Figure 6. Status of 1:24,000-scale topographic map revisions for Louisiana, 1999.

6WDWH·VUHTXHVWHGUHYLVLRQFDQGLGDWHV&DQGLGDWHVIRUUHYLVLRQGXHWRKLJKVDOHV

As the Nation’s largest ea

civilian mapping agency, thcal Survey (USGS) works in with many Federal, State, anizations to provide reliable scientific information to resers, planners, and others thcountry. This information every state by USGS scientithe loss of life and property disasters, contribute to the and sound management of natural resources, and enhaof life by monitoring water, energy, and mineral resourSheet describes some of the ties in Louisiana.

Atchafalaya Basin MThe Atchafalaya Basin (figcentral Louisiana is the lartomland hardwood swamp The USGS, in cooperation 

Army Corps of Engineers 

monitoring the basin to detronmental effects of flood-practices. Physical and cheproperties being monitored tinuous velocity and stage, ductance, pH, dissolved-o

concentrations, water tempsediment deposition. The USGS Cooperative FiUnit, at Louisiana State UnBaton Rouge, has been mobasin to assess the health o

and coal geochemistry of Gulf Coast coal-bearing intervals to better understand the region’s resources. Planned results of the study include geologic and stratigraphic interpretations characterizing the coal and digital, geographical-referenced data bases that will include stratigraphic and geochemical information. Mapping PartnershipsThe USGS, in partnership with the Louisiana Office of the Oil Spill Coordinator, several Federal agencies, and a private aerial mapping company, has completed about 95 percent coverage of color infrared aerial photography of the State, as part of the National Aerial Photography Program (NAPP). The NAPP coverages can be useful in identifying areas that could be affected from potential oil spills along the Gulf Coast. One of the products from the color infrared aerial photographs will be 1:12,000-scale digital orthophoto quadrangles that can be useful as basemaps in geographical information system data bases. The USGS and DOTD partnership provides current and accurate 1:24,000-

scale topographic maps (1 inch on the map represents 2,000 feet on the ground) for Louisiana. The maps depict landscape features such as lakes and streams, highways and railroads, boundaries, and geographic names. Contour lines depict 

the elevation and shape of terrain. The maps are useful for civil engineering, land-use planning, resource monitoring, hiking, camping, exploring, and fishing expeditions. The map revisions for 1999 are shown in figure 6. 

The USGS office locations USGS State Representative

3535 S. Sherwood Forest Blvd., Suite 120Baton Rouge, LA 70816Telephone: (225) 389-0281Fax: (225) 389-0706E-mail: crdemas@usgs.gov

The USGS has 139employees in Louisiana
Sharing Mercury an

Related DataThrough the Acadian-Postudy, the USGS and the Department of Environmity (DEQ) are sharing daate the occurrence of metissue and to further undtransport and fate of merenvironment. The USGS lyzed bottom-material sagrain size and organic caprovided fish tissue sampfor analysis of mercury.Statewide Real-TimMonitoringLouisiana leads the Natierty damage caused by fhelp reduce future lossesin cooperation with Fedeand local agencies, operawide real-time flood motem to measure river stagtransmit data. During flohurricanes, this informaton to the appropriate emresponse agencies and thmedia through the Louisof Emergency Preparednand the USGS provides tance at the LOEP. The ialso is available on the Ihttp://la.water.usgs.gov. Flood Tracking in tRiver BasinDuring floods in the Am

The USGS is assessing changes in Louisiana’s coastal environment for improved understanding of the contributing processes and activities to assist Federal, State, and local managers and planners in developing and utilizing restoration and preservation methods. The USGS National Wetlands Research Center (NWRC) in Lafayette provides basic information and spatial analysis of data from small-scale restoration projects (fig. 2) throughout the Mississippi River Delta. The restoration projects are supported through the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act of 1992 and managed by the Federal and State Wetlands Task Force. The NWRC also studies vigorous “super plants” that could lessen coastal erosion, restoration of threatened coastal prairie habitats, effects of hurricanes on wetlands and barrier islands, and changes in global climate. The USGS, in cooperation with the Louisiana Department of Natural 

