How do you think that the coast should be protected in the future?
Coastal Land Loss and Katrina
It is not only New Orleans that has been devastated by hurricane Katrina; a large swathe of the coast including Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama bore the brunt of Katrina's power.
There are two kinds of defences (apart from running for the hills): man-made defences and natural defences. New Orleans relied heavily on man-made defences, but these needed regular maintenance not only because of the normal ravages of the weather, but because the land was actually sinking further below sea level. All along the coast, natural as well as man-made defences were neglected or insufficiently maintained, and natural defences were neglected or deliberately destroyed to make profit or homes. Sometimes we have spent money to destroy natural defences, only to spend more money on man-made defences, then spent more money dealing with the disaster when the man-made defences fail, then more money to rebuild or restore. As a result of our actions, the coast has become increasingly vulnerable to the ravages of hurricanes, which appear to be getting more powerful. The tragedy of New Orleans and other coastal communities was an accident waiting to happen.
Here's the text of a press release issued by the National Wetlands Research Center back in May 21, 2003 giving details of the amount of coastal land loss, its causes and the consequences to human populations, the oil and gas infrastructure, fisheries and the seafood industry, and wildlife.
Without Restoration, Coastal Land Loss to Continue
LAFAYETTE, LA-Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey and other federal and state agencies are reporting that Louisiana lost approximately 1,900 square miles of coastal land, primarily coastal marshes, during the 20th century and could lose another 700 square miles over the next 50 years if no new restoration takes place.
That means by 2050 one third of coastal Louisiana will have vanished into the Gulf of Mexico. Nationally, Louisiana currently experiences about 90 percent of the total coastal marsh loss in the continental United States.
Based on USGS data, land loss rates have been reduced from 39 square miles per year between 1956 and 1978 to 24 square miles per year from 1990 to 2000. For the entire period, the loss rate has been 34 square miles per year.
In a peer-reviewed report to be released soon, USGS documents the recent work of the Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA) Land Change Study Group. The group includes federal and state government agencies and university experts in remote sensing, geographic information systems, ecosystem processes, and coastal land loss.
Data generated from the report are being used to plan and assess future coastal restoration. Restoring the state’s coast will be one of the largest environmental projects ever undertaken in the United States, estimated to cost $14 billion over the next 40 years. State and federal officials, however, estimate that the cost of inaction will amount to more than $100 billion in infrastructure alone.
The group used historical data and the latest technology to predict land changes, especially the conversion of land to open water from 2000 to 2050. The report was done in support of the Louisiana Coastal Area Comprehensive Coastwide Ecosystem Restoration Study.
According to James B. Johnston, spatial analysis branch chief at the USGS National Wetlands Research Center, “If we take wetland loss information from the USGS and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, we know that Louisiana lost 1,900 square miles from 1932 to 2000, roughly an area the size of the state of Delaware. Based on the best scientific estimates appearing in the LCA Land Loss Report, the state will lose an additional 700 square miles, about equal to the size of the greater Washington, D.C.-Baltimore, Md. area.”
The area undergoing the greatest wetland loss is the Barataria and Terrebonne basins, south of New Orleans. Communities in that vicinity include Thibodaux, Houma, Golden Meadow and Grand Isle. From 1956 to 1978 that area, according to John Barras, USGS geographer, accounted for 43 percent of Louisiana’s total coastal wetland loss. From 1978 to 1990, Barataria-Terrebonne experienced 61 percent of the state’s loss and from 1990 to 2000, it was 66 percent. The LCA report predicts the area’s percentage of loss to be as much as 80 percent from 2000 to 2050 if no new restoration occurs.
The impacts on human populations, the oil and gas infrastructure, fisheries and the seafood industry, and wildlife will be considerable if coastal wetlands continue to disappear.
Not only are there significant populations in the Barataria-Terrebonne area, Johnston said, but also the entire region helps buffer larger populations and property in the New Orleans area from hurricanes and other storms. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that about half of Louisiana’s 4.5 million people live in coastal parishes. Without wetlands to buffer storms both people and property are at risk
Louisiana wetlands are also natural protection for the oil and gas production facilities and pipelines delivering fuel to heat the homes and power the cars of about a quarter of the United States. Without wetlands as a buffer, storms could devastate the U.S. energy security because coastal Louisiana is the home of the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve Sites, a necessity during national emergencies, as well as thousands of miles of pipelines and numerous refineries.
