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An Interagency Response to Assess Environmental Impacts of Hurricane Katrina

This report discusses the interagency efforts to assess and evaluate the environmental impacts of Hurricane Katrina on coastal ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico. It covers topics such as pollution issues from hydrocarbon releases, toxics and pathogens from pumping out New Orleans, and the evaluation of potential impacts on living marine resources and people. The report also highlights the importance of interagency coordination, data sharing, and future ecosystem level impact assessments.

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An Interagency Response to Assess Environmental Impacts of Hurricane Katrina

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  1. An Interagency Response to Assess Environmental Impacts of Hurricane Katrina Russell Callender January 18, 2006 • Director, Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment • NOAA Ocean Service

  2. Hurricane Effects in an Ecosystem Context

  3. Pollution Issues Subject to Sampling • Hydrocarbon releases along the lower Mississippi River and from sunken vessels • Toxics and pathogens from pumping out New Orleans • Large numbers of sunken vessels inshore of Mississippi Sound • Contents of storm surge waters • Offshore releases

  4. Hydrocarbon Releases Requiring Response

  5. Evaluating Potential Environmental Impacts on Living Marine Resources and People • NOAA Cruises and Related Sampling • EPA, USGS, NOAA, FDA OSV Bold Cruise and Related Sampling • NOAA National Status and Trends Program (NS&T) Mussel Watch Contaminant Monitoring

  6. Joint NOAA Cruises and Related Sampling – OAR, NMFS, and NOS Response Aboard the RV Nancy Foster NOAA Ship NANCY FOSTER Cruise 9/12-9/16 2005 Cruise 9/26-10/3 Sample: Water Sediments Fish/Shrimp/Crabs For: Toxic Contaminants Metals Hydrocarbons Pesticides Etc. Pathogens Bacteria Viruses Gear: CTD Rosette Sampler Bottom Grabs Fish/Shrimp Trawls Phytoplankton CCMA-NOS Science Personnel from Miami (OAR), Seattle (NMFS), Pascagoula (NMFS), Woods Hole (NMFS)

  7. Stations Sampled by the Nancy Foster

  8. Chartered Fishing Vessel Sampling Bi-weekly sampling underway

  9. Assessment of the Effects of Hurricane Katrina on Coastal Ecosystems –OSV Bold

  10. NOAA National Status and Trends Program (NS&T) Mussel Watch Project Contaminant Monitoring 120 Contaminants Measured in American Oyster

  11. Chlorophyll a SEAWIFS SatelliteSeptember 26, 2005

  12. Ongoing NOAA Operations & Studies • Sustained Operations for contaminants monitoring – cruise biweekly with other sampling as appropriate, NANCY FOSTER, PATRICIA JEAN • Mussel Watch stations re-sampled • EMAP stations sampled in NOAA & EPA cruise, EPA R/V Bold • Hydrodynamic models being run to forecast materials distribution and to direct sampling • Wetlands loss analysis being undertaken • Re-assessment of community profiles, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, west coast of Florida • Monitoring of SEAWiFS and shipboard samples for potential HAB outbreaks resulting from Karenia brevis (long lasting HAB off West Florida) • Continuing coordination of activities with COE, USGS, EPA, FDA, NSF, State Directors and Agencies • Website: www.noaa.gov – “Hurricane Katrina Environmental Impacts”

  13. SUMMARY • Interagency coordination allowed a more complete and rapid environmental impact assessment of GOM hurricane impacts than would have otherwise been possible • Interagency partnerships developed through this effort have been extremely productive and will continue • EPA is leading the effort to develop a shared database • Regular interagency phone calls that share data and initial results are extremely productive • New results are made available on Agency websites as analyses are completed • Recommend interagency data synthesis in future to determine ecosystem level impacts.

  14. Agency Partners and Points of Contact • US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) • Dr. William H. Benson • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) • Dr. Steve Murawski • US Geological Survey (USGS) • Donna Meyers • US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) • Dr. Robert Dickey

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