HYDROLOGIC INVESTIGATIONS OF THE LOWER CALCASIEU RIVER, LOUISIANA 

By Max J. Forbes, Jr.

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Water-Resources Investigations Report 87-4173

Prepared in cooperation with the

LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 

OFFICE OF WATER RESOURCES

Baton Rouge, Louisiana 

1988
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

DONALD PAUL HQDEL, Secretary

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

Dallas L. Peck, Director

For additional information 

write to:

District Chief 

U.S. Geological Survey 

P.O. Box 66492 

Baton Rouge, LA 70896

Telephone: (504) 389-0281

Copies of this report can be 

purchased from:

U.S. Geological Survey 

Books and Open-File Reports

Section

Federal Center, Bldg. 810 

Box 25425 

Denver, CO 80225
CONTENTS

Page

Abstract................................................................. 1

Introduction............................................................. 2

Purpose and scope ................................................... 3

Acknowledgments..................................................... 3

General description...................................................... 3

Historical activity affecting the hydrology of the lower Calcasieu River . 5

Hydrologic features and processes ........................................ 8

Physical characteristics ............................................ 8

Freshwater inflow to the lower Calcasieu River...................... 8

Flow in the lower Calcasieu River................................... 24

Diversion of water from the Sabine River............................ 31

Diversion of water from the lower Calcasieu River................... 31

Tide characteristics ................................................ 32

Wind characteristics ................................................ 41

Reaeration.......................................................... 47

Application of the branch-network flow model in the lower Calcasieu

River.................................................................. 51

Need for additional studies .............................................. 53

Summary and conclusions .................................................. 54

References ............................................................... 55

Glossary................................................................. 56

Appendices ............................................................... 57

ILLUSTRATIONS

Figure 1. Map of the drainage of the Calcasieu River and associated

waterways.................................................. 4

2. Map of the study area of the lower Calcasieu River........... 6

3-7. Graphs showing cross sections of Calcasieu Ship Channel for:

3. Sites 1, 5, and 14...................................... 9

4. Sites 21, 26, and 27 .................................... 10

5. Sites 30, 31, 35, and 36 ................................ 11

6. Sites 38 and 39 ......................................... 12

7. Sites 40 and 41 ......................................... 13

8-10. Graphs showing cross sections of tributaries to lower 

Calcasieu River for:

8. Sites 18, 25, 29, and 33 ................................ 14

9. Sites 34 and 37 ......................................... 15

10. Sites 42, 43, and 44.................................... 16

11-13. Graphs showing cross sections of waterways adjacent to 

Calcasieu Ship Channel for:

11. Sites 2 and 3 ........................................... 17

12. Sites 4, 22, and 23 ..................................... 18

13. Sites 24, 28, and 32.................................... 19

14-18. Graphs showing cross sections of openings between Calcasieu 

Ship Channel and Calcasieu Lake for:

14. Sites 6, 7, 8, and 9 .................................... 20

15. Sites 10 and 11......................................... 21

16. Sites 12 and 13 ......................................... 22

17. Sites 15 and 16 ......................................... 23

18. Sites 17, 19, and 20.................................... 24

III
ILLUSTRATIONS Qxitinued

Page 

Figures 19-24. Graphs showing:

19. Diurnal tide elevations for lower Calcasieu River at 

Cameron, Hackberry, and Calcasieu Lock (West), 

November 14-16, 1984.............................. 33

20. Diurnal tide elevations for lower Calcasieu River 

at Lake Charles, saltwater barrier, and Indian 

Bayou, November 14-16, 1984 ....................... 34

21. Semi-diurnal tide elevations for lower Calcasieu 

River at Cameron, Hackberry, and Calcasieu Lock 

(West), August 28-30, 1984........................ 35

22. Semi-diurnal tide elevations for lower Calcasieu 

River at Lake Charles, saltwater barrier, and 

Indian Bayou, August 28-30, 1984 .................. 36

23. Mixed tide elevations for lower Calcasieu River 

at Cameron, Hackberry, and Calcasieu Lock 

(West), November 21-23, 1984 ...................... 37

24. Mixed tide elevations for lower Calcasieu River at 

Lake Charles, saltwater barrier, and Indian 

Bayou, November 21-23, 1984 ....................... 38

25. Velocity profiles showing direction and magnitude of

flow of lower Calcasieu River along cross sections at 

railroad bridge above Interstate 10 (station 140) and 

Burton Landing near Moss Lake (station 85) ............. 40

26-28. Graphs showing water-surface elevations for lower 

Calcasieu River at:

26. Cameron, Hackberry, and Lake Charles, sustained

northerly winds, February 26-29, 1984 ............. 43

27. Saltwater barrier and Indian Bayou, sustained

northerly winds, February 26-29, 1984 ............. 44

28. Cameron, Hackberry, Lake Charles, and saltwater

barrier, sustained southerly winds, March 22-25,

1974 .............................................. 46

29. Schematic of the lower Calcasieu River used for application of the branch-network flow model.................. 52

TABLES

Table 1. Site information and flow statistics (frequency and duration) 

for ccntinuous-record streamflow stations in the Calcasieu 

River basin................................................. 25

2. Annual and monthly average flow for continuous-record

streamf low stations in the Calcasieu River basin............ 25

3. Discharge measurements for lower Calcasieu River during

incaning tide, intensive survey of June 19, 1984 (except

site 40).................................................... 26

4. Discharge measurements for lower Calcasieu River during

outgoing tide, intensive survey of June 19-20, 1984 (except 

site 40).................................................... 27

IV
TABLES Continued

Page 

Table 5. Discharge measurements for lower Calcasieu River (site 40)

at Lake Charles during intensive survey of June 19-20, 1984. 28

6. Wind direction and speed at Lake Charles Airport, February 26-

29, 1984.................................................... 42

7. Monthly average wind direction, speed, and fastest mile at

Lake Charles Airport, 1951-80............................... 47

8. Discharge measurements used to calibrate the branch-network

flow model.................................................. 53

CONVERSION FACTORS AND ABBREVIATIONS

For the convenience of readers who may prefer to use metric (International System) units rather than the inch-pound units used in this report, 

values may be converted by using the following factors:

Multiply inch-pound unit By To obtain metric unit

inch (in.) 

foot (ft) 

mile (mi) 

square foot (ft2 )

foot per second (ft/s)

cubic foot (ft3 )

cubic foot per second (ft3/s)

gallon (gal)

gallon per minute (gal/min)

acre-foot (acre-ft)

mile per hour (mi/h)

25.40 millimeter (mm)

0.3048 meter (m)

1.609 kilometer (km)

929.0 square centimeter (cm2 )

0.09294 square meter (m2 )

0.3048 meter per second (m/s)

0.02832 cubic meter (m3 )

0.02832 cubic meter per second (m3/s)

3.785 liter (L)

0.06308 liter per second (L/s)

0.001233 cubic hectometer (hm3 )

233 cubic meter (m3 )

1.609 kilometer per hour (km/h)

Temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) can be converted to degrees Fahrenheit 

(°F) as follows: °F = 1.8 X °C + 32.

Sea level: In this report "sea level" refers to the National Geodetic 

Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD of 1929) a geodetic datum derived from a general 

adjustment of the first-order level nets of both the United States and Canada, 

formerly called "Mean Sea Level of 1929."
HYDROLOGIC INVESTIGATIONS OF THE LOWER CALCASIEU RIVER, LOUISIANA

By Max J. Forbes, Jr.

ABSTRACT

Water movement in the lower Calcasieu River, a tidal estuary/ is a 

function of the physical configuration of the river-estuary system, freshwater 

inflow, tidal action, and wind action. The configuration of many of the 

waterways and particularly the 40-foot deep ship channel permits large amounts 

of water to easily move into or out of the river. Freshwater inflows, though 

large at times, generally are low; minimum and maximum flows at Kinder are 136 

and 182,000 ft3/s (cubic feet per second), respectively, and average and 

median flows are 2,500 and 1,030 ft3/s, respectively.

Tidal action, the dominant long-term factor in water movement, occurs in 

three patterns, diurnal, semi-diurnal, and mixed; diurnal is dominant. Measurements in June 1984 indicated that about 75 percent of the gulf water 

moving into the lower Calcasieu River on an incoming tide is stored in 

Calcasieu Lake and other waterways south of Burton Landing, and that about 5 

percent of the tidal inflow reaches the Lake Charles area. Studies of tidal 

lag time indicated that about 80 percent of the total incoming tidal-cycle 

time required for a tidal peak to move from Cameron to Indian Bayou is 

expended in moving the peak through the Cameron to Burton Landing reach.

Winds are generally southerly; average speed is about 8.7 miles per hour. 

Wind can cause dramatic changes in water movement and stage over a relatively 

short period of time. The maximum and minimum water-surface elevations at 

Cameron, caused primarily by wind, were 10.53 feet (Hurricane Audrey in 1957) 

above and 5.3 feet (1984) below sea level, respectively.

The potential for mechanical reaeration, a function of velocity and 

depth, is low (on a unit volume basis) in the deep and slow-moving waters of 

the lower Calcasieu River. Calculation of reaeration coefficients in tidal 

streams is hampered by the unsuitability of the river for the use of conventional calculation methods, such as tracer dye studies, that are dependent on 

sustained and one-directional streamflow.
INTRODUCTION

The lower Calcasieu River is no longer natural in either configuration or 

in the quality of its waters. The potential for additional changes in the use 

of the river concerns local, State, and Federal agencies, institutes of learning, and interest groups. Some of this group of concerned organizations are 

carrying out functions mandated by law, regulating certain aspects of the 

water environment. Others are interested in the flow system and are studying 

the lower Calcasieu River so that future planners will have information on 

which to base decisions. Still others are concerned with maintaining the 

natural environment in this wetland area. All organizations worked together 

to keep the benefits of the river and lakes available to future generations. 

Appendix 1 presents a list of organizations and a summary of ongoing 

activities that concern the hydrology of the lower Calcasieu River.

Early interest in the water resources of the lower Calcasieu River were 

associated with shipping and rice farming. The lower Calcasieu River near 

Lake Charles was deep and wide enough to accommodate many of the oceangoing 

vessels of the time. A major obstacle was a sand-bar in the river at the 

south end of Calcasieu Lake. To alleviate this problem a shallow channel (5 

ft and later 13 ft deep) was cut through the bar in the late 1800's to permit 

access of vessels.

Rice farming requires large amounts of water for flooding fields. Prior 

to modern well drilling techniques permitting the use of ground water, surface 

waters were heavily used. Large pumping plants were built along the lower 

Calcasieu River north of Lake Charles to supply the farmers. Today only three 

pumping plants provide water from the river or tributaries to farmers.

Development of petroleum-based industries began in the first third of the 

20th century, requiring large amounts of water for processing and waste 

removal. Several of these industries were located in Lake Charles where water 

and other necessary raw materials were available, as well as suitable land and 

transportation.

Recreational boating is high on the list of today's users of the lower 

Calcasieu River, and fishermen and water skiers have easy access to waterways. 

The fishing industry was developed in the Cameron area where quick access to 

the Gulf of Mexico and reasonable access to the roads and railroads of Lake 

Charles were available, and where the necessities of a home port could be 

established.

In the 1900's, a sizable fur industry developed in the marshes south of 

Lake Charles. Marshes that provide habitat for fur-bearing animals are 

dependent on the fluctuation of waters that typifies the coastal estuarine 

environment.
Purpose and Scope

The purpose of this report is to present a summary of hydrologic data and 

to describe surface-water features and processes in the lower Calcasieu River. 

Information is included on stream discharge at different flow conditions, 

tidal characteristics (types, magnitude, record maximum and minimum readings, 

gage datum details, and timing of tides within the system), and wind 

characteristics (prevailing directions, variation with season, and magnitude). 

Also included are descriptions of dredged channels, controls, tributaries and 

distributaries, representative channel cross sections (dredged and natural), 

and details of openings between the ship channel and Calcasieu Lake. A 

section addresses the computation of discharge in the reach between the 

saltwater barrier and Burton Landing at Moss Lake. Another section discusses 

reaeration in tidal rivers and suggests a technique for computing reaeration 

coefficients in such rivers.

Most surface-water data used for this investigation are on file at the 

U.S. Geological Survey; some stage data were obtained from the U.S. Army Corps 

of Engineers. Tide tables and wind data were extracted from reports of the 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (1985a, 1985b). Predictions 

of tide elevations in the lower Calcasieu are based on data collected at the 

Galveston, Texas, Tide Reference Station, and the description of wind characteristics is based on data collected at the Lake Charles airport.

