highly organic and consists of parallel-laminated silts and clays interbedded with thin reduced
organic layers (Figure 40). Algal flat sand lobes and sand sheets are situated within the algal
sequence. Sand lobes consist of thin, cross-laminated, sandy material that occurs near overbank
channel mouths. Sand sheets, as the name suggests, are laterally continuous although thin deposits.
Generally, they are made up of clean, cross-laminated, fine sands.

Back-bar algal flats are sites of algal production, specifically during summer and fall. Slow
deposition accompanied by low turbidity and shallow waters can result in the accumulation of
laterally extensive, thick algal layers. Once buried, they compress readily and are discernible in cores
as dark organic rich layers no more than 3 cm thick (Figure 40). Algal layers tend to bind the surface
sediment and offer protection against storm erosion mechanisms, especially in the fall and early

22
winter. Eventually, back-bar algal flats attain enough elevation for colonization by marsh plants.
Algal flats overlie distributary-mouth-bar deposits and may attain thickness in excess of I m.

hJ Stratigraphic Relationships

Figure 33 shows the locations of stratigraphic cross sections of the natural eastern lobes of the
Atchafalaya delta. Core control for constructing the interpreted stratigraphic relationships is shown
in Figures 41 and 42. Input data from vibracores were used to determine the styles of vertical
stacking of facies and sediment characteristics for the Atchafalaya delta.

The old-bay-bottom sediment, which underlies the prodelta deposits, is shell rich, burrowed, and
interpreted as having been primarily derived from shoreline erosion of the bay perimeter. Morgan et
al. (1953) estimated that coastal retreat in this area was around 2 to 3 m/year, prior to significant
delta growth in the bay in the early 1950s.

The lower prodelta clay unit was initiated as a consequence of high discharge that occurred when
major logjams were cleared in 1839 (van Heerden 1983). However, initial stages of delta growth
are recorded in the upper prodelta sediment (Figures 41 and 42), which began continuous bay floor
aggradation in 1952. Upper prodelta deposits appeared as a seaward-thinning wedge of sediment,
fronting the lower Atchafalaya River mouth. Establishment of an embryonic channel network in the
bay provided the conduits for the distribution of coarser sediment. This transition as a consequence
of channel development forced deposition ofa slit-rich, distal bar-facies, overlying the fine-grained
prodelta deposits.

As subaqueous delta growth continued, distal-bar material was overlaid by distributary-mouth-bar

sediment (Figure 41). Stratigraphic relationships show this change occurred in the early 1970s. The
overall coarsening-upward sequence of distributary mouth bars consists of repeated upward-fining
cycles of parallel-and cross-laminated silts and fine sands that pass upward into parallel-laminated clay
(van Heerden 1983). Cycles range between 3 to 10 em in thickness. These structures are quite
distinct from the textually more variable and parallel-laminated, distal-bar sediments. In contrast to
older facies, distributary mouth bars are initially restricted to sites of channel bifurcation.

Upper prodelta, distal-bar, and distributary-mouth-bar facies aggraded the delta over 20 years
(1952-1972) to prepare for progradation of coarser grained facies, which eventually led to subaerial
exposure of the delta lobes.

Transport of substantial silt and sand-sized sediment during the unusually high flood of 1973 was
responsible for the emergence of coarse delta lobes, initiating the subaerial phase of delta
development (Roberts et. al. 1980). Much of the sand-rich sediment deposited during this flood was
retained in the construction of thick subaqueous and subaerial natural levees, which were apparent
on post-flood air photographs as well as in cores.

23
 Sand and silt deposition was so rapid during the high flood years 1973-1976 that levees directly
overlie distal-bar deposits in the seaward parts of the eastern Atchafalaya delta. The coarse facies
in these levees typically are cross laminated in contrast to parallel micro-cross-Iaminated and cross-
laminated cyclic bedding characteristic of distributary mouth bars (van Heerden 1983). Absence of
clearly distinguishable distributary-mouth-bar deposits indicates rapid channel advancement and
accompanying overbank sedimentation under the impetus of major floods.

There are other differences when comparing the Wax Lake delta package with that of the
Atchafalaya reflecting that the Wax Lake outlet is a man-made feature excavated in 1942. Thus prior
to 1942 deposition in this portion of the bay was slow accumulating of new bay fill/outer prodelta
with the lower Atchafalaya River as the source. At an average depth oD.5 m below sea level there
is a marked change in the lithology. The new bay fill material is directly overlain by distal bar
sequences. There is very little evidence of any prodelta sequences. These lithologic differences
reflect the opening of the Wax Lake outlet in 1942 and direct deposition of relatively coarse grained
material in the bay as the embryonic Wax Lake Delta. Thereafter there has been rapid sedimentation
in the Wax Lake delta reflecting that the Wax Lake Outlet offers a shorter course to the Gulf The
original Wax Lake Outlet concept was designed to carry 30% of the lower Atchafalaya's discharge,
however by 1985 this had increased to 42%. In 1987 the COE installed a weir in the upper portions
of the Wax Lake Outlet to reverse this trend and keep Wax Lake Outlet discharges to 30% of the
lower Atchafalaya discharges. However, the weir enhanced flooding problems in Morgan City and
was subsequently removed in 1994 (Kemp et. aL 1995).

At this point in time the Wax Lake delta has the same subaerial extent as the Atchafalaya delta.
Rapid growth of the Wax Lake delta reflects that it is prograding naturally against the Atchafalaya
delta, which is bisected by a large deep navigation channeL Disposal of annual maintenance dredge
material from this channel has resulted in enormous upland spoil piles further restricting subaerial
delta growth (van Heerden 1994b). However, the beneficial use of dredge material, now being
practiced by the Corps of Engineers as a consequence of a mandate from the state, should result in
a dramatic increase in the subaerial extent of the Atchafalaya delta.

c.) Impacts on adjacent wetlands.

Although the Atchafalaya and Wax Lake deltas represent the only real area of natural wetland
growth in Louisiana (Roberts and van Heerden 1992a), Atchafalaya sediment is being deposited in
adjacent wetlands. Atchafalaya sediment is being transported latitudinally along the GulfIntracoastal
Waterway (GIWW). In West Cote Blanche and Vermilion Bays, where short connections link the
GIWW to the bays, sediment accumulation and bay shallowing are ongoing processes. In the area
known as the Jaws, at the head of\Vest Cote Blanche Bay, distinct natural levee systems line the
navigation channel that extends into the bay. The landward portions of these levees have aggraded
to such an extent that emergent wetland vegetation dominates, and these subaerial levees have
become attached to the land (van Heerden 1994b). Obviously, shoreline erosion of the original marsh
in this part of the bay has terminated.

24
 Marshlands around the perimeter of Atchafalaya Bay, which were deteriorating prior to the
1950's, are now actively accreting because of the availability of abundant suspended sediments (van
Heerden 1992). Sediment-laden water is transported to the marshlands during high water level events
associated with floods and water level setup caused by frontal passages during the winter months (van
Heerden 1983). Fronts are accompanied by strong winds, which cause wave resuspension of sediment
in coastal bays. Water-level setup against the bay shoreline, before the front passes, forces turbid
water into surrounding marshes. The fact that the cold-front season overlaps when the Atchafalaya
river is flooding, with associated high suspended sediment loads, maximizes the availability of fluvial
sediment input to the wetlands surrounding Atchafalaya Bay (Mossa and Roberts 1990). This back-
water effect has enhanced substrate accretion and revitalized plant productivity in this area since the
late 1960's and early 1970's (van Heerden I 994b, Roberts 1997).

