ABSTRACT

The Bayelsa State Rivers is a region known for large onshore and offshore oil exploration and production including gas production. The rivers are characterized by deep meanders and muddy sediments. Near Okoroma, the character of the river changes abruptly as it starts its steep descent to Oloibiri. The study area is represented in Fig.l).This position of the water shed is characterized by deeply incised river channels and canyons. These areas support a wide variety of important fish, aquatic, invetertebrate bird and other wildlife species. The Bayelsa Rivers has been and continues to be of vita! economic, environmental and social importance to the areas encompassing Ewoama, Brass, Okoroma, and Oloibiri which constitute the study area. The middle and lower portions of the river support a varity of industrial, residential and recreational activities. In addition, these areas provide essential habitat for aquatic organisms and aquatic dependent wildlife species. The lower estuary culminates in large onshore and offshore oil exploration including gas production which is one of the most heavily used portions in the Bayelsa River. Not surprisingly, historic and ongoing land use and water related activities in the middle and lower portions of these rivers have contributed a variety of nutrients and chemicals to the Bayelsa River. Bayelsa River is prone to pollution by metals and biodegradable contaminants. Effluent from the various treatment plants are discharged into the ocean and the inherent pollution are distributed and carried to the coastal land by tidal waves of the sea. These Rivers which flows over seventy percent of Bayelsa state is a major source of water supply for commercial, industrial, agricultural, Recreational and fishing activities. It also serves a waste disposal s1te for Agip Oil Company and Shell Production and Developer. Company and its inhabitants. The major physiographic feature of these rivers in Bayelsa State is that the rivers are salty and flow from the Atlantic Ocean to the rivers during high tide and lIom the rivers to the sea during low tide. Thus, there is intermixing of fresh water from the rivers with the salt water from the sea giving the river its salty taste. Due to the salty nature of the river, the inhabitants of Bayelsa State in these study area do not rely on water from the river as a source of drinking water rather they enjoy pipe borehole water from' Agip and Shell Oil Company while they use water from the river for their recreational and commercial purposes.