Acknowledgments

A special mention of thanks is due those persons of the Data Collection 

Unit, Coastal Engineering Section, Hydraulic and Hydrologic Branch, U.S. Army 

Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, who provided extensive records of 

stage data for the Calcasieu River. Representatives of the Louisiana Departments of Environmental Quality and Wildlife and Fisheries provided essential 

information on the study area and made available their equipment and facilities. Employees of the Southern Pacific Transportation Company, Lake Charles, 

provided access to the railroad bridge above Interstate 10 (1-10) and cooperated with bridge operations during a number of discharge measurements made 

from the bridge. The study was conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey, in 

cooperation with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, Office of 

Water Resources.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The headwaters of the Calcasieu River are in the uplands of Vernon 

Parish, and the river flows southward in an eastward-trending arc through 

parts of Rapides, Alien, and Jefferson Davis Parishes. Near Kinder the stream 

leaves the uplands and enters the coastal plain at the northeastern corner of 

Calcasieu Parish. At the gaging station west of Kinder, the Calcasieu River 

is relatively shallow. Only a few miles downstream, the stream enters the 

tidal province. Figure 1 shows the drainage of the Calcasieu River and its 

tributaries.
93°30' 93°00'

31°00' -

30°30'

30°00" -

47 A Discharge station 

( see table 1 )

BEAUEEGARD

OBERLFN

ALLEN

KINDER

JEFFERSON 

DAVIS

RIVER

x-*-^

Sabtne River Diversion Canal Mile 50 

LAKE 

CHARLES

WESTLAKE

Salt water

Barrier 

Mile 30

CALCASIEU

GULF 

I* INTRACOASTAL

Mile 20 

HACKBERRY

Calcasieu Ship Channel 

Mile 10

Gi/LF OF MEXICO

10 15 MILES

5 0 5 10 15 KILOMETERS

Figure 1. Drainage of the Calcasieu River and associated waterways.
The lower Calcasieu River, for purposes of this report, extends from 

about 10 mi north of the city of Lake Charles to the Gulf of Mexico (fig. 2). 

The terrain in this part of southwestern Louisiana is a flat almost-level 

coastal plain. Extensive coastal marshes begin south of Lake Charles and 

cover much of Cameron Parish. Land surface elevations in the study area range 

from about 25 ft above sea level in Calcasieu Parish to zero or less in parts 

of both parishes. The Calcasieu River with its associated lakes and waterways 

provides considerable water surface throughout the study area. Dominant 

surface-water areas are Calcasieu Lake, Lake Charles, Prien Lake, the ship 

channel from the city of Lake Charles to the Gulf of Mexico, and the Gulf 

Intracoastal Waterway.

The climate of the area is generally subtropical with a strong maritime 

character, influenced to a large degree by the large amount of water surface 

and the proximity of the gulf. Throughout the year these influences affect 

the relative humidity and temperature, decreasing the range between extremes 

as compared to more inland sites. Air temperatures of record range from a 

miniinum of -16°C in 1899 to 41 °C in 1930; however, freezing or below freezing 

temperatures normally occur only about 11 days per year, and summer temperatures rarely exceed 38°C. The prevailing wind is from the south during much 

of the year, and winds are usually light. Rainfall (based on data collected 

from 1947 to date at the rain gage at Lake Charles) is heavy, averaging about 

56 in/yr. Rainfall is reasonably distributed throughout the year and generally is less during October. All other months, except March, have an average 

total of more than 4 in. of rainfall, with the total for July often more than 

7 in. Almost all rainfall is of the convective and air mass types, showery 

and brief. In winter months nearly continuous frontal rains can persist for a 

few days. Extremes in precipitation occur during all seasons. Notable seasonal rainfall totals (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1985b) 

for a 24-hour period include: 4.75 in. in March 1951; 16.01 in. in June 1947; 

10.22 in. in August 1962; and 10.00 in. in November 1961. Since 1900, the 

centers of five hurricanes have passed very near the city of Lake Charles.

HISTORICAL ACTIVITY AFFECTING THE HYDROLOGY OF THE LOWER CALCASIEU RIVER

Throughout the history of the lower Calcasieu River, there have been 

efforts to improve accessibility and usability of the river. In the mid1800's, the channel through Calcasieu Lake had a maximum depth of 13 ft and a 

3-foot depth existed at the bar at the northern end of Calcasieu Pass (between 

the Gulf of Mexico and Calcasieu Lake). In 1871, the U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers made its first report of the navigation situation of the Calcasieu 

River. As a result, a channel 5 ft deep by 80 ft wide was established through 

the bar. From 1871 to the late 1930's, the channel was maintained and 

deepened to a final depth of 13 ft.

To permit the access of deeper-draft vessels to Lake Charles and to avoid 

the maintenance of a deeper channel through Calcasieu Lake, the Lake Charles 

Deep Water Channel (30 ft deep by 125 ft wide) between the Sabine and 

Calcasieu Rivers was completed between 1937 and 1940. This channel was along 

the route of the present-day Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. Thus, the old route 

through Calcasieu Lake was bypassed.
93°30'

30°15

Sabine River Diversion Canal

LAKE 

CHARLES

EXPLANATION 

Recording waterlevel gage 

Bayou x 3 cross-section location!

CALCASIEU PARISH

INTRACOASTAL

CAMERON PARISH

Mooring Basin 

CAMERON 

icnxev Island

Calcasieu 

Ship Channel

GULF OF MEXICO

5 0

L t } X -I . |

1 I i I I i

5 MILES 

j

5 KILOMETERS

Figure 2. Study area of the lower Calcasieu River,
The Lake Charles Deep Water Channel was replaced in 1941 by parts of the 

first Calcasieu Ship Channel, completed from the gulf to Lake Charles at a 

depth of 30 ft and a width of 250 ft. Figure 2 shows the route of the 

channel, which bordered Calcasieu Lake to the west and created Monkey Island 

at Cameron. In 1953, the channel was deepened to 35 ft; in 1968, the channel 

was deepened and widened to 40 ft by 400 ft, respectively. The mooring basin 

(fig. 2) located just upstream from Cameron was expanded to a width, length, 

and depth of 350, 2,000, and 40 ft, respectively.

Additional of f-channel work was done during the stages of development of 

the Ship Channel. A 35-foot deep by 250-foot wide channel was completed 

around Clooney Island in 1953. In 1968, this channel was deepened and widened 

to 40 ft by 400 ft, respectively, and a 40-foot deep by 200-foot wide channel 

was constructed on the west side of the Coon Island loop and included a 

turning basin (750 ft wide, 1,000 ft long, and 40 ft deep) at the end of that 

channel (north end of the loop). Also in 1968, a 35-foot deep by 250-foot 

wide channel with an upstream-end turning basin 750 wide and 1,000 ft long was 

extended up the west side of Lake Charles (the lake) to a point about 1,000 ft 

south of the railroad bridge. A channel about 35 ft deep by 300 ft wide was 

dredged in Contraband Bayou to a point about 2,600 ft from the Calcasieu 

River. In addition to turning basins mentioned, since about 1953, a primary 

basin has been maintained at the juncture of the outflow channel from Prien 

Lake and the Ship Channel. Since 1968, dimensions are 1,000 by 1,000 ft with 

a depth of 40 ft. In addition to these activities, a 12-foot deep by 200-foot 

wide channel around Monkey Island at Cameron, connecting the ship channel at 

each end, has been maintained since 1968.

The Industrial Canal (fig. 2) was established in 1978 by dredging from 

the ship channel through the bend in Devil's Elbow and eastward to a point 

about 2.75 mi from the ship channel. The connecting channel is 40 ft deep and 

400 ft wide. A turning basin with dimensions of 1,400 by 1,600 ft and depth 

of 40 ft is located at the end of the canal.

The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway crosses the Calcasieu River channel just 

north of Calcasieu Lake and about 20 mi from the gulf. The waterway is 

maintained at a depth of 12 ft and a width of 125 ft. Calcasieu Lock, located 

on the waterway about 2.5 mi east of the Calcasieu Ship channel, was completed 

in 1952 and controls saltwater movement eastward into the Grand Lake area.

The Calcasieu River saltwater barrier, completed in 1968, is located on 

the river just north of Lake Charles (fig. 2). As the name implies, the 

barrier is designed to minimize the movement of saltwater into the deep and 

numerous channels upstream. In constructing the barrier, a loop of the river 

was closed at one point and the barrier structure was placed across the neck 

of the loop. The barrier consists of flood and navigation control structures, 

operating side by side. The flood control structure consists of a spillway 

with five tainter gates, each 25 ft high by 40 ft wide. The bottom elevation 

of the gates is 20.0 ft below sea level, and thus a total opening of 4,000 ft2 

exists with water surface at sea level and with all gates open. The navigation control structure has one pair of steel sector gates in a concrete bay 56
ft wide and 69 ft in length. The bottom elevation of the bay is at 13.8 ft 

below sea level, and thus about 770 ft2 of opening area exists with the water 

surface at sea level. The barrier is operated to maintain a stage of 2.5 ft 

(about 1 ft above sea level) on the upstream side of the structure.

HYDROLOGIC FEATURES AND PROCESSES

Water movement in the lower Calcasieu River, a tidal estuary, is a 

function of the configuration of the hydrologic system, freshwater inflow, 

tidal action, and wind action.

Physical Characteristics

To further define the physical characteristics of the lower Calcasieu 

River, a series of cross sections of waterways is presented in figures 3 

through 18. Several sections of the ship channel are included to show the 

magnitude of the volume of water in the system in terms of widths and depths. 

In these channels, cross-sectional areas are large, and flow velocities 

normally are small. Cross sections of tributaries and adjacent waterways are 

included to help describe flow paths to and from the dominant ship channel. 

Cross sections of channels between the ship channel and Calcasieu Lake are 

included to delineate available flow paths between these bodies of water. 

Appendix 2 is a cross reference of numbers given to cross sections during an 

intensive survey in 1984 and cross-section numbers used in this report.

Freshwater Inflow to the Lower Calcasieu River

Figure 1 shows the network of streams that provide freshwater flow to the 

lower Calcasieu River and the location of continuous-record gaging stations of 

the U.S. Geological Survey. Streamflow characteristics for these stations are 

described in tables 1 and 2. Table 1 shows the 7-day 10-year lowflow , a 

frequently used streamflow parameter in waste dilution computations and 

wastewater permit considerations; streamf low frequency and duration 

statistics; and maximum and minimum flows of record for the streams at these 

sites.

Relatively low streamf lows occur during June through November (table 2), 

with the lowest flows for most streams normally occurring in October; these 

lowest flows generally coincide with the low rainfall of October. Also the 

flow of Whisky Chitto Creek contributes more than 75 percent of the average 

flow for the gaging station, lower Calcasieu River near Kinder, although 

Whisky Chitto Creek contributes less than a third of the drainage area of the 

Calcasieu River at that point.

An average flow representing seven consecutive days will be equal to or 

less than the 7-day 10-year low flow at intervals averaging 10 years, or 

the probability is 1 in 10 that this average flow will be equal to or less 

than the 7-day 10-year low flow in any one climatic year (April-March).

8
LLI s 10

20

30

UJ 

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£50

LU

60

AREA=40,023 ft

THALWEG ELEVATION: -50.50 FEET 

L I 1

200 400 600 800 1000 1200 

DISTANCE FROM RIGHT BANK, IN FEET

1400

UJ

< 10

LU

CO

lUl

UJ 

UJ

50

T I I 

CROSS SECTION 5

AREA= 25,036 ft

THALWEG ELEVATION: -46.30 FEET 

_____I______I______I______

200 400 600 800

I I I 

CROSS SECTION 14

AREA=24,609 ft

THALWEG ELEVATION: -41.40 FEET 

I I I

200 400 600 800 1000

DISTANCE FROM RIGHT BANK, IN FEET DISTANCE FROM RIGHT BANK, IN FEET

Figure 3. Cross sections of Calcasieu Ship Channel for sites 1, 5, and 14.

(See fig. 2 for locations.)
ELEVATION, IN F

en

O o 

rnO

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ELEVATION, IN FEET BELOW SEA LEVEL o

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ELEVATION, IN FEET BELOW SEA LEVEL ELEVATION, IN FEET B

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ELEVATION, IN FEET BELOW SEA LEVEL

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ELEVATION, IN FEET B

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50

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CROSS SECTION 38

AREA* 21,687 ft

Clooney Island 

loop

THALWEG ELEVATION: -43.20 FEET 

_____I______I______I_____

0 200 400 600 800 1000 

DISTANCE FROM RIGHT BANK, IN FEET

UJ

CROSS SECTION 39

AREA=28,085 ft

THALWEG ELEVATION: -44.50 FEET 

_____I______I______I______

0 200 400 600 800 1000 

DISTANCE FROM RIGHT BANK, IN FEET

Figure 6. Cross sections of Calcasieu 

Ship Channel for sites 38 and 39. 

(See fig. 2 for locations.)

12
1 I I i r 

CROSS SECTION 40

AREA=17,408 ft

Railroad Bridge _

THALWEG ELEVATION: -40.90 FEET 

______I______I_______I______

100 200 300 400 500 

DISTANCE FROM RIGHT BANK, IN FEET

600

in 

in

in

CO

O

_j

HI 

CD

ill 

ill 

LL

10

20

~ 30

> 40

_J 0 

in

I I i 

CROSS SECTION 41

AREA=16,917 ft

THALWEG ELEVATION: 

FEET

100 200 300 400 500 600 

DISTANCE FROM RIGHT BANK, IN FEET

700

Figure 7. Cross sections of Calcasieu Ship Channel for 

sites 40 and 41. (See fig. 2 for locations.)

13
LU 

LU

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CO

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CD

hUJ 

UJ 

U.