DISCUSSION

Figure 43 is a schematic representation of the stratigraphy of the central south Louisiana coastal
zone.

a. Western Terrebonne Region

The stratigraphy of the western Terrebonne region generally reveals Maringouin deposits, at least
5000 years old, occurring deeper than II m below sea level. The Maringouin rests on an
unconformity that gently dips to the east. Ship Shoal represents a drowned, transgressive barrier
island complex which originated from eroded Maringouin delta material. The shoal is approximately
5 meter thick and the shoal base and crest shallow to the west. The shallowing reflects differential
subsidence of Holocene sediments beneath the shoal that occupy a drowned alluvial valley cut into
the Pleistocene. Locally, a shell hash layer is present at or near the top of the Maringouin sequence.
This shell hash appears to be a local storm (Hurricane) reworked surface or local ravinement surface
separating the Maringouin and overlying Lafourche deposits. Teche delta complex sediments were
not to be found in the study area.

There is a very complex sequence, up to 9 m thick of Lafourche delta deposits in the western
Terrebonne region. Generally, an upward coarsening sequence is overlain by an upward fining
sequence which terminates in the modern marsh surface. This complex of four distinct Lafourche
delta cycles accumulated during the last 2,500 to 2,800 years until Bayou Lafourche was sealed off
from the Mississippi River in 1904. The Caminada-Moreau headland was formed as a consequence
of Gulf swells reworking landwards the coarsest fractions of the distributaries sediment load into
beach ridges. Differentiation of the distributaries sediment load is believed to have been forced by the
energy pulses associated with cold front passages. The coarse fraction being displaced to the south
east by strong currents generated during front passage. The sands thus moved up drift while the fines
moved down drift to the west.

25
b. Point au Fer Island

The top of the Maringouin delta sequence occurs on average 13 m below the surface of Point au
Fer Island. Overlying the Maringouin is a sequence, up to 8 m thick, of transgressive shelflbay fill
deposits. This sequence appears to have accumulated from the abandonment of the Maringouin delta
until about midway into the Lafourche delta cycle at an accumulation rate of about 0.26 cm/year.

Generally, at a depth of about 6 m these fine grained transgressive shelfibay fill deposits are
overlain by Lafourche delta cycle material. The Lafourche deposits are themselves very fine grained
and did not seem to extend much beyond the present limits of Point au Fer Island. The Lafourche
deposits appear to consist of three separate mudflat sequences, each possibly being associated with
a distinct Lafourche delta cycle. These mud flat deposits are analogous to the present Chenier Plain
mudflats which are forming as a consequence of deposition of fine-grained sediments, originating
from the Atchafalaya River, being carried to the Chenier coast by the coastal mud stream (Kemp
1986).

The similarity in lithology, and sedimentary structures suggests the Point au Fer mudflats
accumulated in a similar setting to the Chenier Plain, with the fine grained sediments originating from
Lafourche delta distributaries some distance to the east. Thus, the development of the Point au Fer
region of the coast dramatically emphasizes, as does the Chenier coast, the indirect land building
potential of the Mississippi delta distributaries. Indirect, in that they are not true delta deposits, but
rather represent fine grained material carried some distance from the distributary mouths by coastal
currents and deposited as mud flats. The mudflats then become colonized by plants forming an
organic rich marsh capping the sequence. As Point au Fer is composed mostly of fine-grained
sediments the reworking of its Gulf shoreline is not producing a barrier shoreline. Rather, the beach
consists predominantly of shell fragments with minor amounts of terrigenous sand-sized components.

c. Atchafalaya Bay

The Maringouin delta surface generally occurs 14 m below sea level and is overlain by up to 9
m of fine-grained shelflbay fill deposits. The recent capture by the Atchafalaya River of a portion of
the Mississippi River discharge has initiated a new delta building cycle in Atchafalaya Bay. Two deltas
are prograding into the bay and will shortly extend out onto the adjacent shelf.

Van Heerden (1983) presented data to suggest that the initial deposition of Atchafalaya River
material, in the Atchafalaya Bay, occurred in 1839. Over the next 60 years a prodelta package some
2.5 m thick accumulated and from 1952 onwards the coarser grained delta package started to
accumulate. More distant from the delta, new bay fill deposits started to accumulate and rapidly in
filled the bay.

The Wax Lake delta package started to accumulate after the excavation of the Wax Lake Outlet
in 1942. There are stratigraphic differences between the two deltas (Figure 44) although they have
the same sediment source and their mouths are only 18 km apart. The differences reflect that the Wax

26
Lake is a man-made diversion and the Atchafalaya, while it is a natural delta, is bisected by a
navigation channel that is dredged regularly.

Marshlands around the perimeter of Atchafalaya bay, which were deteriorating prior to the 1950's,
are now actively accreting because of the availability of abundant suspended sediments (van Heerden
1992). Sediment-laden water is transported to the marshlands during high water level events
associated with floods and water level setup caused by frontal passages during the winter months (van
Heerden 1983)

CONCLUSIONS

An e>..iensive review of the literature and interpretation of deep boring and vibracore data in the
central portion of the Louisiana coast has resulted in the following conclusions;

1. The Holocene sediment colunm in the south central coastal Louisiana is up to 35 m thick and is
dominated by a 20 m thick Maringouin delta sequence.

2. The Maringouin sequence is overlain by up to 10 m of transgressive shelflbay fill material. In the

east this transgressive package is relatively thin and sandwiched between Maringouin and Lafourche
sediments, but in the west transgressive muds appear to have accumulated continuously from the
abandonment of the Maringouin delta until the initiation of the Atchafalaya delta deposits.

3. Ship Shoal represents a drowned, transgressive barrier island complex which originated from
eroded Maringouin delta material. The shoal is approximately 5 meter thick and the shoal base and
crest shallow to the west. The shallowing reflects differential subsidence, beneath the shoal, of
Holocene sediments within a drowned alluvial valley cut into the Pleistocene.

4. The Lafourche delta complex is represented by up to a 6 m thick delta/mud flat sequence but does
not extend beyond Point au Fer Island. At least four separate delta depositional sequences are
present in the Lafourche delta sequence.

5. The Caminada-Moreau headland was formed as a consequence of Gulf swells reworking

landwards the coarsest fractions of the Bayou Lafourche distributaries' sediment load that had been
displaced to the south east by strong currents generated during cold front passages. The sands thus
moved up drift while the fines moved down drift to the west.

6. Modern sedimentation in the eastern section of the study area is primarily in bays, the source of
the sediment is primarily from shoreline erosion. However, winter storms, tidal interchange and
impacts of tropical storms all force sediments out of bays onto the adjacent shelf.

7. The recent capture by the Atchafalaya River of a portion of the Mississippi River discharge has
initiated a new delta building cycle in Atchafalaya Bay. Two deltas are prograding into the bay and
will shortly extend out onto the adjacent shelf. There are stratigraphic differences between the two

27
deltas although they have the same sediment source and their mouths are only 18 km apart. The
differences reflect that the Wax Lake is a man-made diversion and the Atchafalaya is bisected by a
navigation channel that is regularly dredged.

8. Point au Fer's marshes are aggrading due to sedimentation trom the Atchafalaya River.

9. Marshlands around the perimeter of Atchafalaya bay, which were deteriorating prior to the 1950's,
are now actively accreting because of the availability of abundant suspended sediments

10. This study dramatically illustrates the direct consequences oflarge-scale lVlississippi River
diversions (distributaries) in the formation of delta lobes and the indirect consequences some distance
from the disributary mouth, namely mudflat accumulation. Additionally, the influence of ocean swells,
subsidence and winter cold front passages in shaping delta lobes is also apparant. These factors
should be taken into consideration in planning artitlcial diversions off the Mississippi River for coastal
restoration and maintenance projects.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Special acknowledgment goes to the U.S. Geological Survey support for a multi-year
program entitled "Critical Physical Processes of Wetland Loss," Contract No. 14-08-0001-23411.
This program produced the most up-to-date information on the processes of subsidence that are
largely responsible for driving the changes a delta undergoes after abandonment by the fluvial
system that built it. The U.S. Anny Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, is acknowledged
for support of work in the Atchafalaya-Wax Lake system.

