Integrated Response to Hurricane Katrina
Introduction
NOAA's National Status and
Trends (NS&T) Program supports ecosystem-based management
through an integrated program of environmental monitoring,
assessment, and research to describe the current status
of pollution and to detect changes in the environmental
quality of our nation's estuarine and coastal waters. These
interrelated activities are designed to provide national
context to measures of local and regional environmental
condition. Program scientists have coordinated with Federal
and State partners to develop and implement a response
strategy to assess the environmental impacts of Hurricane
Katrina as expressed through sediment contamination concentrations
and contaminant burdens measured in the tissues (meats)
of the American oyster (Crassostrea virginica). Follow this link to a listing of partners, and a description
of the broader coordinated Federal response focused on
assessing coastal the potential contamination that resulted
from hurricane Katrina.
Figure 1. Map of post hurricane sample locations.
Click on map for larger view
The NS&T
Mussel Watch Project has a 20-year time series for over 120 contaminants
in mussels from over 300 sites nationwide, including sites shown in
figure 1 (red diamonds indicate known locations of oil leakage; data
source, NOAA/ORR).
The extensive Mussel Watch time series provides a critical long-term
baseline for contaminant levels in the affected region. Coupled with
the broad spatial coverage provided by the NS&T monitoring efforts,
scientists will have the quantitative information required to assess
whether contaminant signatures from Katrina are significantly different
from historic levels, and from neighboring regions.
Images provided on the photographs page
of this site were taken by NS&T scientists and their partners during the first
week of sampling. Extensive physical impacts were evident throughout the nearshore
environments sampled, including damage to oil and gas processing facilities,
personal property, and natural habitats.
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