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Resources at Risk - SW Coastal Louisiana

Lake Calcasieu coastal RAR:

Resources at Risk for Louisiana Coast from Calcasieu Lake to White Lake
I.	Spill Source Information
This report was prepared at 4:00 pm EDT on October 3, 2005.  Information in the report is
a general

overview of the resources in the area.

II.	Geographic Region Covered
The area covered by this report is the shoreline from Calcasieu Lake to White Lake.  This
area does

not necessarily correspond to actual or potential oil locations.  Consult other Hotline
reports for oil

location information.

III.	Expected Behavior of the Spilled Material
This report is not based on any particular product but a general overview of the resources
in the

area.

IV.	Shoreline Resources at Risk
The predominant shoreline from Calcesieu Lake to White Lake are sand beaches (including
fine,

medium-, and coarse-grained, and mixed sand and gravel) backed by marshes.  At the eastern
end

of this section of shoreline the sand beaches have been replaced by exposed tidal flats.
All the

wetland areas behind the beaches are marshes.  The inlets to Calcasieu Lake and Mud Lake
are

protected by riprap groins.  

V.	Biological Resources at Risk
Included are general statements about the effects of oil on the various biological
resources.  The

effects may vary based on the type of contaminant, since the behavior, toxicity, and
availability of the

material can vary from product to product.
        Fish - Fish present in the lakes and inland waters include, but are not limited
to, Atlantic croaker,

bay anchovy (spawning), gulf menhaden, pinfish, red drum (spawning), striped mullet, gray 
snapper, sheepshead, silver perch, and spotted seatrout (spawning).  In the Gulf of Mexico
waters

gulf sturgeon (federally threatened) may also be present in low concentrations.  Juvenile
fish are

usually present all year.  In general, juvenile and larval fish are more sensitive to
spilled oil than

adults.  Fish in shallow water areas are more likely to be impacted, due to the potential
for a higher

concentration of oil in the water column.  Surface slicks usually do not have much of an
impact on

fish.
        Shellfish - Shellfish present in the area include blue crab, brown shrimp, pink
shrimp, white shrimp,

and Gulf stone crab.  There also low concentrations of bay squid in the lakes and other
inland

waters.  Oyster lease beds are present in Calcasieu Lake.  Juvenile stages of all of these
shellfish

may also be present in the area.  Shellfish in shallow water areas are more likely to be
impacted,

due to the potential for a higher concentration of oil in the water column.  Surface
slicks usually do

not have much of an impact on crabs and shrimp.  Crabs, oysters, and other benthic
invertebrates

may be contaminated by a heavy sinking oil.
        Birds - October is the beginning of the migratory/overwintering season for
waterfowl, so there may

be numerous waterfowl in the marshes.  Scaup are present in open waters of the lakes and
in the

nearshore gulf waters.  Piping plover (federally threatened) and other shorebirds are on
the sand

beaches of the gulf shoreline.  Wading birds (roseate spoonbill and egrets) may be on some
of the

shorelines around the lakes.  Least terns are also present in the area.
Waterfowl are usually at greatest risk during oil spills, because they spend nearly all of
their time on

the water surface.  Waterfowl and wading birds may be directly oiled and can become oiled
on the

upper body and feathers by coming in contact with oiled vegetation or wrack.  Shorebirds
usually

avoid oil, but may be impacted by loss of feeding areas or intertidal prey, particularly
during

migration periods.  Terns may be at risk because they are often attracted to and will prey
on sick or

injured prey which may result in oiling of feathers and the ingestion of oil.
Oiling of birds reduces the buoyancy, water repellency, and insulation provided by
feathers, and

may result in death by drowning or hypothermia.  Preening of oiled feathers may also
result in

ingestion of oil causing irritation, sickness, or death.  Bird oiling, particularly for
waterfowl and

wading birds, may continue even after floating oil slicks have been removed, depending on
the

extent of oiled vegetation. 
        Mammals - Raccoon, mink, muskrat, river otter, and nutria may be found throughout
the wetlands

and inland waters of this area. As with birds, oiling of these animals may reduce
buoyancy, water

repellency, and insulation provided by the fur, and may result in death by drowning or
hypothermia.

Grooming of oiled fur may also result in ingestion of oil causing irritation, sickness, or
death.  The

spilled material may also cause irritation to organs such as the eyes as well as the
mucous

membranes.
        Reptiles - American alligator (federally threatened) is found throughout brackish
to freshwater

marshes.  The diamondback terrapin are also in some of the wetland areas.  There may be
sea

turtles in the coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico.  Oil may cause irritation and
inflammation of the

mucus membranes, especially around the eyes and nostrils, in all of these reptiles.
        Habitats - There are rare wetland plants throughout the coastal area.  Louisiana
Natural Heritage

Program (Phone: 225-765-2821) can be contacted to obtain exact information on species and 
location of these plants.

VI.	Human-Use Resources at Risk
Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge is on the south and east sides of Calcasieu Lake.

Rockefeller State Wildlife Refuge covers the coastal zone from about 92 55’ East to 92 30’
East..

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