Table 3.69. Summary of natural and cultural features of Mermentau Basin. 



A. Hydrology of the Mermentau Basin 



B. Primary production, potential yield and harvest of 

 living resources of Mermentau Basin. 



Riverine Processes 



Upstreeim drainage area 9,539 km 



Freshwater flow volume (into basin) 

 53.4 X 10*m^/yr(fig. 3-37) 



Seasonal: 



Annual rainfall 146 cm (at Lake Arthur) 



Annual rain surplus (Chenier and Mermentau) 

 55.2 cm/yr (fig. 3-37) 



Maximum freshwater renewal time: 

 (Chenier and Mermentau) 83 days 



Surface water slope: 0.011 ft/mi= 0.2 cm/yr (fig. 3-38) 



Tides: No significant diurnal tide 

 Range: 

 Period: 



Water level variation 



Seasonal: One minimum only in June-July 



(fig. 3-38) variability highest in May 



Long-term: 2.13 cm/yr rise (fig. 3-38) 



Salinity: negligible 



Seasonal: Peak in May-June (fig. 3-39) 



Variability highest during summer 



Long-term: Slight decrease but 

 variability high 

 Control structures and modifications 



At Catfish Point Control Structure 



Vermilion Lock 



Schooner Bayou Control Structure 



Calcasieu Lock 



Freshwater Bayou Control Structure 



Small structure on Superior Canal on 



Rockefeller Refuge 

 GIWW 



Per 



km^ 



Net primary production (t/yr) 

 Appendix 6.3 



Sport hunitng and fishing use 

 estimated potential yield* 



Agriculture 



Commercial species harvest 



Shrimp (kg x 1000/yr) 

 Menhaden (kg x 1000/yr) 

 Blue crab (kg x 1000/yr) 

 Oyster (kg meat x 1000/yr) 

 Other saltwater finfishes 



(kgx 1000/yr) 

 Freshwater finfishes 



(kgx 1000/yr) 

 Nutria (pelts/yr) 

 Muskrat (pelts/yr) 



380 



Per 



basin 



1,592 4,267,000 



128,109 





 

 

 







187 



155,800 



8,280 



Method explained in part 3.5.2 



Present harvest attributed to basin (part 3.2.4) 



continued 



109 