- 15

LiJ _i

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Black Lake Bayou _

THALWEG

ELEVATION: -15.60 FEET

_____I______I_____

2 °0 50 100 150 

DISTANCE FROM RIGHT BANK, 

IN FEET

UJ 

UJ

O C/D

S3

_l UJ 

UJ CD

hUJ 

UJ

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10

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CROSS SECTION 25

AREA= 1,454 ft 

Chouplque Bayou

THALWEG ELEVATION: -12.90 FEET 

___i______I______I______

150 50 100 150 200 

DISTANCE FROM RIGHT BANK, IN FEET

UJ 

UJ _J

<

UJ 

CO

O

UJ 

CD

hLU 

UJ 

U.

fe

a_l

UJ

I I I 

CROSS SECTION 29

THALWEG ELEVATION: -8.30 FEET 

I I I

UJ 

UJ

O

£3

_l UJ 

UJ CO

10

ui 15

UJ

u.

20

l i i 

CROSS SECTION 33

AREA=2,062 ft

Bayou D'lnde

THALWEG ELEVATION: -15.20 

______ I ______ I ______ I _

FEET

0 50 100 150 200 

DISTANCE FROM RIGHT BANK, 

IN FEET

0 20 40 60 80 

DISTANCE FROM RIGHT BANK, IN FEET

Figure 8. Cross sections of tributaries to lower Calcasieu River 

for sites 18, 25, 29, and 33. (See fig. 2 for locations.)

14
I I I I 

CROSS SECTION 34

AREA= 977 ft

Bayou Dlnde

THALWEG ELEVATION: -10.00 FEET 

I I LU

12.5

100 125

DISTANCE FROM RIGHT BANK, IN FEET

LU 

LU

UJ 

CO

UJ 

CO

UJ 

UJ

10

" 15

z

O

I

UJ

_J

UJ

20

I I I I 

CROSS SECTION 37

AREA=1,935 ft

1

Contraband 

Bayou

THALWEG ELEVATION: -15.20 FEET 

_____I______I 1

0 50 100 150 200 250 

DISTANCE FROM RIGHT BANK, IN FEET

Figure 9. Cross sections of tributaries to lower 

Calcasieu River for sites 34 and 37. (See 

fig. 2 for locations.)

15
ELEVATION, IN FE

tfft

ELEVATION, IN FEET BELOW SEA LEVEL

o 

o

CO

o

ro 

o

O o 

m

Tl

3) 

O ro

s §

2 

o

^g

CD O 

>

z 

7;

 n 

m 

m

HOI 

o 

o

X

>

-1

ELEVATION, IN FEET B
UJ

>

UJ

_J 

<

UJ 

CO

UJ

CO

11)

10

HI

£ 15

I"

UJ

25

i i I I 

CROSS SECTION 2

AREA= 5,813 ft

_L

Calcasleu River, 

Monkey Island loop

THALWEG ELEVATION: -21.00 FEET 

_____I______I I

100 200 300 400 500 600 

DISTANCE FROM RIGHT BANK, IN FEET

700

10

UJ

5

UJ 

CO

UJ 

CO

cc

UJ 

_J

UJ

10

20

UJ

O

CO

< 30

UJ 

UJ 

LL

Z 40

50

60

I T i 

CROSS SECTION 3

Calcasleu River,

East Fork 

(near Cameron)

I

THALWEG ELEVATION: -50.60 FEET 

I______I______|______I_____

100 200 300 400 500 

DISTANCE FROM RIGHT BANK, IN FEET

600

Figure 11. Cross sections of waterways adjacent 

to Calcasieu Ship Channel for sites 2 and 3. 

(See fig. 2 for locations.)

17
LU 

LU

I I 

CROSS SECTION 4

AREA= 2,385 ft

Calcasleu River, West Fork _ 

(near Cameron)

THALWEG ELEVATION: -14.40 FEET 

I______|______I______I______

50 100 150 200 250 300 

DISTANCE FROM RIGHT BANK, IN FEET

350

CROSS SECTION 22

AREA= 18,946 ft

Calcasleu Lake, 

West Pass

(near GIWW)

THALWEG ELEVATION: -11.20 FEET 

I I I

500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 

DISTANCE FROM EAST SHORE, IN FEET

3500

UJ UJ

UJ >

U_ UJ 2.5 -1

Z'UJ

gco II 5 -

UJ_J

UJ

UJ 

CD

7.5.

CROSS SECTION 23

AREA- 4,546 ft

Calcasleu River, 

Devil's Elbow

THALWEG ELEVATION: -6.44 FEET

200 400 600 800 1000 

DISTANCE FROM EAST BANK, IN FEET

1200

Figure 12. Cross sections of waterways adjacent to 

Calcasieu Ship Channel for sites 4, 22, and 23. 

(See fig. 2 for locations.)

18
UJ 

UJ _) 

< 5

UJ

1 10

UJ 

CD

ff 15

UJ

25

Gulf

Intracoastal 

Waterway

(GIWW) -

THALWEG ELEVATION: -21.60 FEET 

J______I______I______I______

0 50 100 150 200 250 

DISTANCE FROM SOUTH BANK. IN FEET

UJ

> 0

UJ

UJ

co 5

O

UJ

10

UJ 

UJ

? 15 z"

O

oi 20, _i I UJ

'Calcasleu River, 

Moss Lake Cutoff

THALWEG ELEVATION: 

I____ I I

-16.30 FEET 

I

100 200 300 400 500 

DISTANCE FROM RIGHT BANK, IN FEET

600

UJUJ 

UJ> 

U_ UJ

to II"UJ

10

20

30

CROSS SECTION 32 

AREA-12,486 ft'

Calcasleu River, 

iPrlen Lake outlet.

THALWEG ELEVATION: -23.80 FEET 

_____I______I______I_____

0 200 400 600 800 

DISTANCE FROM RIGHT BANK. IN FEET

Figure 13. Cross sections of waterways 

adjacent to Calcasieu Ship Channel 

for sites 24, 28, and 32. (See 

fig. 2 for locations.)

19
2.5,

10

I I I 

CROSS SECTION 6

THALWEG ELEVATION: -9.00 FEET 

I I I

20 40 60 80 100 

DISTANCE FROM SOUTH SHORE. IN FEET

22.5

UJ

UJ

I- CD ^s UJO

U

r i

CROSS SECTION 8

THALWEG ELEVATION: -6.40 FEET

0 200 400 600 800 1000 

DISTANCE FROM SOUTH SHORE, IN FEET

120

200 

DISTANCE FROM NORTH SHORE, IN FEET

500 1000 1500 2000 2500 

DISTANCE FROM NORTH SHORE, IN FEET

3000

Figure 14. Cross sections of openings between Calcasieu Ship 

Channel and Calcasieu Lake for sites 6, 7, 8, and 9. (See 

fig. 2 for locations.)

20
ELEVATION, 

IN FEET ABOVE OR BELOW SEA LEVEL

ELE

IN FEET ABOVE O

en o 

01

z -^ GO 

m o

§ g

31*

zg

m

CO 

01

o 

o

<o 

_ bi

 n 

m 

m
LU

LU

_J

co 

O

CQ

CC 

O

LU

CO

<

LU

LU 15 UL

O 20

I

LU

u 25

I I T 

CROSS SECTION 12

I

THALWEG ELEVATION: -21.60 FEET 

^ 1 I I

50 100 150 200 250 300 

DISTANCE FROM SOUTH SHORE, IN FEET

350

2.5

LU

a

LU 

CO

O

LU 

ffl

LU 

LU 

U.

"17.5

LU

_J 

LU

10

I I I I

CROSS SECTION 13

ARE A= 1,591 ft

THALWEG ELEVATION: -7.70 FEET 

I I _l______I_____

0 100 200 300 400 500 

DISTANCE FROM SOUTH SHORE, IN FEET

Figure 16. Cross sections of openings between 

Calcasieu Ship Channel and Calcasieu Lake 

for sites 12 and 13. (See fig. 2 for 

locations.)

22
I I I

CROSS SECTION 15

AREA= 8,004 ft

j_

THALWEG ELEVATION: -8.50 FEET 

_____I »______I______

LU

200 400 600 800 1000 1200 

DISTANCE FROM SOUTH SHORE, IN FEET

1400

i i

CROSS SECTION 16

THALWEG ELEVATION: -4.10 

I I I

0 50 100 150 200 250 

DISTANCE FROM SOUTH SHORE, IN FEET

Figure 17. Cross sections of openings between 

Calcasieu Ship Channel and Calcasieu Lake 

for sites 15 and 16. (See fig. 2 for 

locations.)

23
Ill _ > 0 111

Ui

W

O 

ui

tu tu 

u.

z 

- 6

6> Q

UJ O

_J

UI

Till 

CROSS SECTION 17

AREA= 1,856 ft'

THALWEG ELEVATION: -6.60 FEET 

_____I______I______I______

0 100 200 300 400 500 

DISTANCE FROM SOUTH SHORE, IN FEET

ui

> 0 ui

2.5

UJ

to

g

UJ 

CO

ILU 

UJ

- 7.5

UJ 

UJ

10

I i I i 

CROSS SECTION 20

THALWEG ELEVATION: -7.90 FEET 

I______I______I______I_____

0 50 100 150 200 250 

DISTANCE FROM NORTH SHORE, IN FEET

UJ 

UJ

2 2- 5

to

O

CD

UJ

ff 7.5

I"

UI 

UI

12.5

CROSS SECTION 19

THALWEG ELEVATION: -10.60 FEET 

I______I______I______I______

50 100 150 200 250 

DISTANCE FROM NORTH SHORE, IN FEET

300

Figure 18. Cross sections of openings between Calcasieu Ship Channel and 

Calcasieu Lake for sites 17, 19, and 20. (See fig. 2 for locations.)

Flow in the Lower Calcasieu River

On June 19 and 20, 1984, an intensive survey of streamflow and waterquality characteristics of the lower Calcasieu River and tributaries was 

conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality. During that survey, 65 discharge measurements were made at 

selected locations. Table 3 shows the results of measurements made during the 

inccming tide of June 19. Table 4 shows the results of measurements made 

during the outgoing tide of June 19-20, 1984. Table 5 shows the results of 

the 20 measurements made at the railroad bridge above 1-10 on June 19-20, 

1984.

24
Table l.--Site Information and flow statistics (frequency and duration) for continuous-re

in the Calcasieu River basin

Map

no.

55

54

51

52

53

49

50

48

46

47

45

Station

no.

08013000

08013500

08014000

08014200

08014500

08014800

08015000

08015500

08016400

08016600

08016800

Station name

Calcasieu River near Glenmora

Calcasieu River near Oberlin

Sixmile Creek near Sugartown

Tenmile Creek near Elizabeth

Whisky Chitto Creek near Oberlin

Bundick Creek near De Ridder

Bundick Creek near Dry Creek

Calcasieu River near Kinder

Beckwith Creek near DeQuincy

Hickory Branch at Kernan

Bear Head Creek near Starks

Drainage

area

(square 

miles)

499

753

171

94.2

510

120

238

1,700

148

82.2

177

Period

of

record

*1943-

1922-25

1938-

1956-65

1949-65

1939-

1956-79

1939-70

1922-25

1938-57

1957-

1945-

1945-57

1956-

Maximum

flow

59.900

72,800

6,770

31,900

144,000

17,200

37,000

182,000

13,800

6,850

19,100

Minimum

flow

15

30

34

7-2

88

8.8

20

136

.1

0

0

7-day low flows

2-

year

26.9

54.4

53-2

14.2

152

17.2

57-4

298

1-5

0

0

10-

year

(cubic

18.2

36.6

36.4

9-7

111

13-1

31-5

203

.3

0

0

20-

year

feet p

16.6 

33-7 

32.5

8.5

103 

12.4

25-9

186 

.2

0

0

Ul Open period indicates currently active station.

Table 2.--Annual and monthly average flow for continuous-record streamflow stations in the Cal

Map 

no.

55

54

51

52

53

49

50

48

46

47

45

Station 

no.

08013000

08013500

08014000

08014200

08014500

08014800

08015000

08015500

08016400

08016600

08016800

Average flows (cubic feet per second)

Annual

728

1,150

228

125

814

164

358

2,577

199

127

236

Jan.

1,423

2,009

342

164

1,165

298

499

4,104

358

201

458

Feb.

1,583

2,310

362

264

1,319

259

598

4,556

390

290

429

Mar.

1,183

1,892

390

173

1,106

236

445

3,767

262

198

292

Apr.

1,090

1,760

276

173

1,052

195

463

3,750

260

206

282

May

1,072

1,659

125

242

1,172

134

494

3,881

258

225

236

June

338

674

137

64.9

599

102

307

1,867

125

97-0

118

July

179

388

122

48.0

436

78.7

200

1,137

91-9

53-1

95-1

Aug.

154

375

90.8

39-8

438

63.8

215

1,129

70.2

47-0

51-5

Sept.

