An Interagency Response to Assess Environmental Impacts of Hurricane

Katrina

Russell Callender

January 18, 2006

Director, Center for Coastal Monitoring and AssessmentNOAA Ocean Service

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Hurricane Effects in an Ecosystem Context

Hurricane Effects in an Ecosystem Context

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Pollution Issues Subject to SamplingPollution 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

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Hydrocarbon Releases Requiring Response

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Evaluating Potential Environmental Impacts on Living Marine Resources and People

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

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NOAA Ship NANCY FOSTERCruise 9/12-9/16 2005Cruise 9/26-10/3

Sample:WaterSedimentsFish/Shrimp/Crabs

For:Toxic Contaminants MetalsHydrocarbonsPesticidesEtc.

PathogensBacteriaViruses

Gear:

CTDRosette SamplerBottom GrabsFish/Shrimp TrawlsPhytoplanktonCCMA-NOS

Science Personnel from Miami (OAR), Seattle (NMFS), Pascagoula (NMFS), Woods Hole (NMFS)

Joint NOAA Cruises and Related Sampling – OAR, NMFS, and NOS Response Aboard the RV Nancy Foster

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Stations Sampled by the Nancy Foster

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Chartered Fishing Vessel SamplingChartered Fishing Vessel Sampling

Bi-weekly sampling underway

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

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NOAA National Status and Trends Program (NS&T) Mussel Watch Project Contaminant Monitoring

NOAA National Status and Trends Program (NS&T) Mussel Watch Project Contaminant Monitoring

120 ContaminantsMeasured in American Oyster

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Chlorophyll a SEAWIFS SatelliteSeptember 26, 2005

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Ongoing NOAA Operations & StudiesOngoing 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”

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SUMMARYSUMMARY• 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.

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Agency Partners and Points of ContactAgency 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