Coastal Louisiana wetlands are termed “America’s Wetlands” because of their great environmental and societal value. They make up the seventh largest delta on Earth and are the heart of an intricate ecosystem some scientists say is on the verge of collapse. They contain over 40 percent of the U.S. tidal marshes and support the largest commercial fishery in the lower 48 states.
These wetlands provide wintering habitat for millions of waterfowl and migratory birds as well as home for several endangered and threatened species. Coastal Louisiana contains 10 national wildlife refuges and one national park encompassing more than 500 square miles, some of which have wetland loss affecting their capacity to support fish and wildlife.
Please see the following message for the rest of this press release and remaining stories.
There are many causes of wetland loss, but chief among them are the dams, levees, navigation projects and channels erected along the mainstream and major tributaries of the Mississippi River. These projects, started in 1928 following the watershed flood of 1927, were completed in 1963, coinciding with the first observations of major coastal land loss in Louisiana. They have resulted in a 67 percent decrease in sediment delivered to the Louisiana coast, a necessary process to keep marshlands replenished.
* * USGS * * *
Other stories
Looting Begins in New Orleans, Bush to return to Washington because of hurricane, FEMA Head: Katrina Was 'Catastrophic', Hurricane Katrina Survivors Recall Terror, Hurricane Katrina brings death, floods to U.S. Gulf, Katrina Devastation Called 'Overwhelming', Bush Returning to Monitor Hurricane Effort, Man Tells of Deaths at a Boarding House, Katrina Damage May Bring $26B in Claims, Superdome Refugees Get Some Fresh Air, Katrina's Effects, at a Glance, Katrina Disrupts Phone Service Along Gulf, Katrina among costliest U.S. storms, Katrina Relief Info Available on the Web, Gulf Coast Struggles After Hurricane
Looting has begun in New Orleans. Some people are taking essentials, such as food, drink, nappies and clothes. Others are taking whatever they can grab. Most survivors ended up on roof tops or in the Superdome, which lost pieces of its roof, and conditions are deteriorating. With New Orleans under water and levees breached, water levels were getting higher, not lower, threatening hospitals. Bodies were floating in the water. People were still being rescued, often by helicopter. New Orleans is to be evacuated completely.
President George W. Bush chose to return to Washington D.C. from his holiday because of the devastation caused by hurricane Katrina..
Gov. Kathleen Blanco of Louisiana said, "At first light, the devastation is greater than our worst fears. It's just totally overwhelming".
There was devastation in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama as well as Florida. Many are without power and phone service.
To help, call 1-800-HELPNOW, log on to the Red Cross Web site at https://www.redcross.org or get in touch with the Salvation Army.
The estimates for insurance claims are huge, but many were uninsured due to poverty. Many are now out of work, as their industries, such as gambling and tourism, were destroyed.
There is no word yet on how long the oil rigs and refineries will be out of action.
Disaster Relief information:
Please see the following message for the remaining stories.
Relief Organizations:
Rumsfeld: Military-Ecology Balance Needed
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld has warned that protecting the environment should be balanced against military needs. He said, "When those concerns are not balanced, the consequence can be unfortunate". Congress has made changes to the Endangered Species Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act, accepting 5 out of the Pentagon's 8 requests for easing of environmental restrictions. Congress' Government Accountability Office found little evidence that environmental restrictions were interfering with military training in its 2002 report. The red-cockaded woodpecker, an endangered species, has done well on southeastern U.S. military bases. One solution has been to arrange for buffers on private land that wildlife can retreat to when the military is being noisy. According to Assistant Deputy Undersecretary of Defense Alex Beehler, 25% of all 1,268 endangered and threatened species now live on military bases.
France reinforces defenses against bird flu
France is increasing its drug stockpiles and reinforcing checks at airports in preparation for the possible arrival of the H5N1 deadly strain of bird flu.
Six in Fla. Charged in Illegal Bird Sales
Six people have been charged with violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act by smuggling protected species of migratory birds into the country. Species include Cuban songbirds, indigo and painted buntings, blue grosbeaks and Northern cardinals.