180

330

172

46

380

100

165

882

95

27

147
Table 3. Discharge measurements for lower Calcasieu River during incoming 

tide, intensive survey of June 19 , 1984 (except site 40)

[ft2 , square feet; ft/s, foot per second; ft3 /s, cubic feet per second; Up, 

upstream; Down, downstream; dashes indicate the heading does not apply]

Upstream flow

Site 

no.

1 

2 

5

14

18

22

21

24

25

27

26

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

36

39

37

38

40

42

43

44

Time

0650 

0650 

0750

0815

0955

1100

0940

0950

1030

1138

1140

1320

1400

1310

1217

1510

1335

1220

1347

1505

1432

1504

Area 

(ft2 )

41,496 

6,231 

25,685

18,942

975

16,085

20,946

3,403

18

21,889

8,469

6,305

368

17,559

23,471

4,735

______

______

25,896

18,054

1,189

6,664

See table 5

1628

1630

1725

1,831

4,734

1,230

Velocity Discharge 

(ft/s) (ft3/s)

1.71 

.98 

2.11

.71

.63

.52

.58

.99

.23

.85

.25

.27

.14

.47

.35

.16

____

 

.25

.15

.11

.09

71,100 

6,090 

54,300

13,500

610

8,340

12,100

^,370

4

18,500

^,120

1,700

52

8,220

8,320

738

6,480

2,720

125

587

Downstream

Area 

(ft2 )

 

6,130

______

2,025

1,144

______

1,335

______

19,193

1,059

______

7,195

______

9,111

1,601

786

1,996

9,464

400

14,109

flow

Velocity Discharge 

(ft2 ) (ftVs)

 

0.09

____

.21

.10

____

.46

____

.21

.18

____

.16

____

.11

.20

.10

.06

.35

.02

.13

581

424

114

612

3,940

193

1,160

1,040

316

77

125

3,290

8

1,770

Net flow 

(ftVs)

13,000

7,920

12,000

608

1,820

1,500

7,050

303

6,360

572

117

1,180

Direction

Up 

Up 

Up

Up

Up

Up

Up

Up

Down

Up

Down

Up

Up

Up

Up

Down

Down

Down

Up

Down

Up

Down

for measurements.

.32

.14

.13

593

672

163

2,273

809

6,945

.08

.04

.25

172

30

1,740

421

642

1,580

Up

Up

Up

Upstream is away from ship channel.

In the natural (pre-1871) condition, the bar at the north end of Calcasieu Pass acted to hold water in the river and Calcasieu Lake and to slow 

saltwater movement upstream. When high-water conditions occurred in the lower 

Calcasieu River, freshwater flushing occurred. The effects of this flushing 

prolonged the freshness of water in Calcasieu Lake because of the damming 

effect of the bar.

26
Table 4. Discharge measurements for lower Calcasieu River during outgoing 

tide, intensive survey of June 19-20, 1984 (except site 40)

[ft2 , square feet; ft/s, foot per second; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; Down, 

downstream; Up, upstream; dashes indicate the heading does not apply]

Upstream flow

Site 

no.

1 

2 

5

14

18

22

21

24

25

27

26

28

30

31

32

33

36

37

39

40

44

Time

1610 

1638 

1720

1749

2345

2140

1850

2052

1900

2020

1945

2145

2300

2122

0400

2039

0020

2210

0000

Area 

(ft2 )

8,012

213

800

5,303

1,288

1,972

19,186

4,692

5,536

5,109

4,085

4,432

443

1,958

See table 5

0210 6,146

Velocity 

(ft/s)

0.24

.30

.03

.26

.23

.06

.22

.22

.30

.11

.15

.25

.12

.06

Discharge 

(ftVs)

1,940

64

24

1,380

294

122

a4,210

1,030

1,660

571

613

1,120

54

113

Downstream flow

VelocArea ity 

(ft2 ) (ft2 )

41,245 

6,176 

28,855

17,159

757

17,310

17,216

3,439

85

20,151

6,652

2,648

19,306

18,776

9,111

1,601

23,096

972

24,345

0.87 

.73 

1.04

.30

.70

.25

.61

.62

.08

.43

.31

.02

.49

.33

.13

.24

.37

.11

.40

Discharge 

(ftVs)

36,000 

4,490 

26,800

5,160

527

4,410

10,500

2,120

7

8,700

2,090

53

9,530

6,160

1,180

380

8,560

105

9,820

Net flow 

(ftVs)

3,220

463

4,390

9,150

287

8,580

2,120

979

7,820

5,590

571

7,440

51

9,710

Direction

Down 

Down 

Down

Down

Down

Down

Down

Down

Up

Down

Up

Up

Down

Down

Down

Down

Down

Down

Down

for measurements.

.38 2,360 1,910 .34 649 1,720 UP

Upstream is away from ship channel.

Since the bar was removed, and particularly since the 40 ft depth has 

been established, water from the gulf is free to move inland, and freshwater 

flushing during high streamflcws is temporary. Because of the relatively low 

streamflow of the Calcasieu River, a saltwater wedge does not occur as in 

streams with large amounts of freshwater flowing downstream as tidal action 

drives saltwater upstream. Freshwater and saltwater mixing occurs in much of 

the lower Calcasieu River.

27
to 

oo

Table 5.--Discharge measurements for lower Calcasieu River (site 

during intensive survey of June 19-20, 1984

[ft 2 , square foot; ft/s, foot per second; ft 3 /s, cubic foot p

downstream; Up, upstream; dashes indicate the heading does 

Upstream

Date

6-19 

6-19 

6-19 

6-19 

6-19 

6-19 

6-19 

6-19 

6-19 

6-19 

6-19 

6-19 

6-19 

6-19 

6-19 

6-19 

6-19 

6-20 

6-20 

6-20

Time

0522 

0700 

0800 

0910

0955 

1100 

1203 

1321 

1509 

1630 

1706 

1800 

1915 

2000 

2130 

2210 

2300 

0056 

0300 

0925

Area 

(ft 2 )

4,238 

1,944 

4,554 

574 

11,147 

13,739 

15,074

15,143 

6,971 

4,707 

4,004 

3,221 

1,650

92 

410 

2,039

2,868 

600

Velocity 

(ft/s)

0.39 

 30 

1.88 

.09 

.32 

.20 

.19 

.19 

.18 

.10 

.16 

.15 

.33

.12 

.11 

.03

1.37 

.48

flow

Discharge 

(fWs)

1,670 

583 

8,590 

52 

3,620 

2,740 

2,880 

2,810 

1,300 

493 

719 

480 

604

72 

45 

61

3,940 

288

Downstream flow

Area 

(ft 2 )

9,723 

12,779 

9,810

14,059 

3,682 

1,270

7,929 

9,825 

11,151 

11,881 

13,252 

13,622 

14,438 

14,599 

12,970 

14,351 

9,944 

13,814

Velocity 

(ft/s)

1.11 

1.03 

1.96 

1.05 

.24 

.02

.14

.13 

.20 

.43 

.42

.35 

.53 

.37 

.37 

.56 

.75 

.91

Discharge 

(ft 3 /s)

10,800 

13,200 

19,200 

14,800 

882 

25

1,090 

1,320 

2,180 

5,130 

5,650 

4,850 

7,620 

5,420 

4,750 

8,020 

7,470 

12,600

Net fl

(ftVs

9,10

12,60

10,60

4,50

2,70

2,70

19

83

1,46

4,65

5,04

7,55

5,39

4,69

3,54

12,30

Area affected by flows along cross section; net result is no flow
Some flow characteristics in the river channels can be described by the 

results of the survey of June 1984. Headwater flow conditions (indicated by 

the flow at the gaging station, Calcasieu River near Kinder) are shown in the 

table below and represent one of the factors affecting water movement; other 

dominant factors are tide and wind. Flow time from Kinder to Lake Charles 

varies from about 1.5 days at higher flows to about 3 days at lower flows, 

and, consequently, on June 19-20, 1984, headwater flows in the Lake Charles 

area were about equal to flows near Kinder on June 17-18, 1984.

Daily discharge (average), USGS gaging station, Calcasieu River near Kinder

June 1984

(day)

15

16

17

18

19

20

Discharge

(cubic feet per second)

4,390

3,800

3,200

2,390

1,910

1,620

June 1984

(day)

21

22

23

24

25

Discharge

(cubic feet per second)

1,540

1,400

1,210

1,170

1,250

Headwater flow and wind conditions of 4 to 11 mi/h during the period of 

the intensive survey (June 19-20, 1984) had no significant effect on discharges measured. Discharge measurements were made on an incoming tide with 

the intention of measuring at each site at the time that a similar condition 

of tide was occurring. Results of these measurements are shown in tables 3 

and 8. A discharge of 71,100 ft3/s was measured at the mouth of Calcasieu 

River (site 1, fig. 2). As water moved upstream, part moved around Monkey 

Island and rejoined the main flow at the north end of the Monkey Island loop. 

Old channels (east to Calcasieu Lake, west to West Cove) carried appreciable 

amounts of water. The flow at site 5 (fig. 2), upstream from these channels, 

was 54,300 ft3/s, indicating that about 25 percent (16,800 ft3/s) of the flow 

entering the mouth of the river went through these two channels with an 

average velocity of about 0.9 ft/s.

Between sites 5 and 14 (fig. 2) there are several openings between the 

ship channel and adjacent parts of Calcasieu Lake. These openings have a 

total cross-sectional area of about 48,600 ft2 at a water-surface elevation of 

sea level. During the survey of June 1984, about 41,300 ft3/s(discharge of 

54,300 ft3/s at site 5 minus discharge of 13,000 ft3/s at site 14) moved into 

the lake through these openings. Average velocity for this flow was about 0.8 

ft/s. At the upper end of Calcasieu Lake (site 22), about 7,920 ft3/s or 

about 11 percent of the flow measured at site 1 flowed from the lake into the 

ship channel.

The data and comparisons presented here represent only one set of observations of a system that is constantly changing. However, some observations 

concerning the hydrology of the lower Calcasieu River can be made from what is 

available. Gulf tides force large amounts of water up the lower Calcasieu

29
River where most of that water goes into storage in Calcasieu Lake and 

adjacent waterways. The surface area of the lake is about 67 mi2 (Barrett, 

1970). Gages at Cameron and Hackberry showed that the elevation of the 

Calcasieu Lake increased by about 0.8 ft during the high tide of June 19, 

1984. An area-depth calculation indicates that about 1.5 X 10 9 ft3 of water 

went into storage in about 8 hours (the duration of the tidal rise). During 

this period, it is reasoned that upstream discharge increased from 0 to seme 

maximum value, with an average flow for the period between the rniniinum and 

maximum upstream flow values. An average flow to accomplish the calculated 

storage would be about 52,000 ft3/s. Comparison of discharges indicates that 

about 50,000 ft3/s was leaving the main channel and going into storage in 

Calcasieu Lake. This value was calculated by subtracting the sum of the 

discharge measurements at sites 14 and 22 (13,000 + 7,900 ft3/s) from the 

measurement at site 1 (71,000 ft3/s). This indicates that an upstream flow of 

50,000 ft3/s would have been expected to occur during the tidal cycle.

Based on available data, approximately 25 percent (18,500 ft3/s) of the 

flow at site 1 was measured at site 27 (Burton Landing near Moss Lake), 

immediately above the confluence of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and 

Calcasieu Ship Channel. The discharge remaining in the system downstream from 

Burton Landing can be computed by subtracting the discharge of 18,500 ft3/s 

for site 27 from the discharge of 71,000 ft3/s for site 1. The computed 

discharge of 52,500 ft3/s compares favorably with the average flow to produce 

the storage in Calcasieu Lake.

Several tributaries, cutoff river loops, and three lakes (Moss Lake, 

Prien Lake, and Lake Charles) are located between Burton Landing and the railroad bridge above I-10. These bodies of water provide storage for relatively 

large amounts of the water that move upstream past Burton Landing. The maximum upstream discharge was about 2,900 ft3/s at the railroad bridge above 1-10 

(about 4 percent of the flow at site 1). While coincidence may play a part in 

the similarity, about 75 percent of the tidal flow was indicated as being 

stored downstream from Burton Landing, and about 80 percent of the time for 

the tidal peak to traverse the Cameron-Indian Bayou reach was expended in the 

Cameron-Burton Landing reach.

On the outgoing tide of June 19 and 20, 1984, control of the sequencing 

of measurements (to follow the tide out) was not as effective as for the 

incoming tide (tables 5 and 8). However, several similarities with the patterns of the incoming measurements were noted. The discharge at site 27 was 

again about 25 percent of the discharge at site 1; the discharge at site 5 was 

again about 75 percent of the discharge at site 1; and the flow from the ship 

channel into Calcasieu Lake at site 22 was about 12 percent of the discharge 

at site 1 (incoming percentage was about 11). During the measurements, water 

moved through measurement cross-sections in many directions, with upstream and 

downstream components, and occasionally parallel to the cross sections. Such 

flow patterns are characteristic of tidally influenced water bodies (tables 

3-5 and 8).

