Hydrogeology and Surface
Water
Quality
in Bayou Chene and Lacassine Bayou in Southwestern Louisiana
Abstract
As of the 2014 reporting year, Bayou Chene and Lacassine Bayou in southwestern Louisiana are listed as impaired water
bodies under the Clean
Water
Act. In both bayous, low dissolved oxygen is listed among the causes of impairment. In order to develop strategies for improving
water
quality
, it is necessary to understand the influence of natural conditions on dissolved oxygen and other
water
quality
parameters. Accordingly, a three-part study of the relationship between hydrology, geology, and surface
water
quality
in Bayou Chene and Lacassine Bayou was proposed. First, a
water
quality
study was conducted to ascertain seasonal and spatial variations in surface
water
quality
. Second, a geological study was proposed to assess spatial variations in the properties of Pleistocene and Holocene sediment deposits. Third, a geospatial and statistical analysis was proposed to relate the results of the geological study and the
water
quality
study; research results on this relationship will be presented. In addition, data on soils, climate,
water
depth, flow rate, and historical
water
quality
were gathered from secondary sources. Regression analysis of these data, along with preliminary results from the
water
quality
study, suggests influences on
water
quality
from climate and agricultural activities.
AAPG Datapages/Search and Discovery Article #90196 © 2014 GCAGS, Lafayette, Louisiana, October 5-7, 2014