Ostrich Gets Loose on Golden Gate Bridge
An ostrich fell out of a van on the Golden Gate Bridge. Traffic was stopped for about 8 minutes before it was restarted. It was not badly hurt.
Idaho Supports Plutonium Production Plan
An Energy Department proposal to start producing plutonium-238 has met with approval from Idaho. The plutonium would be for use by NASA and national security agencies. Plutonium-238 is used as a steady source of heat to produce electricity for batteries for spacecraft and satellites that cannot use solar power. The USA has been using stockpiles and supplies from Russia since it closed down production in the mid-1990s. Production would begin in 2010 and last for 35 years. 11 pounds of the material would be produced a year; ingesting a single speck could be fatal.
New Structure Found at Ancient Ohio Site
Archaeologists have found a new (or should that be ancient?) structure circular structure about 200 feet in diameter at Fort Ancient State Memorial. The memorial consists of 2,000-year-old earthworks built by Hopewell Indians spanning 3.5 miles and consisting of nearly 100 hilltop acres.
Georgia to Allow Underwater Logging
During the heyday of logging in the 1800s and early 1900s, some of the millions of logs floated down rivers in Georgia sank. Since 1998 it has been illegal to retrieve them, but now a new law will allow the recovery of the valuable wood for 2 years, and extend it if there no problems. Environmentalists are concerned of disturbance to fish nurseries and to water quality. They are also concerned that the logs, which are state property, will be sold at less than market value. According to one logger, a descendant of the old loggers, "It's really a treasure. The quality of the wood and the uniqueness of the wood is something we can't duplicate. There really aren't any virgin forests left."
Almanac Predicts Wild Winter Ahead
The latest edition of the Farmers' Almanac is predicting a roller-coaster of a winter for the whole of North America.
Index of topics in this series.
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Here's the part of FEMA's National Situation Update for Tuesday, August 30, 2005 relating to hurricane Katrina:
At 5 am EDT (0900Z) the center of tropical storm Katrina was located near latitude 34.7 north longitude 88.4 west or about 35 miles northeast of Tupelo Mississippi.
Katrina is moving toward the north-northeast near 18 mph. A turn toward the northeast and a faster forward speed is expected during The next 24 hours. This motion should bring the center of Katrina Through the tennessee valley today.
Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 50 mph with higher gusts. Further weakening is expected during the next 24 hours and Katrina should weaken to a depression later today.
Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 105 miles 165 km from the center. Wind gusts of 60 to 65 mph have been reported from portions of northern Alabama during the past several hours.
Estimated minimum central pressure is 981 mb (28.97 inches). Tupelo recently reported a pressure of 980.4 mb (28.95 inches).
Coastal storm surge flooding along the northern and northeastern Gulf of Mexico will slowly subside today.
Additional rainfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 6 inches will accompany Katrina across the Tennessee and Ohio Valleys, the lower Great Lakes, and into northern New England.
Tornadoes are possible today over western South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. (NWS National Hurricane Center)
South: Hurricane Katrina made two landfalls earlier today, one south of Buras, Louisiana at 6:10 am CDT and the other along the Louisiana/Mississippi border around 10:00 am CDT. Top winds for the first landfall were 140 mph and 125 mph for the second landfall. New Orleans, eastern Louisiana and southern Mississippi took the brunt of Katrina’s fury. There was a report of a storm surge of at least 27 feet in Gulfport, Mississippi as Katrina moved in. The concern now turns to inland locations of Mississippi and Alabama. Tropical storm force winds could last well into the day today into Tennessee. Heavy rainfall, wind gusts to 50 mph and isolated tornadoes are possible along and to the east of Katrina’s center. Rainfall amounts of 4 to 8 inches are possible in the heaviest rainfall, which would lead to flash flooding. Tonight and tomorrow the remnants of Katrina should lift into the Ohio Valley/eastern Great Lakes. By tomorrow the South should have a chance to dry out, with the exception of Florida where scattered thunderstorms are possible. Temperatures should warm back into the mid 80s to lower 90s with a moderate amount of humidity for midweek clean up efforts. The remainder of the south should have a sunny and hot day today and tomorrow.
