Jim Miller wrote,
> Other concerns are that the effluents will wash up on Gulf beaches as far
east as Apalachee Bay, possibly as far east as Cedar Key, making it unsafe
to eat any oysters or possibly even to swim in the waters! Theories range
from six months to five years.

I don't know how far east the effluent will travel, but here is a historical
item that may help to cast light on the question. In 1890, before many of
the modern changes to the Mississippi Delta were made, natural flood
discharge through Lake Ponchartrain reached at least as far east as Dauphin
Island at the mouth of Mobile Bay, Alabama. As the original publication is
not readily available outside of university libraries, I will repeat the
words of Smith et al. (1894, 'Report on the Geology of the Coastal Plain of
Alabama', p. 30-32) here. Please note that this flood did not include
wastewater or toxins.

Andrew K. Rindsberg
Geological Survey of Alabama

++++++

"Not often within historical times has the Great River extended its arms as
far as the Alabama coast, but in the spring of 1890 it made an effort to do
so, and though with comparatively slight effect, sufficiently it is thought,
to throw a strong light upon the process which, in times not very long past,
geologically considered, has built up the ground work of four of our
southern counties, at least one of western Florida, and the southern
portions of Mississippi and Louisiana. ... On the 13th of March, 1890, the
levee at the Nita Plantation, about two miles above Convent on the left bank
of the Mississippi River, gave way before the flood then at its height. ...
[T]his point is 21 feet above mean high tide. ...

"The flow of the current at the crevasse during the period of high water was
at the rate of 15 miles per hour. Yet, not until March 22nd, (9 days after
the break), did Lake Maurepas become filled up and the current begin to set
into Lake Pontchartrain through the Pass of Manchac. By April 13th, the
boundary lines of these lakes were obliterated and there was one turbulent
sea of yellow water from the 28th mile post on the I. C. R. R. out of the
city, to the 46th, 18 miles in width, poured through the outer lakes into
the Mississippi Sound. By the first of May, old fishermen of New Orleans and
Biloxi declared they could perceive a distinct current passing eastward
beyond Ship Island; and by color and taste, the effect of the fresh water
was appreciable as far as Grant's Pass, on the every entrance into Mobile
Bay. [continued]


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