Atchafalaya Bay

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Surface Area
1821.00km2
Drainage Area
260600.00km2
Average Daily Freshwater Inflow
6337.31m3/s
Average Depth
2.00m
Average Salinity
1.00
Coastal Wetlands
1869.65km2

From: Gosselink, 1979; LDWF
Vermilion Bay is located on the eastern boundary of the Chenier Coastal Plain along the central Louisiana coast, and the Atchafalaya Basin is located in the central part of the coastal zone, west of the Terrebonne Basin. Vermilion Bay proper is separated from the Gulf of Mexico by Marsh Island and water exchange takes place via southwest pass. Extending to the east, Vermilion Bay branches into West and East Cote Blanche Bays before connecting with Atchafalaya Bay and opening to the Gulf of Mexico. Freshwater inflow to Vermilion Bay comes from the Vermilion River, while Atchafalaya Bay receives freshwater input from the Atchafalaya River. These freshwater inflows combined with the 'reefs' of the Atchafalaya River Delta, act to maintain a relatively freshwater character to the Vermilion-Atchafalaya Bay complex.

The southwestern shore of Vermilion Bay is a State Wildlife Refuge owned and maintained by the state of Louisiana. The area is home to a variety of marsh wildlife. Alligators, shorebirds, wading birds, and marine life such as shrimp and other mammals are common.

References

  • Gosselink, J.G., C.L. Cordes, and J.W. Parsons. 1979. An ecological characterization study of the Chenier Plain coastal ecosystem of Louisiana and Texas. 3 vols. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Biological Services. FWS/OBS-78/9 through 78/11.

  • USEPA. 1999. Ecological condition of estuaries in the Gulf of Mexico. EPA 620-R-98-004. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Gulf Ecology Division, Gulf Breeze, Florida. 80 pp.

  • Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF). Located on the web at: http://www.wlf.state.la.us/apps/netgear/index.asp?cn=lawlf&pid=231

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