Northeast: A rainy period is in store for the eastern Ohio Valley and the Northeast through much of this week. A stalled frontal boundary should produce scattered showers and thunderstorms across the area today. The remnants of Katrina should move into the Ohio Valley tonight and the Northeast tomorrow. Rainfall will be heavy along the path of the system, which could lead to flooding. Temperatures should remain typical for late summer with highs in the 70s in the mountains and in the 80s in the lower elevations. Midwest: Outside of the Katrina’s remnants in the Ohio Valley, most of the Midwest should have a nice day. A cold front is forecast to push out of the Rocky Mountains through the northern Plains this afternoon and evening. A band of showers and thunderstorms could develop along the front in central North and South Dakota. Another area of scattered showers is possible in the Great Lakes due to low pressure spinning by to the north in southern Canada. The Plains cold front could spread showers and thunderstorms from the western Great Lakes to the southern Plains tomorrow. Temperatures should run 5 to 10 degrees below average through midweek along the Canadian border with highs mostly in the 60s and 70s. Farther south readings should be closer to average with highs in the 70s and lower 80s.
West: A cold front should push through the northern Rocky Mountains during the day producing an area of scattered showers and thunderstorms over Montana and Wyoming. After that front clears the western third of the country high pressure should take over producing glorious weather through the end of the week. Temperatures are forecast to run near average with daytime highs ranging from the 60s and 70s along the Northwest coast, northern California coast and higher elevations to the 110s in the deserts in Arizona, California and Nevada. (NWS, Media Sources)
Federal emergency response efforts kicked into high gear after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast and surged northward, while President Bush considered tapping U.S. emergency petroleum stockpiles to ease the storm's impact on affected refineries.
Administration officials said Bush was expected to authorize a loan of at least some oil from the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, said Monday that final details were being worked out.
The storm shut down oil and natural gas operations in the Gulf of Mexico, representing about 8 percent of U.S. refining capacity or about 1 million barrels, further driving up gasoline prices.
Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman said, "Over the next few days, we will continue to gain more information on the specific needs and then be able to make a better determination on how we can help."
The reserves would be used to provide refineries a temporary supply of crude oil to replace interrupted shipments from tankers or offshore oil platforms affected by the storm.
Bush, on a visit Monday to Arizona and California, pledged extensive federal help for victims of Katrina to "get your lives back in order." The government put into effect a massive emergency assistance program that included rushing baby formula, communications equipment, generators, water and ice into hard-hit areas.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency sent medical teams, rescue squads and groups prepared to supply food and water into the disaster areas.
The president made emergency disaster declarations for Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Bush had spoken with the governors of those states "to make sure they were getting what they needed from the federal government."
Please see the following message for the rest of this report.
In other storm-related developments:
The American Red Cross said it had thousands of volunteers mobilized for the hurricane. It was the "largest single mobilization that we've done for any single natural disaster," spokesman Bradley Hague said. The organization set up operational headquarters in Baton Rouge, La.
The Environmental Protection Agency dispatched emergency crews to Louisiana and Texas because of concern about oil and chemical spills.
The Coast Guard closed ports and waterways along the Gulf Coast and positioned craft around the area to conduct post-hurricane search and rescue operations.
The Agriculture Department said its Food and Nutrition Service would provide meals and other commodities, such as infant formula, distilled water for babies and emergency food stamps.
The Federal Aviation Administration said airports were closed in New Orleans and Baton Rouge; Biloxi, Miss.; Mobile, Ala.; Pensacola, Fla., and Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.
The Defense Department dispatched emergency coordinators to Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi to provide communications equipment, search and rescue operations, medical teams and other emergency assistance.
The Health and Human Services Department sent 38 doctors and nurses to Jackson, Miss., to be used where needed, and 30 pallets of medical supplies to the region, including first aid materials, sterile gloves and oxygen tanks.
Some 6,000 National Guard personnel from Louisiana and Mississippi who would otherwise be available to help deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina are in Iraq.
Even so, Pentagon spokesman Lawrence Di Rita said the states have adequate National Guard units to handle the hurricane needs. He said about 6,500 National Guard troops were available in Louisiana, about 7,000 in Mississippi, nearly 10,000 in Alabama and about 8,200 in Florida.
