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CHAPTER IV: WILDLIFE HABITATS FOR MISSISSIPPI’S SGCN,

THREATS AND CONSERVATION ACTIONS^219

12.9 - 12.13 THE LOWER COASTAL PLAIN

The Lower Coastal Plain covers most of the south half of Mississippi. The lower Pearl, Pascagoula,
coastal rivers (Jordan, Wolf, Biloxi), tributaries of the Lower Mississippi River South (Bayou Pierre,
Homochitto, and Buffalo Rivers) and a portion of the Lake Pontchartrain system are found in this
region. A unique feature of this region is the numerous blackwater streams, which are found primarily
in southeast Mississippi, east of the Pearl River. Streams in this region are divided into five categories:
small, small blackwater, medium, medium blackwater and large.

12.9. Lower Coastal Plain, Pearl

Drainage

„ Value to SGCN - 105

„ Rank - 5th of 18 of Lotic and Lentic Systems

DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION
NGM, EGCP
This area includes the Pearl River and its tributaries
downstream from Jackson, Mississippi to the Gulf of
Mexico. Downstream from Marion County, Mississippi, the Pearl River forms the boundary between
Louisiana and Mississippi. The Pearl River splits downstream from Bogalusa, Louisiana into the East
and West Pearl. The West Pearl, which carries most of the flow, lies entirely in Louisiana. The East
Pearl carries only a fraction of the flow. Impacts to streams in this drainage vary. Headcutting, channel
modification, industrial pollution, increased sedimentation and changes in land use practices have
altered stream habitats in this region.

CONDITION AND CONSERVATION STATUS

The lower Pearl River drainage is impacted by Ross Barnett Reservoir which is
upstream. Reaches of the river and some of its tributaries have been
channelized, but to a lesser extent than streams in northern Mississippi.
However, streams in this drainage suffer some of the same impacts of increased
erosion, increased sedimentation and impacts from surrounding land use. Much
of the flow of the main stem of the Pearl River is diverted just south of
Bogalusa, Louisiana to the West Pearl, which lies entirely within Louisiana.

Because of the high conservation rank of this drainage, it is considered
vulnerable in the state.

Small blackwater stream, Lower Coastal Plain, Pearl Drainage.

12.9 Lower Coastal

Lower Coastal Plain,

Pearl Drainage