30
Diversion of Water from the Sabine River

In 1981, the Sabine River Diversion Canal went into operation, diverting 

water from the Old River loop of the Sabine River west of Lake Charles into 

the industrial area of Westlake (fig. 1). The canal, about 25 mi long, was 

developed to provide water for farmers along the canal's route and to provide 

supplemental freshwater to industries in the Lake Charles area. Three 54 in. 

pumps, each with a horsepower rating of 600, a capacity of 50,000 gal/min, and 

a lift of 33 ft, move water into the gravity canal. The average pumping rate 

for the 1986 calendar year was about 47 ft3 /s. The table below shows the 

amount of water used from the Sabine River Diversion Canal in the 1986 

calendar year:

_, Month .. Agricultural s use Industrial use

(million gallons)

January -

February - 

March -

April -

May -

uune 

July -

/^ciyuo u

ov^jj uuiimc-L.

VA_/ UUUti-L

November 

LxUV^AJMUJCJ.

Subtotals -

Grand total -

17O ?ci

JL / \J » £**J

~[(Y7 Q7 j.\j i . y / 

01 q o«^ ^ J-O . £*<j

245 f^st\j 79/ y 

OO/I Id

~ ZZ4.OO 

Ol O £C Zlo.OO

?S4 4£iw/*±. Ovy so

one Qfj zUo . by 

264 4*4\J^X . 67U /

1 1-11 CO i /O . OO

ion r\Q J.OVJ . I/O

m 79I JL*

2

qiq ci

, OX;? . Do.

1,091.32 

1,058.97 

1,051.23 

1,106.66 

1,247.32 

1,327.34 

1,452.52 

1,459.49 

1,189.42 

1,359.90 

1,069.03 

1,327.58

14,740.78

17,060.39

These data are included to more fully describe the uses and sources of 

surface water in the area of the lower Calcasieu River. The total number of 

acres irrigated was 2,557.9. Agricultural use is not metered and is estimated 

at 2.75 acre-ft of water for the growing season. Monthly use is based on 

estimated percentages for the months irrigation water was taken. Losses are 

prorated into both uses to make use totals equal to withdrawal totals.

Diversion of Water from the Lower Calcasieu River

The primary uses of water taken from the lower Calcasieu River are for 

irrigation and industrial cooling. Irrigation use is primarily for rice 

irrigation. Water use figures from the 1985 survey are tabulated in the 

following table (Lurry, 1987):

31
Irrigation use (average, based 

on full year rather than the 

Parish growing season)

(million gallons per day)

Alien 9.0

Beauregard 2.2

Calcasieu 57.0

Cameron 44.0

Jefferson Davis 99.0

Total 211.2

1

Industrial use (average)

Calcasieu 132.0

Cameron 22.0

Total 154.0

Does not include water from the Sabine River Diversion Canal.

Tide Characteristics

Waters of the lower Calcasieu River are subject to tides of the Gulf of 

Mexico. The diurnal range of tide at the mouth is about 2 ft, with a mean 

level about 0.2 ft sea level. Tidal action is detectable to the vicinity of 

Phillips Bluff on the Calcasieu River (about mile 86). Three kinds of tides 

can occur: diurnal, having one high water and one low water event in a tidal 

day; semi-diurnal, with two high water and two low water events in a tidal 

day; and mixed, usually of a semi-diurnal nature but with relatively large 

differences between adjacent high and low water events. In the Gulf of 

Mexico, and in the lower Calcasieu River, a diurnal tide pattern predominates. 

Extreme high and low water levels in the lower Calcasieu River are produced by 

storm and wind effects, and are discussed in the section on "Wind Characteristics. 11

Figures 19 through 24 show tidal patterns for recording water-level gages 

in the lower Calcasieu River for the different tide types. In figures 19 and 

21 the diurnal pattern is evident during the period November 14-16, 1984. The 

range of tide elevations at Cameron is about 1.9 ft. A time lag of about 9 

hours occurred between the high tide peaks of November 14, at Cameron and 

Hackberry; this is a time lag rate of about 30 min/mi of distance between the 

gages. Much lower time lag rates are computed between gages above Hackberry. 

The Hackberry-Gulf Intracoastal Waterway-Calcasieu Lock area reach had a time 

lag rate of about 10 min/mi; the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway-Lake Charles reach 

had a time lag rate of about 4 min/mi; no discernible lag between Lake Charles 

and the saltwater barrier was observed. During this period the flood (tainter) gates at the barrier were closed. The navigational gate was opened for 2 

hours on November 14, 5 hours on November 15, and 13 hours on November 16. 

This operation is evident on the Indian Bayou gage record, with decreases in

32
UJ 5

UJ 

CO

O

UJ 

CO

cc 

o

UJ

o

CO

IUJ 

UJ

u.

UJ 

UJ _J 

cc

UJ I

1.5

1.5

0.5

1.5

0.5

HACKBERRY

CALCASIEU LOCK (WEST) 

I_____I_____I

2400 1200 2400 1200 2400 1200 2400 HOURS

| November 14 | November 15 | November 16 |

1984

Figure 19. Diurnal tide elevations for lower 

Calcasieu River at Cameron, Hackberry, and 

Calcasieu Lock (West), November 14-16, 

1984.

33
LU

a

LU 

CO

o

LU 

CD

<r 

o

LU

s

CD

LU 

LU

LU

LU

_J

cc

LU

I

0.5

1.5

0.5

0.5

SALTWATER BARRIER

2400 1200 2400 1200 2400 1200 2400 HOURS

November 14 I November 15 November 16 |

1984

Figure 20. Diurnal tide elevations for lower 

Calcasieu River at Lake Charles, saltwater 

barrier, and Indian Bayou, November 14-16, 

1984.

34
LU 

>

LU

LU 

CO

o

_l

LLI 

CD

DC 

O

LLI

O 

CO

HUJ 

111

u.

LLI

LLI

_l

DC 

LLI

I

1.5

0.5

CALCASIEU LOCK (WEST) 

I_____I I

2400 1200 2400 1200 2400 1200 2400 HOURS

| August 28 | August 29 I August 30 I

1984

Figure 21. Semi-diurnal tide elevations for lower 

Calcasieu River at Camercn, Hackberry, and 

Calcasieu Lock (West), August 28-30, 1984.

35
1.5

LJJ 

LJJ

LU 

CO

O 

_1 

LJJ 

CD

DC 

O

LU

O 

CD

LJJ 

LJJ 

LJL

LJJ 

LJJ

QC 

LJJ

I

0.5

0

1.5

0.5

LAKE CHARLES

SALTWATER BARRIER

INDIAN BAYOU

2400 1200 2400 

I August 28 I

1200 2400 1200 2400 HOURS 

August 29 I August 30 I 

1984

Figure 22. Semi-diurnal tide elevations for lower 

Calcasieu River at Lake Charles, saltwater 

barrier, and Indian Bayou, August 28-30, 1984.

36
UJ

s

UJ 

CO

I

UJ 

CD

CC 

O

UJ§CQ

UJ 

UJ

UJ

s

CC 

UJI

CALCASIEU LOCK 

I (WEST)

2400 1200 2400 1200 2400 1200 2400 HOURS

| November 21 I November 22 I November 23 |

1984

Figure 23. Mixed tide elevations for lower 

Calcasieu River at Cameron, Hackberry, 

and Calcasieu Lock (West), November 21- 

23, 1984.

37
LU

> 

HI

LU 

CO

O

LU 

CO

CC

O

LU 

O

m

LU 

LU 

LL

LU

LU

_J

CC 

LU

SALTWATER BARRIER 

i

0.5

0.5

1.5

0.5

INDIAN BAYOU

2400 1200 2400 1200 2400 1200 2400 HOURS

| November 21 | November 22 | November 23 |

1984

Figure 24. Mixed tide elevations for lower 

Calcasieu River at Lake Charles, 

saltwater barrier, and Indian Bayou, 

November 21-23, 1984.

38
stage for short periods on November 14 and 15 with a much longer and lower 

decrease on November 16. Southerly winds with generally less than average (8.7 

mi/h) speed were recorded on November 14 and 15; a shift to northerly winds 

occurred on November 16, and wind speed ranged from 5 to 14 mi/h.

Figures 21 and 22 show the semi-diurnal tidal pattern during August 28-30, 

1984; the range of tide elevations at Cameron for the high tide of about 0400 

hours on August 29 is about 1.6 ft. Time lags between gages for this period 

show a shortening (as compared to the diurnal pattern) because of the two-tidea-day pattern. The overall time lag between Cameron and Indian Bayou was about 

8.5 hours. Both the navigational and flood gates at the saltwater barrier were 

closed for this period. Of interest is the evident trace on the Indian Bayou 

gage of the high and low tide points in spite of the closure of the barrier; a 

likely explanation is leakage through the barrier, either in the overbank 

section between the navigation and flood gates or an incomplete gate closure, 

that allowed sufficient water movement to show the tide pattern. There is 

additional evidence of water movement through the barrier in the slow leak down 

of the water above the barrier as indicated by the gradual decrease of stage 

(from about 1.2 ft to about 0.9 ft in 3 days). Winds varied from northerly to 

southerly during the period with no definite pattern established; wind speed 

ranged from 0 to 13 mi/h.

Mixed tide characteristics are shown in figures 23 and 24 for November 21- 

23, 1984. These figures clearly show the semi-diurnal nature with the relatively wide (2.8 ft) range for the high tide of about 1600 hours on November 

22. Time lags for this period were similar to those of the August period. The 

flood gates at the barrier were open 10 ft (half open) for the entire period, 

and the navigational gates were open for about 15 hours each day during the 

period. The Indian Bayou gage, though damped by the barrier, showed the mixed 

tide trace in shape and magnitude. Winds during the period were northerly, and 

wind speed ranged from 4 to 13 mi/h.

The time required for a peak to traverse the Cameron-Gulf Intracoastal 

Waterway reach was about 80 percent (76, 78, and 81) of the total traverse time 

(Cameron-Indian Bayou). Calcasieu Lake, in storing large amounts of water on 

the incoming tide, also slows the rate of movement of the tidal wave. Upstream 

from the lake, relatively small amounts of water are stored and the tidal wave 

moves faster.

The manner in which water of the lower Calcasieu River responds to tidal 

action is well documented in the records of water-level recorders. Some 

characteristics of this response show that at an approaching high tide, the 

water surface rises toward a peak; downstream flow, however, continues for some 

time after the peak stage is reached. During the survey of June 1984, downstream flow continued on the surface for about 2 hours after the high-tide peak 

had been reached at that point. However, upstream flow was occurring beneath 

the downstream flowing surface layer. Figure 25 shows this condition occurring 

at two measurement locations on the lower Calcasieu River, the railroad bridge 

above 1-10 and Burton Landing near Moss Lake for measurements in April and May 

1985. A flow division (upstream-downstream) point was detected between about 

6.5 and 13 ft in depth on the April 11, 1985, measurement and between about 13 

and 20 ft in depth on the May 9, 1985, measurement. For the measurement at 

Burton Landing near Moss Lake on July 29, 1985, the flow division occurred

39
between about 18.5 and 25 ft in depth. The angles shown above the vertical 

sections indicate the direction with respect to magnetic north for each of the 

velocity observations and the angle of the cross-section measurement. A 

similar but reversed condition occurred as a low tide approached. Upstream 

flow continued for a time after the lowest stage was reached. Knowledge of 

these cccurrences is important to observers who wish to measure a specified 

flow condition (upstream or downstream). Water-surface elevation and movement 

are partial indicators of what is happening, but do not always accurately 

define the flow condition.

Station 140 

Depth: 30 feet

April 11, 1985

Station 85 

Depth: 42 feet

0 \ July 29, 1985 (0.8)

UJ 

O

2E

cc

D 

CO

DC 

UJ

I

O

_l

UJ

m

iUJ 

UJ

CL 

UJ 

O

(0.2)

Downstream Upstream

(0.4)

Downstream Upstream

(0.2)

Downstream Upstream

Note:

(0.4) - fraction of depth

at observation point

10

15

20

25

30

35 

 ^

(0

1

(0

(0

m^

.4)

.6)

.8)

77,

(0

~H

 »

W

.2)

*

 ^

Stream bottom

-* ^ ^

(0

(G

 * 

6)-

fM

77,

(0

H

(0

7

.2)

.4)

Near 

zero

 (0

-*.

77;

(0

(0

(0

77

.2)

.4)

6)

0.4 0.4 0.8 0.4 0.4

VELOCITY, IN FOOT PER SECOND

Figure 25. Velocity profiles showing direction and magnitude 

of flow of lower Calcasieu River along cross sections at 

railroad bridge above Interstate 10 (station 140) and 

Burton Landing near Moss Lake (station 85).

40
Predictions of tide elevations and timing for specified sites can be made 

from tide tables published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (1985a). For the lower Calcasieu River, the site for which predictions 

can be made is Calcasieu Pass, Pilot's Wharf (on the south side of Monkey 

Island at Cameron). Predictions for this site are based on the Galveston, 

Texas Tide Reference Station and have the following characteristics (National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1985a):

1. High water or tide occurs 2 hours 14 minutes before high tide at the 

reference station. (Example: Highwater for December 25, 1985, is 

predicted to occur at 1716 hours at the Galveston station; highwater is 

then predicted to occur at 1502 hours at Calcasieu Pass.)