National Water-Quality Assessment ProgramThe USGS is conducting studies in the Acadian-Pontchartrain Study Unit, http://la.water.usgs.gov/nawqa,

as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program. This program is designed to describe the status and trends in the quality of the Nation’s ground- and surface-water resources and to provide a sound understanding of the natural and human factors that affect the quality of these resources.The study unit, which covers about 26,000 mi2 in southern Louisiana and 

southwestern Mississippi, includes many large drainage basins and Lake Pontchartrain, one of the Nation’s largest estuaries. About 3.1 million people live within this study unit.Water-quality concerns in the study unit include the following: 

• Elevated mercury concentrations 

in fish tissue; 

• Nutrient enrichment of water bodies, especially in the Lake Pontchartrain Basin; • Saltwater encroachment into aquifers and coastal freshwater 

marshes (fig. 3); and 

• Contamination of fresh ground 

and surface water by trace elements and pesticides and other organic chemicals. 

Resources (DNR) and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, is monitoring surface water along the Louisiana coast to provide Louisiana with vital information during hurricanes. The data also are used to manage freshwaterdiversion and coastal restoration projects by the State and the USACE. 

Hypoxia Monitoring The USGS is participating in the evaluation of an area referred to as a hypoxic or "dead" zone that appears in the Gulf of Mexico; the area extends westward from the mouth of the Mississippi River along the Louisiana coast. Hypoxia exists when DO concentrations in the bottom water decrease to levels that are insufficient to support marine life such as fish, shrimp, and crabs. The depletion of DO occurs nearly every spring and summer in response to inflow of nutrient-enriched water from the Mississippi River into the Gulf of Mexico. The nutrient-enriched water encourages the vigorous growth of algae that, as they die and decompose, deplete the DO supply. Under hypoxic conditions, most animals move to an area having higher DO concentrations; animals unable to move, such as those living in the mud, die if the hypoxia persists.In relation to hypoxia monitoring, the USGS monitors nutrient transport in the Mississippi River as part of the National Stream-Quality Accounting Network and the Midcontinent Herbi
Sharing Mercury an

Related DataThrough the Acadian-Postudy, the USGS and the Department of Environmity (DEQ) are sharing daate the occurrence of metissue and to further undtransport and fate of merenvironment. The USGS lyzed bottom-material sagrain size and organic caprovided fish tissue sampfor analysis of mercury.Statewide Real-TimMonitoringLouisiana leads the Natierty damage caused by fhelp reduce future lossesin cooperation with Fedeand local agencies, operawide real-time flood motem to measure river stagtransmit data. During flohurricanes, this informaton to the appropriate emresponse agencies and thmedia through the Louisof Emergency Preparednand the USGS provides tance at the LOEP. The ialso is available on the Ihttp://la.water.usgs.gov. Flood Tracking in tRiver BasinDuring floods in the Am

The USGS is assessing changes in Louisiana’s coastal environment for improved understanding of the contributing processes and activities to assist Federal, State, and local managers and planners in developing and utilizing restoration and preservation methods. The USGS National Wetlands Research Center (NWRC) in Lafayette provides basic information and spatial analysis of data from small-scale restoration projects (fig. 2) throughout the Mississippi River Delta. The restoration projects are supported through the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act of 1992 and managed by the Federal and State Wetlands Task Force. The NWRC also studies vigorous “super plants” that could lessen coastal erosion, restoration of threatened coastal prairie habitats, effects of hurricanes on wetlands and barrier islands, and changes in global climate. The USGS, in cooperation with the Louisiana Department of Natural 

National Water-Quality Assessment ProgramThe USGS is conducting studies in the Acadian-Pontchartrain Study Unit, http://la.water.usgs.gov/nawqa,

as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program. This program is designed to describe the status and trends in the quality of the Nation’s ground- and surface-water resources and to provide a sound understanding of the natural and human factors that affect the quality of these resources.The study unit, which covers about 26,000 mi2 in southern Louisiana and 

southwestern Mississippi, includes many large drainage basins and Lake Pontchartrain, one of the Nation’s largest estuaries. About 3.1 million people live within this study unit.Water-quality concerns in the study unit include the following: 

• Elevated mercury concentrations 

in fish tissue; 

• Nutrient enrichment of water bodies, especially in the Lake Pontchartrain Basin; • Saltwater encroachment into aquifers and coastal freshwater 

marshes (fig. 3); and 

• Contamination of fresh ground 

and surface water by trace elements and pesticides and other organic chemicals. 

