I FINKL, C.W.; KHALIL, S.M.; ANDREWS, J.; KEEHN, S., and BENEDET, L., 2006. Fluvial sand sources for harrier island restoration in Louisiana: geotechnical investigations in the Misaisaippi River. Journal of Coastal Research, 22(4), 773-787. West Palm Beach (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208,Coastal land loss in the Mississippi River delta region, related to degradation of wetlands and erosion of barrier islands, contributes to loss of valuable habitat, endangerment of infrastructure and sodoeconomic systems, and coastal flooding hazards. Restoration of theae ecosystems is thus a primary activity that requires large volumes of sand to rebuild heach-dune systems and restore wetland habitats. Sand sources have traditionally heen sought offshore in the marine environment, hut there are problems associated with aethacks from oil and gas infrastructure, presence of muddy overburden, and limited reserves of heach-quality sediments. Fluvial aand sources in channel and point-bar deposits become an attractive alternative for barrier island restoration because of large volumea of relict deposits and because active sand waves are renewable. Results of preliminary geophysical and geotechnical investigations in the lower Mississippi River (south of New Orleans) along a 32-km stretch of the river indicate the presence of at least 23 million cuhic meters of usable sedimenta in seven potential borrow sitea. Caveata to asaesament and exploitation of river sands include interpretation of vihracores and seismic reflection profiles that include evidence of lateral translation-type bank failures along bendways, lateral alumpa, and postdepositional disturbance of strata above -30 m. Reliable extraction of good quality sediment should occur down current from bendways. ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS: Sand search, fluvial sand resources, river mining, renewable sand resources, barrier islands, beach erosion.
