2.6 Creation of pathways for increased saltwater inundation (new 

 buggy tracks) 



2.7 Elimination of pathways for increased saltwater inundation 

 (filling/plugging) 



2.8 Creation of pathways for increased rate of flow of runoff (new 

 buggy tracks) 



2.9 Elimination of pathways for increased rate of flow of runoff 

 (filling/plugging) 



2.10 Changes in frequency of inundation in localized areas (buggy 

 tracks and filling/plugging) 



2.11 Displacement of consumers in wellsite area and access routes 

 3. Attribute alterations 



The movement of work crews and vehicles over the land surface tramples 

 and crushes vegetation. Marsh buggy travel over undisturbed marsh 

 is primarily associated with retrieving surface pipelines. Depend- 

 ing upon the soil moisture conditions, the vegetation may be com- 

 pletely uprooted and destroyed in some zones. This results in an 

 immediate decrease in food and cover for the consumers in the area. 

 The total area thus affected is small in comparison to the remaining 

 area of productive vegetation, and the effects on animals, nitrogen 

 fixation, and detritus are insignificant. 



The depth and number of ruts (decrease in land elevation, storage 11) 

 created by marsh buggies is dependent upon the number of trips and 

 the degree to which they retrace existing tracks. In areas that are 

 submerged daily, the depressions are less likely to significantly 

 alter water movement patterns. Hence, in areas near the estuary, 

 confinement of marsh buggy traffic to a narrow corridor may be wise. 

 However, in areas further removed from the estuary, deep ruts result- 

 ing from retraced trails would form a depression for the movement of 

 water and, if deep enough, may result in standing bodies of water 

 during wet seasons. The orientation and depth of the depressions 

 determine whether they (1) remain for long periods of time and (2) 

 increase or decrease the frequency of inundation of a given area of 

 land. Areas dominated by saltgrass or shore grass may be replaced 

 by stands of smooth cordgrass when the frequency and/or duration of 

 inundation increases. The converse may occur when frequency and/or 

 duration of inundation decreases. The total area affected is site 

 specific and could range from insignificant to highly significant 



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