Resources (DNR) and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, is monitoring surface water along the Louisiana coast to provide Louisiana with vital information during hurricanes. The data also are used to manage freshwaterdiversion and coastal restoration projects by the State and the USACE. 

Hypoxia Monitoring The USGS is participating in the evaluation of an area referred to as a hypoxic or "dead" zone that appears in the Gulf of Mexico; the area extends westward from the mouth of the Mississippi River along the Louisiana coast. Hypoxia exists when DO concentrations in the bottom water decrease to levels that are insufficient to support marine life such as fish, shrimp, and crabs. The depletion of DO occurs nearly every spring and summer in response to inflow of nutrient-enriched water from the Mississippi River into the Gulf of Mexico. The nutrient-enriched water encourages the vigorous growth of algae that, as they die and decompose, deplete the DO supply. Under hypoxic conditions, most animals move to an area having higher DO concentrations; animals unable to move, such as those living in the mud, die if the hypoxia persists.In relation to hypoxia monitoring, the USGS monitors nutrient transport in the Mississippi River as part of the National Stream-Quality Accounting N

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Mid

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bi
Figure 6. Status of 1:24,000-scale topographic map revisions for Louisiana, 1999.

6WDWH·VUHTXHVWHGUHYLVLRQFDQGLGDWHV&DQGLGDWHVIRUUHYLVLRQGXHWRKLJKVDOHV

As the Nation’s largest ea

civilian mapping agency, thcal Survey (USGS) works in with many Federal, State, anizations to provide reliable scientific information to resers, planners, and others thcountry. This information every state by USGS scientithe loss of life and property disasters, contribute to the and sound management of natural resources, and enhaof life by monitoring water, energy, and mineral resourSheet describes some of the ties in Louisiana.

Atchafalaya Basin MThe Atchafalaya Basin (figcentral Louisiana is the lartomland hardwood swamp The USGS, in cooperation 

Army Corps of Engineers 

monitoring the basin to detronmental effects of flood-practices. Physical and cheproperties being monitored tinuous velocity and stage, ductance, pH, dissolved-o

concentrations, water tempsediment deposition. The USGS Cooperative FiUnit, at Louisiana State UnBaton Rouge, has been mobasin to assess the health o

and coal geochemistry of Gulf Coast coal-bearing intervals to better understand the region’s resources. Planned results of the study include geologic and stratigraphic interpretations characterizing the coal and digital, geographical-referenced data bases that will include stratigraphic and geochemical information. Mapping PartnershipsThe USGS, in partnership with the Louisiana Office of the Oil Spill Coordinator, several Federal agencies, and a private aerial mapping company, has completed about 95 percent coverage of color infrared aerial photography of the State, as part of the National Aerial Photography Program (NAPP). The NAPP coverages can be useful in identifying areas that could be affected from potential oil spills along the Gulf Coast. One of the products from the color infrared aerial photographs will be 1:12,000-scale digital orthophoto quadrangles that can be useful as basemaps in geographical information system data bases. The USGS and DOTD partnership provides current and accurate 1:24,000-

scale topographic maps (1 inch on the map represents 2,000 feet on the ground) for Louisiana. The maps depict landscape features such as lakes and streams, highways and railroads, boundaries, and geographic names. Contour lines depict 

the elevation and shape of terrain. The maps are useful for civil engineering, land-use planning, resource monitoring, hiking, camping, exploring, and fishing expeditions. The map revisions for 1999 are shown in figure 6. 

The USGS office locations USGS State Representative

3535 S. Sherwood Forest Blvd., Suite 120Baton Rouge, LA 70816Telephone: (225) 389-0281Fax: (225) 389-0706E-mail: crdemas@usgs.gov

The USGS has 139employees in Louisiana