2

2. High water or tide is 1.43 times the height given for high water at the

reference station. (Example: High water for Galveston for December 25, 

1985, is predicted to be 1.2 ft; high water for Calcasieu Pass is then 

predicted to be 1.43 times 1.2 or 1.7 ft.)

3. Low water or tide occurs about 1 hour 24 minutes before low tide at the 

reference station.

2

4. Low water or tide is again 1.43 times the height given for low water at

the reference station.

Wind Characteristics

Although tidal action is the dominant factor in water movement in the 

lower Calcasieu River, wind action can substantially affect water movement. 

Examples of substantial changes induced by wind, are discussed below. The 

ininimum water-surface elevation recorded for the water-level gage at the port 

of Lake Charles was 4.16 ft below sea level at 1230 hours on February'28, 

1984; this occurred during a period of sustained northerly winds. Table 6 

shows wind readings at the Lake Charles Airport (fig. 2) for the period in 

which the minimum water-surface elevation occurred; values given are averages 

for the 3-hour period noted. Streamflows into the area during this period (as 

indicated by flow records for the station near Kinder) were well below the 

average flow and had rninimal effect on the water-surface elevation. During 

this same event, the water surface at Cameron reached 5.3 ft below sea level.

The fastest mile observed on February 27 was 28 mi/h, blowing from 310 

degrees; the fastest mile observed on February 28 was 25 mi/h, blowing from 

300 degrees. The fastest mile is the highest recorded speed at which a mile 

of wind passes a station; it is a measure of both speed and duration. Fastest miles of record are in general produced by sustained winds of higher 

velocity.

2

Heights given are with reference to Mean Lower Low Water (Gulf Coast Low

Water Datum). These and other pertinent tidal parameters are defined in the 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (1985a).

41
Table 6.--Wind direction and speed at Lake Charles Airport,

February 26-29, 1984

Wind

Date Time 

(1984)

Feb. 26 0600

0900

1200

1500

1800

2100

2400

Feb. 27 0300

0600

0900

1200

1500

1800

2100

2400

Feb. 28 0300

0600

0900

1200

1500

1800

2100

2400

Feb. 29 0300

0600

0900

Direction 

( degrees )

XO 130\J

110

140

180

280

210

230

O df\ ZDU

270

290

310

310

310

310

310

270 £* 1 \J

300

300

290

300

310

310

300

320 O&i \J

290

350

Speed 

(miles per 

hour)

10

10

19

23

8

7

10

1 S -L «J

15

16

20

24

20

16

14

1 3 -LO

15

19

18

17

14

8

7

7

6

8

Direction from which wind is blowing.

The wind direction column in table 6 shows a shift of direction taking 

place between 1500 and 1800 hours on February 26, from a generally southeasterly direction to a generally northwesterly direction, and thereafter exceeding the average speed at this site (8.7 mi/h, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, I985b) for about 45 hours. The effect of this period of 

sustained high winds is seen in the records for water-surface elevations at 

gages in the area (figs. 26 and 27). On the Cameron trace, the predicted 

values of low and high tide are plotted to indicate water levels expected 

without the effects of wind.

42
Ill 

> 111

111

CO

111

CQ

QC 

O

111 

> 

O 

CQ

111 

111 

u.

ill 

>

111 _i

QC 

LJJ

H- Predicted high tide

LAKE CHARLES

2400 1200 2400 1200 2400 1200 2400 1200 240C HOURS 

I February 26 | February 27 | February 28 | February 29 |

1984

Figure 26. Water-surface elevations for lower Calcasieu River at 

Cameron, Hackberry, and Lake Charles, sustained northerly 

winds, February 26-29, 1984.

43
LU

> 

LU

UJ 

CO

L1J 

GO

cc 

o

L1J

o

GO 

<

HLII 

L1J 

li.

L1J 

> 

L1J 

-J

cc

LLI

HSALTWATER BARRIER

I I ___

4 

2

0

2

4 

24

 \

^ *-

/

LOO 1200 24 

February 26

^i

\

X^\

00 1200 24 

February 27

^^

INDJ

00 1200 2<i 

February 28

-A

AN BAY ou

tOO 1200 240 

February 29

0 HOURS

1984

Figure 27. Water-surface elevations for lower Calcasieu River at 

saltwater barrier and Indian Bayou, sustained northerly winds, 

February 26-29, 1984.

Winds from the south can drive the gulf water into the lower Calcasieu 

River and hold that water in the river and lakes. While the maximum water 

elevation at Cameron was the result of hurricane winds and tides (10.53 ft 

above sea level, June 27, 1957), southerly winds have produced much-aboveaverage water-surface elevations. In March of 1973, southerly winds caused 

such a condition. Headwater flows into the lower Calcasieu River (again 

indicated by the gaging station at Kinder) did not produce the high elevations. The fastest mile observed during this period was 40 mi/h, with the

44
wind blowing from 180 degrees. Tabulated below are wind readings at the Lake 

Charles Airport for a period of relatively high water-surface elevations.

Wind 

Date 

(1973) Time Direction Speed

(degrees) (miles per 

hour)

Mar. 23 

Mar. 24 

0600

0900

1200

1500

1800

2100

2400

0300

0600

0900

1200

1500

1800

2100

2400

070

100

110

100

050

090

090

100

110

130

180

240

270

260

270

10

16

17

18

24

20

22

20

24

32

27

17

10

7

11

Direction from which wind is blowing.

The above table shows a period on March 23 when winds were generally from 

the southeast. On March 24 the wind shifted more to the south and for about 

30 hours, winds blew from the southern quadrants (90-270 degrees) with an 

average speed of about 22 mi/h (almost three times the average speed for this 

site). The effect of this period of sustained hicfri southerly winds is seen in 

the records of water-surface elevations at several gages in the area (fig. 

28). As was done for the low water conditions shown in figure 27, the predicted values of hicfri and low tide for the gage at Cameron are shown for comparison. For the Hackberry gage, magnitude and direction of wind at selected 

times are shown to illustrate the effect of wind.

The dramatic effects of wind action on the lower Calcasieu River are 

caused, for a large part, by the large expanses of open water in the lakes, 

especially Calcasieu Lake. With a length of about 16 mi and roughly orientated north-south, Calcasieu Lake acts, in southerly or northerly winds, like 

a giant pump to either force gulf water upstream or to force water downstream 

through Calcasieu Pass into the gulf, lowering water-surface elevations 

throughout the river and lakes to the north. In either instance, the large 

cross-sectional areas of the ship channel (about 20,000 ft2 ) promote rapid 

movement of water, and the waters of the system respond rapidly to wind.

The prevailing wind flow in the Lake Charles area is from a southerly 

direction during much of the year. Almost 80 percent of hourly speed observations during the year is 12 mi/h or less. Table 7 shows average wind 

conditions by month for the period 1951-80, with information on the fastest 

mile.

45
HI

>

HI

.H- Predicted high tide

HI 

CO

HI 

CO

CC 

O

HI

>

O 

m

Hl 

HI 

U.

HI

> 

HI

_l

CC 

HI

. k24 

* jr i Direction (/) and 

magnitude (24) 

of wind

LAKE CHARLES

I_____i

SALTWATER BARRIER

1200 2400 1200 2400 1200 2400 1200 HOURS

JMarch 22\ March 23 | March 24 JMarch 25J

1973

Figure 28. Water-surface elevations for lower 

Calcasieu River at Cameron, Hackberry, Lake 

Charles, and saltwater barrier, sustained 

southerly winds, March 22-25, 1974.

46
Table 7. Monthly average wind direction, speed, and fastest mile at

Lake Charles Airport, 1951-80

Month

January 

February 

Anr"i 1 _____

June 

"Tl ll TT 

August 

SeptemberOctober 

November 

December 

Prevailing- Average speed 

direction (miles per hour)

North 

CV-a oUULJJ. vM-i _____________ 

CmrFh OV_/UUli_ _________

CV-B oUULJJ. 1-H-i _____________

COM-H-I OV-HJ.LJ. J._______ _ ; _

South-southwest 

South-southwest 

South-southwest 

East-northeast 

East-northeast 

East-northeast 

CTUI-H-I oOUun _________ ___ ___

10.2 

10.4 

10.7 

10.3 

8.9 

7.5 

6.5 

6.1 

7.2 

7.6 

9.0 

8.7

Fastest mile

Direction 

(degrees)

320 

250 

180 

060 

320 

160 

120 

110 

000 

270 

320 

320

Speed Year 

(miles 

per hour)

58 

40 

40 

44 

43 

35 

35 

46 

40 

33 

35 

58

1962 

1971 

1973 

1973 

1973 

1974 

1974 

1964 

1971 

1973 

1975 

1962

Direction from which wind is blowing.

Reaeration

Reaeration is a necessary process that helps to maintain the quality of 

stream water, and dissolved-oxygen (DO) concentration is a widely used measure 

of the quality of a stream. When any oxygen-using process takes place in the 

stream, the DO concentration is reduced, the reduction being dependent on the 

DO concentration at the beginning of the process, the volume of the oxygenusing materials in contact with the stream, and the type and manner of 

introduction of the biodegradable materials.

Countering the reduction of oxygen in the stream is the process of reaeration, in which water in contact with oxygen absorbs that oxygen. Water contains a finite amount of oxygen; that amount is defined as occurring at the 

saturation concentration of the water and occurs when the oxygen in the water 

reaches equilibrium with the adjacent oxygen-containing atmosphere. The saturation concentration is a function of water temperature, barometric pressure, 

and salinity. An exception to the previous discussion occurs when oxygenproducing plants in the water create a more than saturated condition in the 

water (super saturation).

When an oxygen-using process reduces the DO concentration, the countering reaeration process is driven by the oxygen deficit, the difference between 

the saturation DO concentration (Cs) and the actual DO concentration (C). To 

properly assess reaeration in the oxygen-recovery process, the time rate of 

change of oxygen between C and Cs must be determined. A widely used relation, 

r = K2 (Cs-C) states that the time rate of change of oxygen concentration (r)

47
is equal to a coefficient (K2 ) times the deficit (Cs-C). The reaeration 

coefficient, K2 , is a function of the physical characteristics of the water 

body (surface area, depth, surface motion, temperature, and any other factor 

that affects the exposure of water molecules to atmospheric oxygen). K2 can 

be thought of as a measure of the oxygen-transfer potential. If conditions 

are such as to inhibit oxygen transfer, K2 is relatively small; if favorable 

transfer conditions exist, K2 is relatively large.

The oxygen deficit of a given point in a stream is relatively easy to 

determine. Tables for saturation concentrations are available, with inputs of 

temperature and atmospheric pressure providing good values of Cs. Actual C 

values can be measured relatively inexpensively and with reasonable accuracy. 

The determination of K2 can vary from relatively easy to relatively impossible.

This report discusses three generally accepted techniques of determining 

K2 : the dissolved-oxygen balance technique, the disturbed equilibrium technique, and the tracer technique. The dissolved-oxygen balance technique 

consists of measuring all of the oxygen movement processes (positive and 

negative) occurring in a stream study reach, except reaeration. By comparing 

the reach-entering oxygen conditions, considering the within-reach oxygen 

movement processes, with the reach-leaving oxygen conditions, a reaeration 

coefficient can be computed that would balance the oxygen loss-gain equation. 

When the uncertainties of measuring all of the oxygen movement processes are 

considered, the accuracy of the computed reaeration coefficient would not be 

great.

The disturbed equilibrium technique was developed for measuring K2 in 

small streams. The technique is basically an oxygen-balance computation, but 

done at two different oxygen levels, one natural and one induced. The second 

oxygen level is created chemically, usually by adding sodium sulfite plus a 

cobalt ion catalyst. The cost of creating this second oxygen level limits 

this technique to small streams. In the computations at both oxygen levels, 

all oxygen depletion processes are grouped and the oxygen sources considered 

are jatotosynthesis and reaeration. The depletion processes, photosynthesis, 

K2 , change in temperature, and Cs are assumed to be constant in the reach; 

some of these assumptions are questionable.

The tracer technique involves the injection of a gas that behaves like 

oxygen in the mass transfer at the air-water interface but does not participate in other chemical or biological processes. Thus, the mechanical part of 

reaeration can be observed in the loss of the gas to the atmosphere. Sampling 

is done to measure that loss. The assumption is made that the gain of oxygen 

by water (reaeration) occurs in the same manner as the loss of the gas by the 

water. With the results of the analysis of samples, a reaeration coefficient 

can be calculated.

Several empirical prediction equations for determining K2 have been 

developed. These are generally of the form

T ?O TIW

K~ = A(0)T 2U ±r, 

^ HJ

48
where:

A = a constant obtained from a regression analysis of experimental data; 

0 = generally the 1.0241 suggested by Elmore and West (1961) in their work

on the effect of water temperature on reaeration; 

T = water temperature in degrees Celsius;

U = average stream velocity in the cross section, in feet per second; 

H = average depth of the cross section, in feet; and 

w, j = either chosen from the regression equation, or chosen for dimensional

homogeneity of the prediction equation.