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32
 APPENDIX

A Logs of McClelland Engineers deep borings from eastern Point au Fer Island.

33
 LOG OF BORING NO, 1
MOSQUITO BAYOU AREA
TRANSCONTINENTAL GAS PIPE LINE CORP,

TyPE: 3" shelby-tube & 2" split-spoon LOCATION: Platform "D"

COHESION. TON/SQ FT
t J ~I-- -0---
o >- 4. 0.2 0.4 0.6 0. a 1.0 1,2. I."
m DESCRIPTION OF MATERIAL ~~ ~~--~---L---L--~--~~~-4
:;
>-
av ,
PLASTIC WATER LIQUID
~w
LIMIT CONTENT,"/o LIMIT
"' -~
Z
::J +------- -- -- --0 ------ -----J.
Mudllne at EI -5' 10 20 '0 40 00 ,0 TO

f---t~, Very soft gray clay , 206

'Q--
32'4
=::~ -with organic matter to 10'
134 160

*
35 --
:J~.' ~"Y "0,",10, +- G- -;\;'-130
3' '" 5' 36

'~~. -with traces of shell below 18'

42~n=+__~~L--+__+-~~~G~
106

r---->~. -with sand seams & pockets, 28' to

59
20~
0
48'
,,
1

~~ -wi th si I t seams & sil t porti ngs below 69 1

~~,~+-~-+--~~-+~
40~ 38'
-soft by 39'
!-----l'>.~
50~
t----l.~
i=:O~
-fi rm be low 58'

I~~
,!O~
"

_ _ _",11:," ' , !-----:--:----;~--:---;-__:__' - "I.

~"
Gray scndy silt w/flocculated clay ,{ ',~

1'_9~:',...
---~:
,, seoms
-with traces of shell & orgonic I"'.
. " .;.
1- matter, 88' to 90' I '"
_~ , firm gray c Ia y wit h ,i I t sea ms & !:=+----1--.:::~'1__l-_+--_+_1'o'::"+__+---.-J
,100
f---
, 1 partings t
,1.- -with
_ _ _ trace
~ ___ of_shell,
____ 98'
__ to_ 100
___
1
~ J
1- (-Continued on Plate 20-)

M<=CLELLAHO PLATE 2
(ljl)(HEC"'~
 LOG OF BORING NO. I (Coni 'd.)
MOSQUITO BAYOU AREA
TRANSCONTINENTAL GAS PIPE liNE CORP.

COHESION. TON/Sa FT
>-- t: >-
--0---
~t
~ ~
..J 0:
a W w 0.2 0.' 0.' O•• 1.0 1.2 1.'
I ..J
"- n:o
''""
"- DESCRIPTION OF MATERIAL
l--
n. :E U> ,
au
PLASilC WATE:R uaulD
)-
,·w
I '"
w ~ CO NT ENT, ./..
Lt MIT LIMIT
0 '" " 0
..J
-J
Z
+--------- ----{J - - ---- ----+
al
" 10 20 ,0 40 00 dO 70

~
Firm gray clay w/,ilt ,earn' &
I porti ngs

~
-flocev 10 ted 10 108'
110 99 <0
-w/silt layers, 105' to 107'

~
-light groy & ,lightly ,il ty
below 108'
\ 95
1,,-- - - - ±=
~
-(
120 Sti ff Iight gray & ton cloy 88
-slick~n,;ded, 118' to 120'

~ ~j
-layer of ,and with shell,
~ 126.5' to 128.5' 16

~
'130 -fi rm Iight gray & tan si Ify I
1- clay layer with ,hell, 128'
1'\
~.
I------ to 130'
I------ ( Ir.
140 79

150 ~
~.
-flocculated below 148'
-firm gray w/shell & organic
matter, 148' to ISO'
~

~
-with sand layer, 154' to 156'
-w/organic matler (wood), 76 n
160 "
~
~ 158' to 160'
!---- -with silt partings below 158'
I------ ,-

~
I------
170
76 . '" ol}.' . ..

180
---
I-
i-
~
190
~
I------
~
·1-
,200 ..
~
1- ....-

COMPLETION DEPTH: 175'

OATE: October 19, 1967

MCCLELLAND PlArE 20
tNOlliCCrI.'
 LOG OF BORING NO, 2
MOSQUITO BAYOU AREA
TRANSCONTINENTAL GAS PIPE LINE CORP,
Bulkhead, south,ide
TYPE: 3" shelby-tube LOCATION;
Houma Oil Co, Canal

~ T.1
COHESION, TON/Sa FT
,- ~>- ----cr-
"- ,.,
~ I~I
)-- 0.' Q.4 0.' 0.' 1.0 1.2
:i DESCRIPTION OF MATERIAL a:~
Co

W
n. " .t:;,( . ou
1--;; PLASTIC
Lf MIT
WATER
CONTENT. Yo
LIQUID
LlM1T
0 "' "' -~
z
J +----- ---- -- --0----- -- -----+
Mudline at EI -6' 10 20 '0 '0 50 .0 70

~. Very-wisoft gray clay

-- 542
f-.- tt43
o~
th much organic matter to 2 f

·\0 ~.
1-
40 '0\ + -- -- - - 1~09 ..
120
~

~ -with scattered shell fragments &

I
~
2.0 organic matter, 18' to 30' 52 u
-soft with silt partings below 20' <')

C>
~--
::10
~ -with silty fine sand layer, 29,5 ' to 59 q V

~
30' V
-wi th si It seams below 30'
0
~

~
- 53 P + -- f- -" [q- -- -+
40

\
I-- -flocculated below 43' <')

50
- -l'
I--
~ 64 h\

~
60
I--
I--
~
~
·70
I-
I-- . ~.'.'
.'~.'

I--
~
80
I--
I--
~
~
90
I-
I--
I--
,
I----
'100 \ '"'C
--
~
~ "
~
COMPLETION DEPTH; 50'
DATE: October 19, 1967
fA e CLELLAN 0 PLATE 3
('/(;lN~t",g
~-

LOG OF BORING NO, 3

MOSQUITO BAYOU AREA
TRANSCONTINENTAL GAS PIPE LINE CORP,

TYPE: 3" shelby-tube LOCATION: Mouth of Flolotion Conal

COHESION, TON/Sa FT
I-
>- ~~ -0-----
~ _1
0 '"w >-~ 0,' 0,4 0,6 0,0 1.0 1,2 1.4
I
>-
rn --'
~ DESCRIPTION OF ~iATERIAL "J
ou
"- ">-v, "« "- PLASTIC WATER LlOU:O
w
0
'"
Mudl ine at EI -5'
"J
~~

:>
1.I MIT CONTENT,~/..

+-- ------ -----0 -- ----- -----+

,0 ,0 40 50
LIMIT

10 60 70

~. r> 1113 IO~

f----- Very so it gray clay
..
~~-
1--- 115
-with organic matter 10 5' ~

-few shell seams with sand, 7' 73 102

,10
52 c(> + 1--- -- --- +-- o~

10 9'
--
I-------
-with scattered shell, 17' to 19' 58 0

~
20
-sofl by 18'

f---

~ 59 cC

~
30 -with silt seams, 32' to 44'
V --- I
G 'l:

~
40
f\
65 -<b +- -- -- 1-.'\ I--

~~-
I------
50
0

-firm below 58'

~
60
(
66 0

~
,

70
\
~.
-·with silt partings bleow 72'
0
.; .. . ..
,- "

I------
~
~.
eo -flocculated, 82' to 102'
-- 65 0
..
..
V
~
" ',~

90 -wi th si J I layers & scattered she lis

.!
~.
0
below 92'
-with organic matter, 92' to 94'
100
1-
~ -----------_._----- -
I----- (-Continued on Plate 40-)
I----- .~

1-----

MCCLELLAND
(>JOIt/tEn!;
PLATE 4
 C-K ASSOCIATES, INC.
SOIL BORING LOG: SO-l
CL1ENT: Dept. of Nat. Resources LOCATION: Terrebonne Parish PROJECT NO.: 24-800

DRILLER: P & 0 PROJECT NAME: Point au Fer Restoration X COORD.: NI A

DATE DRILLED: 07104/94 DRILLING METHOD: Vibra-Core Y COORD.: NI A
TOTAL DEPTH: 15.5 WATER LEVEL (j): NI A WATER LEVEL (S): N/A

LOGGED BY: Dave Beck SURFACE ELEVATION: N/A TOC ELEVATION: N/A

Depth Core OVA DescriptIon uses lith. Well Remarks

(ft bgs) Sample (ppm) Design

~
-, Soft gray CLAY w!organic CH/CL

~
material
,
2
---becoming medium

~
4
.

