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Bayou La Batre RAR

Resources at Risk for Bayou La Batre, Alabama.

I.	Spill Source Information
This report was prepared at 7:45 pm EDT on September 13, 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 Bayou La Batre and the northern shore
of Portersville Bay.  This area does not necessarily correspond to
actual or potential spill locations.  Consult other Hotline reports for
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
Bayou La Batre is comprised mostly of sheltered man-made structures.
There are marshes at the mouth of the bayou and about 1 mile up the
western shore of the bayou.  Additionally There are some pockets of
marshes scattered throughout the bayou.  The shoreline of Portersville
Bay, about a mile on either side of Bayou La Batre, is marshes fronted
by fine-grained sand beaches.  The area to the west is all marshes, and
the area to the east is exposed seawalls.

V.	Biological Resources at Risk
	Fish - Numerous species of fish are present at this time of year
including, but not limited to, Atlantic croaker (spawning), bay anchovy,
crevalle jack (spawning), catfish, gray snapper, gulf flounder,
silversides (spawning), red drum (spawning), silver perch (spawning),
southern kingfish, spot, sand seatrout (spawning), spotted seatrout
(spawning), stripped mullet, southern flounder (spawning), and threadfin
shad.  In general juvenile and larval fish are most sensitive to spilled
oil.  Fish in shallow water areas are more likely to be impacted, since
there is likely to be a higher concentration of oil in the water column.
Surface slicks usually do not have much of an impact on fish.
	Shellfish - Shellfish in the area include blue crab (spawning),
Brown shrimp, pink shrimp (spawning), and white shrimp (spawning).
Juvenile and larval life stages of all of these shellfish are also
present in the area.  Shellfish in shallow water areas are more likely
to be impacted, since there is likely to be a higher concentration of
oil in the water column.  Surface slicks usually do not have much of an
impact on crabs and shrimp.  Crabs may be contaminated by a heavy
sinking oil.
	Birds - Present in the area are numerous species of shorebirds,
wading birds, osprey, mottled duck, white pelican, brown pelican, terns,
double-crested cormorant, common loon, and gulls.  October is the
beginning of the migratory and overwintering season for waterfowl.
Large numbers of waterfowl may be in the area starting in October.
Diving birds (pelicans, cormorants) and waterfowl are usually at
greatest risk during oil spills, because they spend nearly all 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.  Gulls and terns may be at risk
because they are often attracted to and will prey on sick or injured
prey.  This behavior 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 resulting in irritation, sickness, or death.  Bird oiling,
particularly waterfowl and wading birds, may continue even after the
floating oil slicks have been removed, depending on the extent of oiled
vegetation. 
	Habitats - The northwestern shoreline of Portersville Bay has
seagrass beds of moderate density.  Seagrasses typically are not
impacted by oil spills however cleanup operations may damage the
seagrass beds.

VI.	Human-Use Resources at Risk
None in this area.