CHAUVIN, La. -- The Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium will receive almost $1 million to study the so-called "dead zone," in the northern Gulf of Mexico.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration granted the consortium $879,992, U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., announced on Friday.

Researchers predict a "dead zone" of oxygen-depleted waters off the Louisiana and Texas coasts could grow this summer to 10,084 square miles, making it the largest such expanse in at least 23 years.

If the preliminary forecast holds, the researchers say, the size of the so-called "dead zone" would be 17-21 percent larger than at anytime since the mapping began in 1985 -- and about as large as the state of Massachusetts.

Dr. Nancy Rabalais, director of the marine consortium, says the grant will allow the consortium to make more frequent cruises and document the changes to the Gulf this summer.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)