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ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS IN NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO COASTAL WATERS FOLLOWING HURRICANE KATRINA
Citation:
MACAULEY, J. M. ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS IN NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO COASTAL WATERS FOLLOWING HURRICANE KATRINA. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-07/063, 2007.
Impact/Purpose:
Detailing environmental changes after Hurricane Katrina.
Description:
On the morning of August 29, 2005 Hurricane Katrina struck the coast of Louisiana, between New Orleans and Biloxi, Mississippi, as a strong category three hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. The massive winds and flooding had the potential for a tremendous environmental impact on the coastal waters of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) conducted a joint survey to determine the condition of coastall estuaries in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama post-Katrina. Monitoring surveys were conducted in Lake Pontchartrain from October 11-14, 2005 using small trailerable boats and in Mississippi Sound from October 9-15, 2005 using small boats staged from the OSV BOLD in Gulfport, MS. A major focus of these surveys was on the collection and analysis of water and sediment samples using standard protocols and core indicators developed by EPA's Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) and National Coastal Assessment (NCA) programs. Water analyses included nutrients, chlorophylla, total suspended solids, and carbon. In addition, NOAA and USGS provided sample collection and analysis of potential waterborne pathogens (fecal coliforms and enterococci) and contaminants (organochlorine pesticides, PCBs, PAHs, oil and grease, and metals). Sediment for toxicity testing and the analysis of chemical contaminants, microbial/pathogenic indicators, TOC, and grain size was composited from multiple grabs at each site. One additional grab was sieved (0.5 mm) for benthic infaunal community analysis. These data were compared to similar data collected pre-storm and to existing criteria and guidance values.