Some of the more widely used equations that may be applicable in the deep 

channels of the lower Calcasieu River are those proposed by Churchill and 

others (1962), and O'Connor and Dobbins (1958). The Oiurchill and others 

(1962) equation,

T- 

= 5.026(1.0241) 1

U°' 969 "

was based on observed reaeration rates below dams from which oxygen deficient 

water was released, and on what is considered to be the most extensive and 

reliable set of field data available. The O' Connor and Dobbins (1958) 

equation,

includes D , the molecular diffusion coefficient and is based on the theories 

of turbulent flow and the rate of renewal of saturated surface waters.

When considered for application in the lower Calcasieu River, each technique or equation has one or more criteria that cannot be met in the physical 

system. The measurement of the various input parameters for the oxygenbalance technique would not be accurate enough to assure realistic K2 determinations. This is, however, a basic problem with using the technique in many 

locations. Use of the disturbed equilibrium technique would not be appropriate in large streams, from aspects of economy and practicality. For tracer 

studies, an assumption is made that there is reasonable and sufficient flow. 

A time-of- travel study conducted in May 1978, with dye injected about 2 mi 

downstream from the outlet of Lake Charles, indicated that at a flow rate of 

455 ft3/s at Kinder the tracer dye cloud moved less than 4 mi in 7 days. The 

dye was in very low concentrations in the ship channel, Coon Island loop, and 

Prien Lake. At one time, traces of the dye were found in Clooney Island loop 

about 1 mi upstream from the injection site. This problem with sustained flow 

negates the tracer technique in reaeration studies in this waterbody, except 

at higher flow rates where K2 values would not be applicable to the lower flow 

rates.

49
Empirical equations use terms of velocity and depth that are assumed to 

remain reasonably constant long enough to give K2 credence in its units of per 

day. That constancy is not achieved for any appreciable length of time in the 

tidal reaches of the lower Calcasieu River where reaeration information is 

needed.

The physical and hydrologic characteristics of the lower Calcasieu River 

(deep channels, tidal action, gulf-wind action, relatively low headwater 

flows) negate the conventional application of the techniques and equations 

mentioned earlier. However, variations of these procedures may produce 

reasonable and usable measures of reaeration until time and effort produces 

specialized procedures for determining reaeration characteristics in such 

tidal bodies of water.

Consultation with Ron Rathbun (U.S. Geological Survey, oral commun., 

1985), an expert in reaeration, expressed the possibility of using selected 

empirical equations for the computation of reaeration coefficients if the 

criterion for relatively constant velocity conditions can be met. Therefore, 

reliable velocity is the key to determination of reaeration characteristics.

Following this section, an application of the branch-network flow model 

in the lower Calcasieu River is discussed. The model is being calibrated and 

seems capable of computing downstream and upstream flows. Flows of a mixed 

nature (downstream and upstream simultaneously) that are known to occur at 

both the Burton Landing near Moss Lake and Lake Charles railroad bridge, sites 

27 and 40, respectively, cause problems that will be approached through 

defined paths in the calibration process. When these problems are resolved, 

velocity can be calculated at a number of cross sections on a 15-minute basis.

An objective of another project concerning hazardous substances in the 

lower Calcasieu River is to install multi-depth flowmeter at the railroadbridge site to further define the periods when mixed flows take place. This 

information would complement the branch-network flow modeling calibration. 

Again, velocity would be available on a 15-minute basis.

Another approach that may produce reliable velocities for use in reaeration equations and which is being investigated involves the calculation of 

discharge in a stream segment for a period of time during which the change in 

velocity can be assumed to be relatively constant. This approach is described 

in ISO Standards Handbook 16 (International Organization for Standardization, 

1983) as the "Method of Cubature." A change in volume for the segment is 

computed, using changes in water-surface elevation from water-level recorders 

at each end of the segment and the surface area of the segment. This volume 

change may occur on a flood or ebbtide, and the flow to produce the change 

will be directional (upstream or downstream). To this is added algebraically 

the change in volume created by changes in water-surface elevation in the 

reaches upstream from the segment to the limit of tidal influence. This calculation involves the location of a point of zero tidal effect on the river, 

the fluctuation of the upstream segment gage, and the stream-surface area

50
between the point of zero tidal effect and upstream gage. The net change in 

volume added algebraically to the upland flow volume during the time period 

represents the volume of water that flowed through the cross section of 

interest during the specified time period.

A flow rate, in ft3/s, to produce the change in volume is computed, and 

that flow rate is passed through the cross section at the downstream end of 

the segment and where the reaeration coefficient is desired. This passage, 

VOLUME/AREA, produces an average velocity term that is then used to compute 

the reaeration coefficient. This technique will be further studied for 

applicability under a variety of flow and tide conditions. Another area to be 

studied is the deviation, in the deep channels of the Calcasieu River, of the 

dissolved-oxygen concentration from the typical dissolved-oxygen concentration 

experienced when the empirical equations were developed. This area will be 

studied with the thought of adjusting selected empirical equations for the 

deep channels of this and other similar rivers.

APPLICATION OF THE BRANCH-NEIVJORK FLOW MODEL IN THE LOWER CALCASIEU RIVER

As a part of the activity in the lower Calcasieu River, and to provide 

flow information in that part of the river having most of the industrial 

development, a reach of the Calcasieu River between the saltwater barrier and 

Burton Landing near Moss Lake was selected for application of the U.S. 

Geological Survey branch-network surface-water flow model, developed and 

documented by Schaffranek and others (1981).

A model reach was instrumented as follows:

Saltwater barrier. Water surface follower (float) driving a digital punch 

recorder, 60 minute punch interval on 16 channel paper tape. Stage only is 

recorded at this location.

Burton Landing near Moss Lake. Water surface follower (float), and Gill 

anemometer and micrcvane, driving a digital punch recorder, 60 minute punch 

interval on 16 channel paper tape, through a U.S. Geological Survey minimonitor (for multi-parameter use). Stage, wind direction, and wind speed are 

recorded at this location. See appendix 3 for additional information on these 

sites.

Figure 29 shows the network as established in the Calcasieu River model 

reach. Cross sections were obtained with a fathometer. Distances along the 

channel were taken from topographic maps; widths were taken from topographic 

maps for lake cross sections and were measured for channel cross sections. To 

assist in calibration of the model, a series of measurements were made; the 

results of these measurements are shown in table 8. Results of modeling are 

being produced for flow conditions in which there is one-directional flow, 

either upstream or downstream, associated with incoming or outgoing tide. 

During tidal changes (transitions between tides), flow occurs in both 

directions (fig. 19). The model is being adjusted to handle this condition, 

and to better simulate the one-directional flow situation.

51
000+00 J Saltwater Barrier 

20+00- 

70+00--

130+00 -^

172+00 --

217+00 -^

243+00 --

QC 

Uj

324+00 --

EXPLANATION 357+00 _.

512+00 - Stationing from Saltwater Barrier, 

In hundreds of feet (512+00=51,200 feet)

430+00 --

464+00 --

512+00

^ 

UJ

CO

«c 

O -j «* 

O

640+00 --

Moss Lake 

762+00 

780+00 

803+00

Burton's Landing - -

174+00

- \- 193+00

Lake Charles 

S* 212+00

375+00

__ _0 

456+00

490+00 

Prlen Lake

598+00

724+00

770+00 

800+00 

827+00

Figure 29. Schematic of the lower Calcasieu River used for application

of the branch-netvgork flow model.

52
Table 8. Discharge measurements used to calibrate the branch-network flow model

[ft2 , square feet; ft/s, foot per second; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; 

Down, downstream; Up, upstream]

Upstream

Site 

no.

40 

27 

40 

27 

40 

27 

27 

40 

27 

40 

27 

40 

27 

40

Date

10-24-84

±\J £f± O*±

1O 24 84 ±\J A*'Ji VJ i>

3-21-85

3

O1 OK

4-10-85

4-11-85 

4-11-85 

5- 9-85 

5- 9-85 

6- 5-85 

6- 5-85 

7-29-85 

7-30-85

Time

0940 

1335 

1600 

0800 

1100 

0825 

1007 

1450 

0830 

1215 

0730 

0950 

1400 

1100

Area 

(ft2 )

26,800 

7,100 

25,700 

7,610 

23,200 

12,284 

5,010 

9,250

Velocity 

(ft/s)

0.72 

.31 

1.17 

.39 

1.27 

.27 

.73 

.23

flow

Discharge 

(ftVs)

19,200 

2,190 

30,000 

2,950 

29,400 

3,310 

3,660 

2,130

Downstream

Area 

(ft2 )

16, 

25, 

16, 

25, 

15, 

26,

6,

5,

1, 

17, 

4,

400 

600 

400 

500 

900 

100

380

910

290 

720 

520

Velocity 

(ft2 )

2.93 

1.77 

2.56 

1.20 

1.36 

1.24

.19

.34

.20 

.65 

.67

flow

Discharge 

(ftVs)

48,100 

45,200 

42,000 

30,500 

21,700 

32,300

1,230

2,030

260 

11,500 

3,050

Net flow 

(ftVs)

48,100 

45,200 

42,000 

30,500 

21,700 

32,300 

19,200 

960 

30,000 

920 

29,400 

3,050 

7,790 

920

Direction

Down 

Down 

Down 

Down 

Down 

Down 

Up 

Up

up 

up 

up 

up 

Down 

Down

NEED FOR ADDITIONAL STUDIES

This report presents the results of studies carried out in the lower Calcasieu River during 1984 and 1985. In several areas, further studies to more 

completely define the hydrology of the river are needed. In considering this 

subject, planned studies in the ongoing project "Analysis of the Occurrence, 

Movement, and Fate of Selected Hazardous Substances in the Lower Calcasieu 

River" are taken into consideration; the suggested needs are exclusive of the 

plans of that project. The needs listed below are prioritized.

1. Completion of branch-network flow modeling: Instrumentation for the 

planned modeling has been in place and operating for about 30 months. 

Results have been produced and calibration continues. Difficulty has been 

experienced with simultaneous two-directional flows (upstream and downstream) at tide changes. Work on calibration and solution to specific 

difficulties will continue.

2. Flow patterns at selected locations: Flow patterns of the lower Calcasieu 

River have been addressed in a general manner. There is a need for more 

information on flow patterns for selected sites. Some of the sites 

mentioned below have general interest; others were selected as sensitive 

locations with respect to potential spills. Sites specified at this time 

include: Calcasieu River upstream from the saltwater barrier, ship channel-Gulf Intracoastal Waterway junction, Contraband Bayou, Bayou D'lnde, 

Clooney and Coon Island loops, deep spots in Lake Charles and Prien Lake, 

and other sensitive sites. While tracer dye studies in the past have not 

produced the desired level of information because of very low-flow 

conditions, the tracer-dye technique is suggested for the flow pattern 

studies. However, a higher headwater flow condition is needed to move the 

tracer enough to define flow patterns. This definition is not likely to 

be quantitative in terms of time of travel, but will provide information 

on patterns of flow.

53
3. Evaluation of previous modeling activity in the lower Calcasieu River: A 

number of studies of the river have included flow and quality modeling. A 

review of the results of these studies would increase understanding of the 

lower Calcasieu River and improve the initial starting position for future 

modeling studies. Modeling activities have been conducted in recent years 

by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, the U.S. Army Corps 

of Engineers, McNeese State University, and the U.S. Geological Survey.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

Water movement in the lower Calcasieu River, a tidal estuary, is a function of the physical configuration of the river-estuary system, freshwater 

inflow, tidal action, and wind action. Changes in the configuration of the 

lower Calcasieu River from the natural river of the mid-1800's to the current 

form have had a major impact on the hydrology of the river. The 40-foot deep 

ship channel has the capacity to affect the movement of large amounts of water 

in a relatively short time.

Average freshwater inflow, however, at the nearest gaging station to Lake 

Charles (Kinder) is only about 2,500 ft3/s, a small amount compared to the 

large amounts flowing into and out of the river during tide changes. The 

minimum and maximum flows near Kinder are 136 and 182,000 ft3/s, respectively. 

However, the median flow near Kinder is only 1,030 ft3 /s, indicating that there 

are long periods of low freshwater flow in the lower Calcasieu River.

The distinct saltwater wedge ccmmonly found in tidally affected streams 

does not usually form in the lower Calcasieu River because headwater streamflow is not great enough during most of the year to force itself over the 

incoming saltwater. Thus, mixing of freshwater and saltwater normally occurs 

with very little stratification.

Gulf tidal action is the dominant force moving water into and out of the 

lower Calcasieu River; the river experiences diurnal, semi-diurnal, and mixed 

tidal patterns, with the diurnal pattern being dominant. Measurements in June 

1984 indicated that about 75 percent of ordinary tidal inflow is stored in 

Calcasieu Lake and other waterways south of Burton Landing, and about 5 percent 

of ordinary tidal inflow reaches the Lake Charles area. Studies of tidal lag 

time indicated that about 80 percent of the total incoming tidal-cycle time 

required for a tidal peak to move from Cameron to Indian Bayou is expended in 

moving the peak through the Cameron to Burton Landing reach.