The 1st U.S. Army, based at Fort Gillem near Atlanta, has 1,600 National Guard troops who were training to go to Iraq. They will be available to assist the states, if necessary. (Media Sources)
FEMA-1603-DR-LA was declared on August 29, 2005 for Hurricane Katrina. It provides Individual Assistance for 64 parishes, and Public Assistance for 52 parishes.
FEMA-1604-DR-MS was declared on August 29, 2005 for Hurricane Katrina. It provides Individual Assistance for 15 counties, and Public Assistance for 52 counties.
FEMA-1605-DR-AL was declared on August 29, 2005 for Hurricane Katrina. It provides Individual Assistance for three counties, and Public Assistance for six counties. (FEMA HQ)
Here's the EPA's Response Activity for Tuesday, August 30, 2005 relating to hurricane Katrina:
EPA emergency response personnel are helping assess damage and prepare for cleanup in Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana. We are responsible for cleaning up releases of oil and other hazardous materials in the area.
We are coordinating with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the US Coast Guard, and other federal and state agencies. Our emergency operations centers are operating, and our staff are working in national and regional interagency response coordination centers. Response efforts are now underway 24 hours a day.
We have committed $500,000 for initial field efforts in each state of Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi. Three EPA teams are traveling each are traveling to Alabama and Mississippi. The Alabama teams are meeting in Mobile. The Mississippi teams are meeting in Hattiesburg and moving toward the coastal areas of Gulf Shores and Biloxi as those areas become accessible. Another team is in Mississippi to assess damage to and help repair local drinking water systems. Mobile command centers in each state provide local office space and equipment to coordinate efforts. Recreational vehicles are being sent as needed to provide temporary staff housing.
In addition to ground teams, an EPA on-scene coordinator flew with the Coast Guard on August 30 to assess coastal Alabama and Mississippi. They are examining industrial facilities, water treatment plants, and power plants.
In Louisana, flooding has prevented EPA teams from reaching the affected areas, so our efforts are limited to aerial inspections. Our Airborne Spectral Photometric Environmental Collection Technology (ASPECT) airplane is flying over Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Initially, the flight plan will cover from Baton Rouge to New Orleans, New Orleans to the Delta, the Delta north, and the Delta West. The crew's primary goal is to examine oil and chemical facilities, but they will also look at other buildings in the area.
Aerial inspections may take several days to complete. Communication with our field teams during this period is extremely limited.
Additional EPA staff are standing by around the country to travel where needed.
We are evaluating our laboratory capacity for analyzing floodwaters. In addition, we are considering how to remove polluted floodwaters.
We will release information from environmental assessments as it becomes available.
Information from EPA's Atlanta office (covering Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi)Information from EPA's Dallas office (covering Lousiana)Alabama Department of Emergency ManagementLouisiana Office of Homeland Security and Emergency PreparednessMississippi Emergency Management Agency
Here's the EPA's Emergency fuel waiver issued Tuesday, August 30, 2005 relating to hurricane Katrina:
Aug 30 - EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson has determined that the impact of Hurricane Katrina created an “extreme and unusual fuel supply circumstance” in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi. The situation will prevent the distribution of an adequate supply of fuel to consumers that is compliant with the Clean Air Act. This is “a natural disaster, that could not reasonably have been foreseen or prevented and not attributable to a lack of prudent planning on the part of the suppliers of the fuel to these affected States,” according to a fuel waiver granted to the states by the EPA today.
Under the Clean Air Act, EPA will temporarily allow all parties in the fuel distribution system, including refiners, importers, distributors, carriers and retail outlets (regulated parties) to supply gasoline meeting a Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) standard of 9.0 psi in areas of the affected states where a lower RVP is required.
Further, because of the expected shortage of motor vehicle diesel fuel meeting the 500 parts per million (ppm) sulfur standard, EPA will temporarily allow regulated parties to supply motor vehicle diesel fuel to affected states having a sulfur content greater than 500 ppm.
This waiver is effective immediately and will continue through the remainder of the high-ozone period, through Sept. 15, 2005. However, retail outlets or wholesale purchaser-consumers that receive motor vehicle diesel fuel having a sulfur content greater than 500 ppm, under the terms of this waiver may continue selling or dispensing this fuel after Sept. 15, 2005, until their supplies are depleted.
