Benthic macrofauna community and response characterization, thin-layer disposal national demonstration project, Gulfport, Mississippi. Draft technical data report pre-disposal: July 1991 - June 1992.

Abstract

Environmental monitoring of historic and proposed dredged material disposal sites was conducted from July 1991 through June 1992. The benthos was the focus of the monitoring effort at seven areas within Mississippi Sound, bordering the Gulfport Shipping Channel, Gulfport, Mississippi. The objectives of the project were to collect baseline information on the benthic infaunal communities prior to new thin-layer disposal work planned for 1992 and to evaluate the current condition of historic dredged material disposal sites. The first year of data were analyzed to provide estimates of "natural" background variation in descriptive faunal parameters. It is against such variation that potential impacts of thin-layer disposal techniques are measured.