6- ,--- ~f-
~ .

~
.
8
;
. ---organic material

---fine sand

~ -

~
10
' . ---fjne sand w/shell fragments
.,
12- I-- ,-
. ---fine sand

Wi1
~
14 -

~ ---shell fragments
16-
Boring terminate at 15.5' bgs
~OTE: CORE SAMPLE -
18- Continuous Sample Obtained by -
Vibra-Core

-
20-

rn
NOTES: Hand Shelby Split No
:sz
~ ~ ITJ1
Initial Water Level Grab Tube Spoon Recovery
Approved: _ _
~ Static water Level ~Tnlnr,
 C-K ASSOCIATES, INC.
SOIL BORING LOG: SO-2
CLIENT; Dept. of Nat. Resources LOCATION: Terrebonne Parish PROJECT NO.: 24-800

OR;LLER: P & 0 PROJECT NAME: Point au Fer Restoration X COORD.: NI A

DA TE DRILLED: 07/04/94 DRILLING METHOD: Vlbra-Core Y COORD.: NI A

TOT AL DEPTH: 14.0 WATER LEVEL (I): NI A WATER LEVEL (5): N/A

LOGGED BY: Aaron Adolph SURFACE ELEVATION: N/A TOC ELEVA nON: N/A

Dept!') Core OVA Description uses lith. Hell Rernarks

(It b;;~) Sample (ppm) Design

0
" Soft gray Sandy CLAY CL //
CH/CL / /

~
- \ Soft gray CLAY CH/CL

~
2 Medium gray CLAY
-

~
4

~
6

~
,"
" ,"

~
,
IJ

~0
12

I'
Boring terminate at 14' bgs

le- NOTE: CORE SAMPLE -

Continuous Sample Obtained by
Vlbra-Core
I 13

20-

NOTES: Hand Shelby Split No

It] []] ~ ID
SZ Initial Water Level Grab Tube Spoon Recovery
Approved: ~ Static Water Level c::; Tn! nr;
 C-K ASSOCIATES, INC.
SOIL BORING LOG: SO-5
CLIENT: Dept. of Nat. Resources lOCA liON: Terrebonne Parish PROJECT NO.: 24-800

DRILLER: P & 0 PROJECT NAME: Point au Fer Restoration X COORD.: NI A

DATE DRILLED: 07/04/94 DRILLING METHOD: Vibra-Core Y COORD.: NI A

TOT AL DEPTH: 13.0 WATER LEVEL (I): NI A WATER LEVEL (Si: N/A

LOGGED BY: Dave Beck SURF ACE ELEVA nON: NI A TOC ELEVATION: N/A

Depth Core OVA DescrIption uses LIth. Well Remarks

(It bgsi Sample (ppm) DesIgn

~
( Soft gray CLAY w/organic CH/CL
material, shell fragments

2 . /h
~
Medium gray CLAY w/organic CH/CL
>

~
material

4
.
6 - - .-_.---
0
~
Discontinuous sand lenses CH/CL

~~
8
,
>

10

~
Medium gray CLAY CH/CL

12- - I--

Boring terminate at 13' bgs

~
14-

NOTE: CORE SAMPLE -

Continuous Sample Obtained by
16-
Vibra-Core

18

20-

rn
NOTES: Shelby Split No

Approved:
:sz
~
Initial Water Level
Static Water Level
[t]
Hand
Grab Tube
~ Spoon
[] Recovery
STr>!nr:;
 C-K ASSOCIATES, INC.
SOIL BORING LOG: SO-6
CLIENT: Dept. of Nat. Resources LOCA nON: Terrebonne Parish PROJECT NO.: 24 -800

DRILLER: P & 0 PROJECT NAME: Point au Fer Restoration X COORD.: NI A

DATE DRILLED: 07104/94 DRILLING METHOD: Vibra-Core Y COORD.: NI A

TOTAL DEPTH: 14.0 WATER LEVEL III: NI A rlATER LEVEL (S): N/A

LOGGED BY; Dave Beck SURF ACE ELEVATION: NI A TOC ELEVATION: N/A

Depth Core OVA Descrlp tlon uses lith. WeI! Remarks

(It bgg) Sample (ppm) Design

O- r- - " Fine Silty SAND Sfi

~
CH/CL
Soft gray CLAY

~
2-1-- -

~
4 -
---becoming medium

~
6 I-- -

" Fine Silty SAND SM

~
I II
-

~
10 CH/CL
Medium gray CLAY

12

14 I-- -
---organic material
~---shell fragments
~
~
~~ring terminate at 14' bgs

16- OTE: CORE SAMPLE - -

Continuous Sample Obtained by
Vibra-Core

18-

20-

NOTES: shelby Split No

Hand

Approved: _ _
:s:z
~
Initial Water Level
Static Water Level ~ Grab
[]] Tube
~ Spoon
lDJ Recovery
c;TOI. nr;
 C-K ASSOCIATES, INC.
SOIL BORING LOG: SO-y
CLIENT: Dept. of Nat. Resources LOCA nON: Terrebonne Parish PROJECT NO.: 24-800

OR ILLER: P & 0 PROJECT NAME: Point au Fer Restoration X COORD.: NI A

DATE DRILLED: 07/04/94 DRILLING ~IETHOD: Vitra-Core Y COORD.: NI A
TOT AL DEPTH: 10.0 WATER LEVEL (I): N/A WATER LEVEL (S): N/A

LOGGED BY: Aaron Adolph SURFACE ELEVATION: N/A TOC ELEVATION: N/A

OePth)
(ft bgs)
I Core
Sample
OVA
(ppm)
DescrIption uses Lith. Well
Design
Remarks

0
.
~
Soft gray CLAY w/organic CH/CL

~
.' matter

2 r- ,-

~
Medium gray CLAY CH/CL

~
4
•

~
,
6

10 i---
"
L-..
~
~
Boring terminate at 10' bgs

12- NOTE: CORE SAMPLE -

Continuous Sample Obtained by
Vlbra-Core
14

16

18

--
20

rn
NOTES: Hand Shelby Split No
:sz [t] ~ []
Tube Spoon Recoyery
Initial Water Level Grab
Approved: SlZ Static Water level ~Tnl nr,
 C-K ASSOCIA TES, INC.
SOIL BORING LOG: SO-8
CLIENT: Dept. of Nat. Resources LOCA nON: Terrebonne Parish PROJECT NO.: 24-800

ORILLER: P & a PROJECT NA~IE: Point au Fer Restoration X COORO.: NI A

DATE DRILLED: 07/04/94 DRILLING METHOD: Vibra-Core Y COORD.: NI A

TOT AL DEPTH: 13.0 WATER LEVEL iIl: N/ A WATER LEVEL (S): N/A
_oooo __

LOGGED BY: Aaron Adolph SURF ACE ELEVA nON: N/ A TOC ELEVATION: N/A

Depth Core OVA Description uses LIth. Well Remarks

(ft bgsJ Sample (ppm) Design

a SC 1// //
Very fine Clayey Silly SAND
"\. w/shelJ fragments
C:/ //

~
CH/CL
- Medium gray CLAY

~
2- I -

~
4

~
6

~
8- - -
0

10 f-- -
1\ Medium gray Sandy CLAY w/shell SC / . / /.

