Cover

CHAPTER IV: WILDLIFE HABITATS FOR MISSISSIPPI’S SGCN,

THREATS AND CONSERVATION ACTIONS^244

purchase, easements or MOAs.

A Develop/improve urban/suburban/infrastructure land use development planning/zoning to
address SGCN habitats.

A Improve environmental review and permit process and oversight and enforcement of existing
regulations in important habitats/populations.

A Reduce wetland filling and ensure/encourage local, comparable mitigation for wetland loss and
maintain updated flood zone maps.

A Control exotic and invasive species (plant and animal).

A Provide public education about conservation of SGCN and/or their habitats.

A Control/exclude predators of selected SGCN and discourage intentional or unintentional
supplemental feeding of predators.

A Encourage appreciation of SGCN and their habitats by providing public access and compatible
recreational activities.

A Encourage proper disposal and cleanup of waste and litter.

13.5 Barrier Island Beaches

„ Value to SGCN - 58

„ Rank - 8th of 17 of Marine, Estuarine and

Estuarine Fringe Systems

DESCRIPTION
The intertidal beach is considered to have two parts;
the foreshore, or swash zone, where waves break in
moderate weather and the backshore, where waves
break during storm surges and high tides. Tropical
storms strike the Mississippi coast several times annually and hurricanes, on average, about once every
five or six years causing significant beach erosion. The northern shores are often narrow, more steeply
sloped and may locally exhibit vertical sand cliffs. They are somewhat protected from massive waves
generated by storms striking from the open ocean. The beaches consist of well-sorted, fine to coarse
sand containing large quantities of quartz and minor amounts of shell and heavy minerals. Both
shorelines experience erosion and accretion on an on-going basis, as prevailing currents move sand
westward. Sand movement and storms have caused the islands to decrease in size over the past century.
The backshore is the landward end of the beach where strand lines form and serve as a transition zone to
the vegetated landscape. Strand lines are places where sand berms up and seaborne debris and dead
animals accumulate. Beach vegetation is usually very sparse and confined to the upper edges of the
backshore. Sea oats, beach morning glory and gulf bluestem are the most capable of tolerating the harsh
conditions of the backshore. A few animals, such as the ghost crab, amphipods and various insects, are
permanent residents.