Reconnaissance of the flushing characteristics and water quality in coastal canals of the Gulf of Mexico.

The construction of residential canals, many of which are dead-end canals, in a coastal strip along the Gulf of Mexico has been the subject of great concern by U.S. regulatory agencies. The major concern is that construction of these canals may lead to degradaton of water quality to the point where they are void of plant and animal life or that such developments result in the destruction of valuable nursery grounds for a number of organisms in the aquatic food chain. Discussions with numerous regulatory agencies in Florida, Texas, and Mississippi and results of sampling during this investigation indicate that unfavorable conditions may develop because of the manner in which residential canals are constructed.