~
fragments CH/CL

~
12- f-- - Medium gray CLAY

- -
Boring terminate at 13' bgs
14-

NOTE: CORE SAMPLE -

Continuous Sample Obtained by
16-
Vibra-Core

18-

20-

NOTES: Hand Shelby Spilt No

~ []] ~ [0 Recovery
:2: Initial Water Lever Grab Tube Spoon
Approved: ~ Static Water Level <:;Tnl nri
 C-K ASSOCIA TES, INC.
SOIL BORING LOG~SO-g
CLIENT: Dept. of Nat. Resources LOCA nON: Terrebonne Parish PROJECT NO.: 24-800

DRILLER: P & a PROJECT NAME: Point au Fer Restoration X COORD.: NI A

DATE DRILLED: 07/04/94 DRILLING METHOD: ViDra-Core Y COORD.: NI A
TOT AL DEPTH: 13.5 WATER LEVEL II): N/A WATER LEVEL (51: N/A
LOGGED BY: Dave Beck SURF ACE ELEVA TlON: NI A TOC ELEVA TlON: N/A
... .. ---
Depth Core OVA Description USGS LIth. 'Well Remarks
(It bgs) Sample (ppmJ Design

~
Soft gray CLAY w/shell CH/CL
fragments

2
" ~
~
Medium gray CLAY CH/CL

,,
.,
~
4 -
-
6

~
~
)l
8

10

~
12

14
,

Boring terminate at 13.5' bgs

~
~ -
NOTE: CORE SAMPLE -
Continuous Sample Obtained by
16-
Vibra-Core

18-

20-

1-- NOTES: Hand Shelby Split No

Approved: _ _
:sz
~
Initia! Water Level
Static Water Level
[t] Grab
fIJ Tube
~ Spoon
[OJ Recovery
C:TOlnr;
 C-K ASSOCIATES, INC.
SOIL BORING LOG: SO-10
CLIEtlT: Dept. of Nat. Resources LOCATION: Terrebonne Parish PROJECT NO.: 24-800

DRILLER: P & 0 PROJECT NAME: Point au Fer Restoration X COORD.: N/ A

DATE DRILLED: 07/04/94 DRILLING METHOD: Vibra-Core Y COORD.: N/ A

TOT AL DEPTH: 10.0 WATER LEVEL (I): N/ A WATER LEVEL (S): N/A

LOGGED BY: Aaron Adolph SURFACE ELEVATION: N/A TOC ELEVATION: N/A

Depth Core OVA Description uses LIth. Hell Remarks

(It bgsi Sample (ppm) Design

~
Soft gray CLAY wish ell CH/CL
fragments

~
2 Medium gray CLAY CH/CL

4 I-- ,-
~ -

6 -
~
8
-
,
,
~
~
10
Boring terminate at 10' bgs

12- NOTE: CORE SAMPLE -

Continuous Sample Obtained by
Vibra-Core
14-

16-

18

20

NOTES: Shelby SpItt No

Hand
:sz [t] []J ~ [OJ
Initial Water Level Grab Tube Spoon Recovery
Approved: _ _
~ Static Water Level ~Tnlnr;
 C-K ASSOCIATES, INC.
SOIL BORING LOG: SO-li
CLIENT: Dept. of Nat. Resources LOCATION: Terrebonne Parish PROJECT NO.: 24-800

DRILLER: P & a PROJECT NAME: Point au Fer Restoration X COORD.: NI A

DATE DRILLED: 07104/94 DRILLING METHOD: ViDra-Core Y COORD.: NI A

TOT AL DEPTH: 14.5 WATER LEVEL !II: NlA WATER LEVEL (S): N/A

LOGGED BY: Aaron Adolph SURFACE ELEVATION: N/A TOe ELEVA nON: N/A

Depth Core OVA Oescrlptlon uses LIth. Well Remarks

(ft bgs) Sample (ppm) Design

a ,
~
Soft CLAY w/sheli fragments CH/CL

~
Soft gray CLAY CH/CL
2

~0
,
.
4
,
I---- , -
~
Medium gray CLAY CH/CL
6 ------
-
8
,
,
~
10
~
~
'p

~
12

14 ;'
Boring terminate at 14.5' bgs

16 NOTE: CORE SAMPLE -

Continuous Sample Obtained by
Vlbra-Core
18
. -

20

NOTES: Shelby Split No

~ []
Hand

Approved:
:sz
""Ii'"
Initial Water Level
Static Water Level
[t] Grab
[[] Tube Spoon Recovery
C;TQLnr,
 C-K ASSOCIA TES, INC.
SOIL BORING LOG: SO-12
CLIENT: Dept. of Nat. Resources LOCATION: Terrebonne Parish PROJECT NO.: 24-800

DRILLER: P & 0 PROJECT NAME: Point au Fer Restoration X COORD.: N/ A

DATE DRILLED: 07/04/94 DRILLING METHOD: Vibra-Core Y COORD.: N/ A

TOTAL DEPTH: 12.0 WATER LEVEL (J): N/ A WATER LEVEL is): N/A

LOGGED BY: Dave Beck SURF ACE ELEV ATION: N/ A TOC ELEVATION: N/A

Depth Core OVA Description uses LIth. Well Remarks

(tt bgs) Sample Ippm) Design

0 ,

~
Soft gray CLAY CH/CL

~
Medium gray CLAY CH/CL
2

4 (I-

~
6
~
,
~
~
8
;
,

~
10

"
12
Boring terminate at 12' bgs

14 NOTE: CORE SAMPLE -

Continuous Sample Obtained by
Vibra-Core
16

18

20- -

rn
NOTES: Hand Shelby Split No
:sz
~ ~ [0]
Grab Tube Spoon Recovery
Initial rlater Level
Approved: :'!\'C: Static Water Level <:;Tnlnr>
 C-K ASSOCIATES, INC.
SOIL BORING LOG: SO-13
CLIENT: Dept. of Nat. Resources LOCA nON: Terrebonne Parish PROJECT NO.; 24-800

DRILLER; P & 0 PROJECT NAME; Point au Fer Restoration X COORD.; N/A

DATE DRILLED; 07104/94 DRILLING METHOD: Vibra-Core Y COORD.: NI A

TOT AL DEPTH: 14.0 WATER LEVEL (I): N/A WATER LEVEL (S): N/A

LOGGED BY; Dave Beck SURF ACE ELEVATION: NI A TOC ELEVATION: N/A

Depth Core OVA Description uses lith. "Hell Remarks

lit bgsl Sample (ppm) Design

a
~
Soft gray CLAY w/shell CH/CL
fragments
,

~
Soft-medium gray CLAY CH/CL
2

4
,· ~
~
CH/CL
.. Medium gray CLAY
,
6
.,
.,
~
8

~
~
·
10

~
-;,

~
,
12
·,
14
,
Boring terminate at 14' bgs
%
16 NOTE: CORE SAMPLE -
Continuous Sample Obtained by
Vibra-Core
18

--
20

NOTES: Spilt No

~
Hand

~
Shelby

Approved: _ _
:s:z
~
Initial Water Level
Static Water Level
Grab
[[] Tube Spoon
[] Recovery
<::Tnl nr:;
 C-K ASSOCIA TESt INC.
SOIL BORING LOG; SO-14
CLIENT: Dept. of Nat. Resources LOCA nON; Terrebonne Parish PROJECT NO.: 24-800

DRILLER: P & 0 PROJECT NAME: Point au Fer Restoration X COORD.: NI A

DATE DRILLED: 07/04/94 DRILLING METHOO: Vibra-Core Y COORD.: NI A

TOTAL DEPTH: 10.0 WATER LEVEL (]I: NI A WATER LEVEL is): NIA

LOGGED BY: Dave Beck SURFACE ELEVATION: N/A TOC ELEVATION: NIA

Depth Core OVA Description uses lith. 'liell Remarks

(ft bgsl Sample Ippm! Design

0 t-- -

~
Soft gray CLAY CH/CL

2
.
I- -
~
~
Medium gray CLAY CH/CL

~
4

~
8

10
,
,{ ~
~
Boring terminate at 10' bgs

12 NOTE: CORE SA~IPLE -

Continuous Sample Obtained by
Vibra-Core
14 .

