A SUMMARY REPORT OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND SURVEYS CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE 

 EFFECtS OF BONNET CARRE SPILLIIAY OPENING, FEBRUARY-MARCH X950 



INTRODUCTION 



Studies made on the condition of oyster reefs and the waters of the 

 west end of Mississippi Sound during the past 18 months, as well as analyses 

 of data on the amount of water discharge from the Pearl and Mississippi 

 Rivers during the past 10 years, demonstrated the susceptibility of this 

 area to the danger of excessive fresh water in the past decade oj/ The discharge 

 from the Pearl River alone during the past three out of four years has been 

 sufficient to cause severe oyster mortalities o The unusually heavy precipi™ 

 tation in the Mississippi Basin during the winter months of 1949-1950 made 

 it reasonable to assume that there would be unusually high river stages 

 this springo It was probable that fresh water from the Pearl River would 

 again cause oyster mortalities and there was the strong possibility that the 

 Bonnet Carre Spillway would have to be opened© For these reasons, I 

 recommended to the Mississippi Seafoods Commission, while attending a meeting 

 of that body on January 20, that they declare the oyster reefs of Mississippi, 

 then closed, open for public fishing so that marketable oysters could be 

 S'smoved prior to the advent of the flood waters o This recommendation was 

 followed only in part© The oyster reefs were opened for a few days and not 

 many oysters were harvestedo This was primarily because the oysters were 

 not in prime condition and the fishermen were unwilling to harvest them© 



On February 9j, the Corps of Engineers, Uo So Anny announced that the 

 Bonnet Carre Spillway was to be opened and arrangements were made immediately 

 with the Mississippi Seafoods Commission for the use of their boats and 

 personnel to conduct surveys of this area© 



The initial survey of the areas involved was made on February 10=11 

 to determine the condition of the oyster reefs and the water Quality before 

 the Mississippi River waters had time to flow into the area© On this survey 

 it was found that the water in much of the region was already too fresh for 

 the normal growth of oysters o A telegram was sent to the Chairman of the 

 Mississippi Seafoods Commission on February 13 advising him of these condi= 

 tions and recommending the emergency opening of the entire area for harvesting 

 of the marketable oysters presents The Commission declared a state of 

 emergency and opened the oyster reefs to fishing on February 15o Since that 

 time the marketable oysters have been har%rested for the most part, and the 

 State is now engaged in an extensive program of removing the seed oysters 

 (less than 3" in length) from these reefs to more easterly locations where 

 they are not likely to be seriously affected by the flood waters© 



"y See also *An Investigation of Oyster Producing Areas in Louisiana 



and Mississippi Damaged by Flood Waters in 1945* by Dr© Philip Ac Butler, 

 Speoo Scio Reptos Fisheries No« 8o 