Wind action can cause dramatic changes in water movement and stage over a 

relatively short period of time; extreme examples have occurred during the five 

hurricanes that centered on this area. The maximum and minimum water-surface 

elevations at Cameron, caused primarily by wind, were 10.53 ft (Hurricane 

Audrey in 1957) above and 5.3 ft (1984) below sea level, respectively. More 

common high winds from the south have caused water-surface elevations of about 

2 ft above sea level at Cameron and about 4 ft in the Lake Charles area. 

Northerly winds produce, at times, very low water-surface elevations in the 

lower Calcasieu River. During these conditions, wind moves down the broad 

expanses of river channels and pushes water southward, forcing water out of the 

mouth of the river and lowering water levels. Such a wind in February 1987 

caused the water-surface elevation at Lake Charles to reach a low of 4 ft below 

sea level.

54
The potential for mechanical reaeration, a function of velocity and 

depth, is low (on a unit volume basis) in the deep and slow-moving waters of 

the lower Calcasieu River. Techniques and equations (such as tracer dye 

studies that are dependent on sustained and one-directional streamflow) 

cannonly used to estimate reaeration coefficients are not directly applicable 

in this river. The most premising approach appears to be the determination of 

average velocities for short time periods when water movement can be assumed 

to be relatively constant, and the use of these velocities in empirical equations to compute reaeration coefficients. Two techniques presently being 

examined could provide the short duration velocities required; the branchnetwork flow model is being applied in the saltwater barrier-Burton Landing 

near Moss Lake reach and can produce discharges (on a 15-minute basis); a 

volumetric discharge computation is being examined that could produce 

velocities on a hourly basis.

REFERENCES

Barrett, Barney, 1970, Water measurements of coastal Louisiana: Louisiana 

Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, 196 p.

Bennett, J.P., and Rathbun, R.E., 1971, Reaeration in open channel flow: Openfile report, U.S. Geological Survey.

Churchill, M.A., Elmore, H.L., and Buckingham, R.A., 1962, The prediction of 

reaeration rates: American Society of Civil Engineers Journal, v. 88, no. 

SA-4, p. 1-46.

Elmore, H.L., and West, W.F. , 1961, Effect of water temperature on stream 

reaeration: American Society of Civil Engineers Journal, v. 87, no. 

SA-6, p. 59-71.

International Organization for Standardization, 1983, ISO Standards Handbook 

16, Measurement of liquid flow in open channels (first edition): International Organization for Standardization, p. 261-262.

Lurry/ D.L., 1987, Pumpage of water in Louisiana: Louisiana Department of 

Transportation and Development, Office of Public Works Water Resources 

Special Report No. 4, 14 p.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adniiiistraticn, 1985a, Tide tables 1985:

National Ocean Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 

U.S. Department of Commerce.

 1985b, Local climatolcgical data, monthly summary: U.S. Department of 

Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric AoYninistration, National 

Climatic Data Center.

Of Connor, D.J., and Dobbins, W.E., 1958, Mechanism of reaeration in natural

streams: American Society of Civil Engineers Transcript, v. 123, p. 641- 

684.

55
Sabine River Compact Administration, 1985, Thirty-first annual report: Sabine 

River Compact Administration.

Schaffranek, R.W., Baltzer, R.A., and Goldberg, D.E., 1981, A model for simulation of flow in singular and interconnected channels: U.S. Geological 

Survey Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, book 7, chap. C3.

GLOSSARY

Gulf Coast Low Water Datum a chart datum. Specifically, the tidal datum 

designated for the coastal waters of the gulf coast of the United States. It 

is defined as Mean Lower Low Water when the type of tide is mixed and Mean Low 

Water when the type of tide is diurnal.

Mean Lower Low Water a tidal datum. The average of the lowest low water 

height for each tidal day observed over the National Tidal Epoch. For stations 

with shorter series (less than 19 years), simultaneous observational comparisons are made with a control station in order to derive the equivalent of a 

19-year datum.

Mean Low Water a tidal datum. The average of all the low water heights 

observed over the National Tidal Datum Epoch. For shorter series, a computation as described above in Mean Lower Low Water is followed.

National Tidal Epoch a specific 19-year Metonic cycle. The Metonic cycle 

was defined by the fifth century B.C. astronomer, Meton, as occurring between 

occasions when the full and new moon occur on the same day. The absolute 

length of the cycle is 235 lunations. A lunation or synodical month, is the 

period between two successive new moons and averages 29 days, 12 hours, 44 

minutes, and 2.8 seconds in length.

56
Appendix 1. Organizations with hydrologic activities in the lower Calcasieu River

[The following information is provided to assist those interested in or conducting investigations

in the Calcasieu River basin]

Organization Comments

State

1. Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality 

Office of Water Resources 

Water Pollution Control Division 

P.O. Box 44091

Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70804-4091 

Telephone: (504) 342-6363

2. Louisiana Department of Transportation 

and Development, Office of Public Works 

District 7 

P.O. Box 1399

Lake Charles, Louisiana 70602 

Telephone: (318) 439-2406

3. Louisiana Department of Transportation

and Development, Sabine River Diversion System

P.O. Box 2324

Sulphur, Louisiana 70664-2324

Telephone: (318) 439-2406

4. Louisiana Department of Wildlife 

and Fisheries, Office of Coastal 

and Marine Resources, Seafood Division 

P.O. Box 15570

Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70895 

Telephone: (504) 342-5876

Conducts water-quality surveys in connection with determining waste load allocations. Issues permits for discharges to 

waterways. Studies recently completed in 

the lower Calcasieu River include nonpoint sources; water quality, such as 

ammonium nitrogen transformations; sediment oxygen demand; and fisheries useattainability (evaluating ability of the 

estuary to sustain different species).

Provides technical assistance to local 

governments in matters of drainage, flood 

control, and navigation. Conducts drainage improvement projects, generally on 

non-navigable streams.

Operates the Sabine Diversion Canal to 

supply farmers and industrial users in 

the Lake Charles area.

Engaged in monitoring and appraisal of 

seafood resources, including habitats. 

Study of ecosystem of Calcasieu River 

and Calcasieu Lake conducted for the U.S. 

Department of Energy by McNeese State 

University was administered by the 

Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

Federal

1. U.S. Coast Guard

Supervisor, Marine Safety Detachment 

150 Marine Street 

Lake Charles, Louisiana 70601 

Telephone: (318) 433-3765

2. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 

New Orleans District

Chief, Hydraulics and Hydrology Branch, LMNED-H 

P.O. Box 60267

New Orleans. Louisiana 70160-0267 

Telephone: (504) 862-2420

3. U.S. Department of Energy 

Chemist

1000 Independence Ave. SW 

Washington, D.C. 20585 

Telephone: (202) 252-4410 or -4730

4. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Chief, Water Quality Management Branch, 6W-Q 

1201 Elm Street 

Dallas, Texas 75270 

Telephone: (214) 767-2668

Works in water pollution prevention and 

response, maritime safety (responsible 

for navigational aids in Calcasieu Ship 

Channel), and search and rescue.

Operates water-level recorders on lower 

Calcasieu River, operates saltwater 

barrier and Calcasieu Lock, and maintains 

ship channel (depth and width). Conducted study on effect of deepening Calcasieu 

Ship Channel to 45, 50, and 55 ft.

Initiated study of ecosystem of Calcasieu 

River and Calcasieu Lake to be conducted 

by McNeese State University.

Responsible for implementation of the 

Clean Water Act. Works with State 

agencies on water-quality programs. 

Issues National Pollution Discharge 

Elimination System (NPDES) permits.

57
Appendix 1.--Organizations with hydrologic activities in the lower Calcasieu River Continued

Organization Comments

Federal--Continued

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

Environmental Service Division 

College Station Road 

Athens, Georgia 30613 

Telephone: (404) 546-2294

U.S. Geological Survey 

Water Resources Division 

P.O. Box 66492

Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70896 

Telephone: (504) 389-0281

7. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

Chief, Hazardous Material Response Branch 

Office of Oceanography and Marine Services, 

Ocean Assessment Division 

7600 Sand Point Way NE BIN C15700 

Seattle, Washington 98115 

Telephone: (206) 562-6317

8. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

National Ocean Service 

Estuarine and Ocean Physics Branch 

Chief, Tide and Current Predictions 

Section N/OMA132 

6001 Executive Blvd. 

Rockville, Maryland 20852 

Telephone: (301) 443-8060

Provides technical support for the U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency, Atlanta 

Regional Office (and for other regions on 

request). Provided support in sediment 

oxygen demand determinations during the 

intensive survey of June 1984.

Operates water-level recorders in the 

Calcasieu River basin. Analyzes water 

samples for water-quality constituents. 

Conducted hydrologic study of the lower 

Calcasieu River. Presently conducting 

study of hazardous substances in water of 

lower Calcasieu River.

Conducted study of hazardous materials in 

lower Calcasieu River.

Provides tide predictions and information 

on tide gages operated by the National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Other

1. McNeese State University 

Department of Biological 

and Environmental Sciences 

P.O. Box 923

Lake Charles, Louisiana 70609 

Telephone: (318) 437-5675

In cooperation with U.S. Department of 

Energy conducted study of the ecosystem 

of the Calcasieu River and Calcasieu Lake 

system.

58
Appendix 2. Cross reference of numbers assigned to 

sites in the intensive survey of June 19-20, 

1984 and numbers assigned to sites in this 

report

[The table shows cross-section numbers used during the intensive survey of June 19-20, 1984, 

and the corresponding numbers assigned in this 

report. Other numbers assigned in this report 

refer to cross sections used to illustrate flow 

conditions at other times than during the 

intensive survey]

Intensive survey number Report number

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

1

2

5

14

18

22

21

24

25

27

26

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

36

35

39

37

38

40

42

43

44

59
Appendix 3---Pescription of gaging stations on the lower Calcasieu R

[Benchmarks referred to are described in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (198

Control, Quads 290931 (December 1983) and 300932 (May 1984); ft, feet; MLG, Mean L

Location Recorder Operated by 

S

1. Cameron-Pilot's Wharf, 

south side of Monkey 

Island

Hackberry-American Oil 

Company Wharf, west 

side of ship channel, 

about 900 ft south of 

mouth of Black Lake Bayou

Calcasieu Lock westnear lock operator's 

house at west end of 

lock on Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, about 

2.2 mi from Calcasieu 

ship channel

Burton Landing near Moss 

Lake-lower Calcasieu River, 

west bank, at north end of 

sheet pile bulwark

Lake Charles-south side 

(east bank) of lower 

Calcasieu River, east 

end of port wharf near 

Coast Guard dock, 

about 1 mi downstream 

from Lake Charles

Automatic, zero of gage 

set at 0.78 feet below 

sea level, referenced to 

Benchmark P212, Quad 290931 

sequence no. 052, line 101

Automatic, zero of gage set 

to 0.55 ft below sea level, 

referenced to Benchmark 

G211, Quad 300932, 

sequence no. 143, line 103

Automatic, zero of gage 

set to 0.8l ft below sea 

level, referenced to Benchmark G226, Quad 300932, 

sequence no. 187, line 104

Automatic, zero of gage 

set to 5-42 ft above sea 

level, referenced to 

Benchmark Q356, Quad 

300932, sequence no. 130, 

line 103

Automatic, zero of gage 

set to 0.59 ft below sea 

level, referenced to 

Benchmark 876 7816 Tidal 

4, Quad 300932, sequence 

no. 148, line 104

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 

New Orleans District 

(station number 73650)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 

New Orleans District 

(station number 73600)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 

New Orleans District 

(station number 76960)

U.S. Geological Survey 

Louisiana District 

(station number 08017075)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 

New Orleans District 

(station number 73550)

Che

vea

7.5

tio

rea

2.3

plu

Che

vea

fro

cor

gag

tra

cor

mar

Ben

6.7

Lev

tha

to 

tra

Ben

has 

sea 

198

gag

the 

Ben

ele

sea 

198

gag

the 
Appendix 3- --Description of gaging stations on the lower Calcasieu River Con

Location Recorder Operated By 

6. Saltwater barrier-lower 

Calcasieu River, north 

side (west bank) and 

west end of navigation 

channel (gated) in 

barrier, about 2.6 mi 

upstream from Lake 

Charles

7- Indian Bayou at bridge

northwest of Lake Charles, 

and 1,500 ft upstream 

from the confluence of 

Indian Bayou and the 

West Fork Calcasieu River

8. Kinder-Calcasieu River, 

at bridge on U.S. Highway 

190 about 4 mi west of 

Kinder

(1) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, automatic, zero of 

gage set to sea level (19&5)

(2) U.S. Geological Survey, 

automatic, zero of gage set 

are to both recorders referenced to Benchmark 10 V 29 

LADTD, Quad 300932, sequence 

no. 250, line 108

Automatic, zero of gage 

set to sea level, 

referenced to Benchmark 

10 V 33 LADTD, Quad 300932, 

sequence no. 257. line 108

Automatic, zero of gage 

set to 11.95 ft above sea 

level.

(1) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District 

(station number 73^73)

(2) U.S. Geological Survey 

Louisiana District 

(station number 08017036)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 

New Orleans District 

(station number 73^60)

U.S. Geological Survey 

Louisiana District 

(station number 08015500)

Benchm

tion o

Levels 

the co

sea l

involv

Checks 

LADTD 

elevat

17.052 

ft. T

sea le