16

18-

20-

NOTES: Shelby Spilt No

~ []
Hand

Approved:
:sz
::sl'Z
Initial Water level
Static Water level
[tl Grab
[]J Tube spoon Recovery
<;Tnlnr;
 "rj
ciCi'
C
'"1
ro

OLD RIVER
oufFCbW
r CHANNEL
0 MISSISSIPPI
-
""' '
0
::I
~ --~----

....,
0

-
~
'"
c

"'@
"'
5' I{f? Baton Rouge
'"

..,.
w
-=-
0
c

"rog
'"1
e-
"0
"''"e.
r
0
c
0;'
0;' L.;:::: ::::::::
::I

"' - " -~.' WESTERN

GOLF OF 4f £ A.TCHAFALAYA.'::: TE. RREBONNE :'::::,
. ..r/.. c:> BAY ~::,,' .:...
, . '0 . "::'.. ::"
6 60km. Poiritau Fer';"::::::>
10'Q--30mi
 o mi 20
..
""'! I
o km 30

MISSISSIPPI DELTA COMPLEXES

= Modern Mississippi _ Lafourche
= La Loutre = Teche
(St. Bernard) ''''',,'' .... Maringouin Fisk 1944

Figure 2. Fisk's (1944) depositional model of a single Holocene Mississippi River delta plain
4,250 years old.

r.:,.-(D--.-- Salc'- Cyprcmort <:

rorm1?:1CocodrJc ;'~: iD; n Plaquemines
1I0001ITeche 11II<1III1n,u"
~ St. Bernard c::J Pleistocene Uplands
o 10 20 30Milu

Kilometers

Figure 3. Kolb and Van Lopik's (1958) depositional model of a single Holocene Mississippi
River delta plain 5,400 years old.

35
eN
0-

C {J.(. J:'
9--
i OF

A(4R +
.v.t;~,/co
•
W __'L2!
KAUUlM,1,U
1NCOUIP1 DEL.TA COMPl.EX

Figure 4. Delta lobes formed by the Mississippi River in the past 6,000 years (from Frazier, 1967).
#15 Bayou Lafourche; #14 Bayous Lafourche and Terrebonne; #12 Bayou Black; #10 Bayou Blue;
and #6 Bayou Terrebonne.
 O
•.•••••• r.,. S.•·.K.••.,.••.t.9.4.;4\ .~QI@\fAND~PIK,19~8<FRAZJE~,19~7
.... . .............. . .
..
MISSISSIPPI
MISSISSIPPI MISSISSIPPI
ST. BERNARD -------------~---r---------------

LAFOURCHE, LAFOURCHE
LAFOURCHE
----------------- ---------------
2000~------------
ST. BERNARD
TECHE ST. BERNARD

TECHE ' 1----------------

1-------------
------------------
MARINGOUIN TECHE
COCODRIE

4000-------------------------------
---------,.....-----
SALE CYPREMORT
MARINGOUIN
SALE CYPREMORT
6000r---------r-------------+-----------~-

---------------

8000~--------~------------~----------~

Figure 5. Comparison of Fisk, (1944), Kolb and Van Lopik, (1958) and Frazier (1967) delta
models.

37
 .-
r'.~,,:..,
\ +
-... ...
""-. ......
.. \ + +

o
u

,.
"
.
.
o

o
o

38
 UPPER SECTION

BOUNDARY BETWEEN DELTA LOBES&BETWEEN AGGRADATIONAL -===DELTA~COMPLEX BOUNDARY

I"i·:.:::',,:,.l PROGRADATIONAL
UNITS GENETICALLY RELATED TO DELTA- LOBES ------
FACIES I2EJ TRANSGRESSIVE
FACIES
BASE OF TRANSGRESSIVE
DEPOSITS
e DELTA-LOBE DESIGNATION ~
'"
ERODED PLEISTOCENE SURFACE 1:::::::::1 AGGRADATIONAL
FACIES

c C'
BAYOU PETITE TERREBONNE
WINE GULF OF MnfCO
CAfLLOU ISLAND
BAY

PROGRADATIONAL AGGRADATIONAL LOWER :SECTION TRANSGRESSIVE

FACIES FACIES FACIES

w
-0 V:;·,'·q DISTRIBUTARY MOUTH-
BAR SILTY SAND
IB!I!II PEAT
t:;; [2J BARRIER, TIDAL-DELTA
I I LOCATION OF BORINGS
~ CLAYEY PEAT,PEATY ~ LAKE OR STRANDLINE SAND
r,,"
o

Illliilil DELTA FRONT

SILTY $ANO&SJLTYCLAY
'\.. CLAY ,ORGANIC MUCK
1<",~>t.;;,:lINORGANIC CLAY CJ
DEPOSIT
CREVASSE w=
I~<
IZ~
" 0:

B BAY SILT, ClAY,& SHELL 02600 RADIOCARBON AGE

YEARS BEFORE PRESENT
~
DEPOSIT
PRODELTA SILHCLAY
t:::::s:::4
---------
NATURAL~LEVEE
SILTY CLAY
IZz
I~- Dll OYSTER REEF .:~ WEATHERED & ERODED
PLEISTOCENE SURFACE
I"

N s
II I rr I I I r II r tI I I JI I r II I I! I 1 \I I-BORINGS

Figure 7, Section A, modified from Frazier (1967), from Bayou Little Coteau to Ship Shoal.
 A. SEISMIC PROFILE
West

Vertical Exaggeration: llx

B. INTERPRETATION
0
.~====~~~-------------------------.o
1Water Column
"•• Seafloor
..Ii
.-,,'"•
"'8 De~alc Sediment~ ~11~:i'I~~~C
••
...• ...e>
25 -

..•• Reflectors

30
•
'" 50

Figure 8. A 3.5-kHz seismic profile and an interpretive drawing of a meandering distributary

channel. From Suter et al. (1991).

40
 Cd;"'10 uBay 4
~=- dJ ~'"
........................
'/;:~~
...... ............... . . .......
''''''''~
.. .......... ..
.. - 4 m·............................................I .. ... -......... ... ..... ..
.. ~.. I __ . . . . . . .. .. 10m .. __ ..........
,-- Figure 8
-
J--""
Figure 10, __ ' , Gul'Of Mexico
,-.........("-'::":'::J ... / h.~~l? ........ , ',
" •• ~: ::O'Figure----_
.. " '4m .. ~;--=,~=
ni .---... .. .-.N-~"~". .. ;:-, \ .. ....
' --.'
".
I '-.'. . , •• - ,••......
- #12"'" .._":>...( .....
.,.-
"6 ......... -10m-- ......... Figure 11
m , Frazier (1967) Section A
,,
,, Figure 13
,,
Seismic Sections
.... ,..' '"
... __ .... .. I

o Vibra Cores

f ",'~L' '_''_'_S_ut_e..l
t
~_e_t 9_9- -,2;)~
_a'_(_1

Figure 9. Location of the seaward sections of core and boring data presented by Frazier (1967),
Penland et a!. (1987), and Suter eta!' (1991).

41
 A SEISMIC PROFILE

!; f .

Vertical Exaggeratlon-20x

- B. INTERPRETATION

:: -_!e
::
~o ~
0
25 ..
l~"";"~"::~"':~''':~'t.O'~'''''''''''~''''~--''~''~~~~P~u~l~se~W;I~d~th;~;~;;~;~i~~~~~~r
Hlg~e~emc~~:~de
" '. ":;11.. : ... :
Tec:2ement ... Seaward Dipping
:.. 0 e
L f6·'·'"::"
V'''tO':' ...... f- 15 :;;
a :>
~
Surface Clinoforms a..
f-< ~ Teche-Marlngouln 0
.. Inner Shelf Shoal Distributary 30

l 50~D~------------------------------------------------~D'
'"

Figure 10. ORE Geopulse seismic profile and interpretive drawing of the Ship Shoal sand body.
From Suter et al. (1991)

42
 SHIP SHOAL # 15
MEAN
VIBRACORE GRAIN- SORTING
LOG ENVIRONMENT SIZE Il 11 % TEXTURE
2 4 6 8 0 1 2 3 01-_--"50'---_.:,j100
Om---,...".,===:::-o

Shoal Crest
2m ....... :

Shoal Front

Shoal Base
6m Lagoon

Prodelta
8m~"""'"

SHIP SHOAL #12

MEAN
VIBRACORE GRAIN- SORTING
LOG ENVIRONMENT SIZE 11 fJ % TEXTURE
Water Depth: -6.1m 2 4 6 8 0 1 2 3 0 50 100
Om ---,-==6=".., 1----'----nI
Shoal Crest (
?
Shoal Front

Shoal Base
6m Lagoon

Delta Front
8m

Prodelta

10m
\
aI> 1"'1 Shells C>. Lenticular Beds ~ Deformation
1\ Broken Shells ~ Scour Surface .::::=:::: Wavy
..J} Ophiomorpha \\.\ Trough Cross-beds 0 Clay Clast
-V- Bioturbation nr Ripple Cross-beds - Laminae

Figure 11. Representative vibracores from the Ship Shoal sand body. From Suter et al. (1991)

43
 LOUISIANA

liiirl AlluvIum
MM$d Natural Levee
~'.c~ Fresh ~arsh

E===='l Salt ~arsh

'·(\,-'1 Barrier Shoreline

, ,~,
,,
,,
,

/
,
-------,
~-
/

-- --- ,-'
... -",/ Miles /
/
/

20
o 10
,,, :
I
-, I
o 10 20 30
I

B'
'-,
,~
Kilometers

Figure 12. Vibracore sites and cross-section location for the Bayou Grand Caillou area. (From
McBride et aI., 1990 and Penland et aI., 1987)

44
 ~ ;;
w "
~ 0 0
.::
1
~
z
0
~
U
;;
0
~
.
~
0
0
0
•
.:l
ffi '" '"
'"
•
~

w
....
« "0".
U
0 o
:c <2.,
<f) ~
;;
'"
l:
<f)

Figure 13. A representative north-south vibra core cross section of western Terrebonne.
(Modified frrom sources as mentioned in the text).

45
 --- ' .- ..'

'tl
West C East
cQ 'tJ
-<Il ..... C
,
C1\ .....
,
-.0 ~<Il ....., , cQ<Il
In -<Il
-.0 ,
-.0 .....,
Cr') Ql cQ Cr') Cr') ~cQ co,
co Isles cQ. co, co .... Q.
-.0 T;mbalier -.0
co, co,
8 Q (f) Island
Dernieres ~
-
0 _ucQ (f) r- r-

4m

8m

12m

16m
Kilometers
j I
_ Ebb-Tidal Delta o 5
~ Tidal Deposits ~ Tidal Inlet Scour
1':"1 Tidal Channel Fill - - Ravinement
o Deltaic Deposits I<,~",'I Maringouin Delta Complex

Figure 14. Strike cross section through the cat Island Pass tidal sand bodies (from Suter et aL 1991).

46
 1SS-83-11
Gulf of Mexico
MSL Om

2m

]' .Eft
"
C
.• Ship Shoal

6m Sf!oal Crest

8m

Shoal Bue

Lagoon

Figure 15. A vibracore from west Ship Shoal. For location see figure 9.

47
 • LOESS EJ ~~~tPlJ)E (2)
DMARSH MDEWEYVILLE TERRACE

E'3BACKSWAMP 0 PRAIRIE TERRACE

EJ MEANDER BElT D ¥tP~RT:COEMERY of

r;;:a UNOIFFERENTIATED " lJ L F 9 2,0 40 6pMi.
~TERRACE o 20 40 6'~ S'OKm

WEST EAST
A TM 3 TM 40 TM 14.:.D_ _ _.:..P-1-9D A'
D.-~z---~~-----------------

HOLOCENE
10 l--~~-.
TOPSTRA TUM DEPOSt TS

(CYCliC DEPOSrTlONAL UNITS)

20

30 /
PLE1STCENE I 9.4cn'lGGyr I
ALLUVIAL
--- --- ---
--- --- --- ----
40 VALLEY
WALL ---
PLEISTOCENE
Ql PEAT SUBSTRATUM
50
o SAND
DEPOSITS

60
13 CLAY
@l SAND/GRAVEL

70~~~~~~~~~~~~~--c.~-~--~-~~-~~-~~~~~~
SCALE(KM)

Figure 16. (Top) Map of the Mississippi river deltaic plain and southern alluvial valley showing the
approximate position of the entrenched alluvial valley beneath delta plain deposits and the location
of borings and cross section. (Bottom) A west-to-east transect of borings showing the influence of
Holocene sediment thickness on subsidence rates as determined from Carbon-14 dates (modified from
Roberts et al. 1994).

48
 I FPB-IO I
% Sand
I I
o 100
Om -..,...,"'
I~ Salt Marsh SEDIMENTARY
STRUCTURES

-& r~
Fresh Marsh
I· .. ··· I Parallel
I c-> I Lenticular
~: ...
2m- ... % I~I Wavy
I I Current Ripple
B Ripple Drift
I~';;;id Graded
I" I Marine
v Shells
~ Small Burrows
I~ft I Large Burrows
I ~~I Rooting
[;;;3 Peat
B Sharp Contact

Figure 17. Vibracore FPB-lO from Bayou Grand Caillou area (From McBride et ai., 1990). See
Figure 12 for location.

49
 IFC-21
% Sand
I I
o 100
Om l'l'"' SEDIMENT ARY
Salt Marsh
STRUCTURES

-
~
-,(;-
Fresh Marsh
1·····"=1 Parallel
/;~
tI-
t: 1 =- / Lenticular
~-{: Levee 1 r-tf/ Wavy
2m - tt"i-
....... 1.....-'/ Current Ripple
~""."
;.:.:.: -=-:.:;....~ @ Ripple Drift
.......
". ..... ;-)
-
_................·······1
.......
~
:.
Distributary [ i l Small Burrows
m Rooting
....... T
4m - .::::::.
~
.......
- Delta I"'"""" / Pea t
- Front I;;;;.:·~/ Graded
-
......
-
- -.::::>.
.....
Prodelta
B Sharp Contact
- --
<Sand Sheet
6m -
I~
J\l~ Salt Marsh
t=:

Figure 18. Vibracore FC-2 from the Bayou Grand Caillou delta. See Figure 12 for location.
(Modified from McBride et al. 1990).

50
 THOUSANDS OF YEARS aeFORE PRESEHr

u u
- 0

~_ PLAOUfW,IHES_

.""j"", "'"
I40DERH
CEL.TA COW.PLI!X
W

SAl·OUS LAFOURCHE ..1.

o I BAYOU BLUE I
BAYOU n,.RREBi ........ E

B~YOU SAUVAGE =:

......
-...j
-I· . +-"~~,
BAYOU TERRE AUX BOEUI'S
BAYOU DES FAl/IUES
ST. BERHARD
CEL.TA
COMPLEx

I I
w IMISS/SstP,i RiVER AND BA1YOU LAFOURCHE

TECHE
CI!L.TA COMPLEX
8AYOU TECHB

.lURIHGOUIH
DELTA COMPLEX

Figure 19. Subdelta chronology of Frazier (1967).

51
 P/,~ti~ti'I.
P.pq •• , Ah-Ilal

,
Tlmballer CAMINAOA-
a.y MOREAU RIDGES

Bayou Moreau

------- SANO RIDGE

o 5 10
KILOMETERS
GULF OF MEXICO

Figure 20. Location of the Cam.inada-Moreau ridge plain.

52
 ~ ,£j)
Present shoreline
_____ Transgressive beach G)
.@ Shell reef
o Active distributary \
\ mouth bar ,\ \
'- --....
~ I
I;~
I
- - - ..... _ J~..-==--
I
.., ~_ I
..... ,- '" I
\,.- , _ - - - - - - - ....
I

o, 5 io---.:::=.~-~---_..J
c. 1000-
1200 B.P.
K~. '
GULF OF MEXICO I A

I
\ . I
" ,_ I \
-----....
~- "'\
I~~
.d!¥t
....
___' ___,
I
:::.::a-~':::::~ ____ ' . . . . . ----.--- ...J

\
" -,
-- -- ---...... _I, I
'(,,1 \ ..........
------~-_\-----

C. 600-650 B.P. c

Figure 21a. Paleography of the Caminada-Moreau ridge plain, 1200 BP - 600 BP (fonn Gerdes
1978).

53
 Unnamed Distributary
Bayau Ferblanc ~
Bayou Moreau

600-650 B.P. Gulf of Mexico

~ - - .-.'
......--'
~~

~. -::::,
:::: ._c

--

.. --.,- ... -...

~ ~

-- - ./
/

--
o 2
Km

450 B.P.
o Ridge Axis
Active Distributary Mouth Bar

Figure 2lb. Paleography of the Caminada-Moreau ridge plain, 650 BP - 450 BP (form Gerdes 1978).

54
 ~
'.
"'.
"'- ..
~' ~. ".:' -

"

Transgressive beach
Gulf of Mexico
I
Active distributary mouth bar o 5 10
Present shoreline '~-+'---"'
Km.
c. 450 RP. Ridge oxis A

~ ,'.
'
, '" u..-

c.300RP. B

c,200 B.P. c

Figure 21c. Paleography of the Caminada-Moreau ridge plain, 450 BP - 200 BP (form Gerdes 1978).

55
 CK. "
10
CK'
12 ck 13
14
LEGEND
EPF/WPF = VIBRACORES
ON LAND
CK1.
CK1-CK14 = C.K. ASSO.S CK2' CK8 CK4"CK6
SHELF
VIBRACORES
B1- B3 = McCLELLAND o 2000m
DEEP BORINGS
L . . . , . . - - - - - - - - - I 1 91 '1S·

Figure 22. Location of cores and drill holes referred to in this report on Port au Fer Island.

56
 ATCHAFALAYA BAY GULF OF MEXICO

-10'-
TRINITY
SHOAL -20'-

....,
V1
,, , ,, , , , , , I' , , - BORINGS

Figure 23. Frazier (1967) stratigraphic section that crosses Atchafalaya Bay, See figure 7 for an
explanation of the legend.
 x X'

7 0;..._...;;,50;,;;0 meters

A ~ Depositional Cycle H ~ Hurricane Andrew Deposits

S ~ Shell Beach

Figure 24. Stratigraphic section X-X' from the eastern section of Point au Fer Island (For
location see Figure 22).

58
Figure 25. X-Ray radiograph of depositional sequence A - old shelf clays.

59
Figure 26. X-Ray radiograph of upper prodelta deposits from the Point au Fer vibracores.

60
Figure 27. X-ray radiograph of mudflat deposits from Point au Fer vibracores.

61
Figure 28. X-Ray radiographs of mudflat deposits from the Point au Fer vibracores.

62
Figure 29a. X-Ray radiograph of marsh/levee deposits from the Point au Fer vibracores.
29b. Radiograph of marsh deposits.

63
 WPF4 WPF3 WPF2 WPFl
Y
a ~_
Bay
Gulf

a 1000 meters
7

A =Depositional Cycle H =Hurricane Andrew Deposits

S = Shell Beach

Figure 30. Stratigraphic section Y- Y' form the west of Point au Fer Island.

64
Figure 31. High altitude aerial photograph of the Atchafalaya and Wax Lake delta lobes.

65
 ,
,
",
•
..-
1

1I
,~
I,
fi #:
~11.
~ ~I.
.Illl~

J o, 1000
, 2000
I
"

1973 B 1977

c 1986 D 1990

Figure 32. Progressive subaerial growth of the Wax Lake delta lobe from 1973 to 1990.

66
 /
/
LJ 5<Jbooria J do!!", Merch 19a1
500 1000 15C<I "'.

Secl.

Figure 33. Transects of deep vibracores in the eastern Atchafalaya delta. These lines of cores are
used in sedimentary facies relationship determinations shown in Figures 41 and 42.

67
Figure 34. Map of\.Vax Lake Delta indicating the locations of vi bracores described in this report.

68
Figure 35a. X-ray radiography Figure 35b. X-ray radiograph
of the old bay of typical prodelta sediment
bottom (shell-rich illustrating parallel-
area) facies. laminated and very-low-angle,
This image is a photograph of cross-laminated silty clays.
the X-ray radiograph negative. This image is a photograph of
the X-ray radiograph. Light
tones are areas most dense to
X-ray radiation.

69
 D

. • ..,~-~-:- •.. .<~%"

rJiji,4it:~ !

.....

( .~!.

X-ray radiograph (exposure Figure 37. X-ray radiograph (exposure

Figure 36.
3271 of distal-bar sediment, 2928) of cross-and parallel-
which are composed of laminated distributary mouth
alternating clays, silty clays, bar, fine sands, silts, and
and thin silts. This image is silty clays. This image is a
a photograph of the X-ray photograph of the X-ray
radiograph negative. radiograph negative.

70
Figure 38. X-ray radiograph of (a) (exposure 2544) clay-rich channel fill, (b) (exposure 2923)
silty channel fill, (c) (exposure 2543) sand channel fill. These images are photographs
of the X-ray radiograph negative.

71
Figure 39. X-ray radiograph (exposure
EWlOT) of highly structured
silts and five sands associated
with subaqueous natural levee
deposits. This image is a
photograph of the X-ray
radiograph negative.
72
Figure 40. X-ray radiograph (Exposure
2850) of interbedded,
parallel-laminated
silts, clays, and thin, highly
organic units from back-bar
algal flat environment. This
image is a photograph of the
X-ray radiograph negative.
 Cores locations and numbers

19 20
A 17
A'
EAST WEST
ROONEY·S ISLAND
0

JlIne
82
-1 Dec.
75

-2
E
:5 1962
~

•
" -3
1
Channel till D Upper prodelta

Levee o Lower prodelta

Distributary mouth; bar eli] ord bay bottom

Cray-rich distal bar ~ Shell dredger

Distal bar

Figure 41. Interpreted stratigraphic cross section (profile A-A' of Figure 33) from the eastern
lobe of the Atchafalaya delta. Core control is shown on the cross section.

73
 Core locoliofl and numbe,

B B'
EAST WEST
ViSE GRIP

Juno 82
Dec. 78

., 0"c.73

·2
:§:

"
Q
c.
0

·3
C.1962
C. J9.52

.• l1li
o levee lower prodelta

·5
m Back bar algal /lal ~ Old bay boltom

o Oi$lribulary moulh bor~ layen shell hash

·6 L
~[J~~D~;'~la~l~ba~'~__~____~C~.~18~3~9~..~.~D~al:.~H:o.~__~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~________J

Figure 42. Interpreted stratigraphic cross section (profile B-B' of Figure 33) from the eastem
lobe of the Atchafalaya delta. Core control is shown on the cross section.

74
 W E
WaY. Lake Atchafalaya River Point Au Fer Island West Terrebonne
Delta
o

15

Figure 43. Schematic representation of the Holocene stratigraphy of central south Louisiana
coastal zone.

75