|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|||||||
|
||||||||||||||
|
||||
|
|
The Nature Conservancy in Louisiana Louisiana Places We Protect Field Trips and Events Volunteer Press Releases Ways of Giving Contact Us |
|
|
|
||||
Early Assessment of Impacts of Hurricane Katrina and Rita to Affected Louisiana PreservesEast Gulf Coastal Plain EcoregionAbita Creek Flatwoods PreserveThe Katrina eye-wall passed approximately 20 miles to the east of the Abita Creek Preserve. The Nature Conservancy estimates approximately 5% to 10% of trees in the longleaf pine savanna flats of the area are down. The hardest hit habitat type is the bayhead forest. Many of the large hardwood trees were blown down, especially laurel and water oaks, and loblolly pine. Few cypress trees are down. The amount of trees down varies, but it appears that from 10% to 50% of trees are down in this habitat type. The boardwalk trail has a few trees down across it, but overall the damage is considered to be minimal. Lake Ramsay PreserveThe Katrina eye-wall passed approximately 35 miles to the east of the Lake Ramsay Preserve. The Nature Conservancy estimates approximately no more than 5% to 10% of trees in the longleaf pine savanna and flatwoods of the area are down. The hardest hit habitat type is the bayhead forest, particularly along Horse Branch and the Tchefuncte River. Many of the large hardwood trees were blown down, especially laurel and water oaks, and loblolly pine. The amount of trees down varies, but it appears that from 10% to 50% of trees are down in this habitat type. Many limbs and fallen trees cover the Horse Branch Trail. It appears that some of the trail can be cleared and other parts will have to be re-routed. Please be on the lookout for volunteer opportunities. Talisheek PreserveThe Katrina eye-wall passed approximately 15 miles to the east of the Talisheek Preserve. There appears to be a minimal amount of trees down at the preserve. Former longleaf pine savannas with current slash pine growth makes up the majority of habitat in this preserve; an aerial fly-over indicated that no more than 5% to 15% of trees are down in this area, and those down are essentially all slash pines. Unfortunately an area of about 70 acres of second-growth upland longleaf pine woodland at Talisheek was very hard hit. The fly-over inspection indicated the great majority of trees in this area were blown down. The Nature Conservancy is currently evaluating options for restoration in this area. Approximatley 5% to 20% of the trees are down in the slash pine/pond cypress forest area of Talisheek, with very few being pond cypress. The bayhead forest habitat suffered moderate to substantial blow-down. Many of the large hardwood trees are down in these areas, especially laurel and water oaks. Many trees are leaning. The “leave trees” in old-field slash pine zones that were thinned in September 2004 and in August 2005 were mostly blown down or snapped off. There’s a total of about 120 acres in this condition. The Nature Conservancy is currently evaluating removal of timber. White Kitchen PreserveThe Nature Conservancy estimates that the western eye-wall of Katrina passed directly over the White Kitchen Preserve. At the time of the initial assessment, it appeared that much of the marsh may have been literally ripped out and is now open water, although a final assessment may reveal less loss than indicated if water was still high on the marsh when it was observed. A large amount of debris was scattered in the marsh zone. In the area of the eagle nest, it appears that at least some of the large cypress trees are standing and that some of the nest structure may still be intact in one of the trees. The board walk appears to be essentially intact, although some damage exists from large pieces of the marsh being flung against it. The beginning of the walk is blocked by massive chunks of marsh and a large metal tank that was deposited there by the storm surge. General observations of the area indicate that the White Kitchen area was hit by very high winds and a very high storm surge. Much of the marsh in the vicinity has been ripped apart and huge chunks of marsh were pushed and piled against trees, road sides, etc. Large boats, tanks and other large objects were shoved by the storm surge onto roads, and deep into marshes and swamps of the area. A tremendous amount of “domestic debris” (parts and contents of destroyed houses, camps, etc.) is scattered across the landscape. The Nature Conservancy is currently evaluating the possibility of restoration of functional processes for the marsh system. Charter Oak Baygall PreserveThe western eye-wall of Katrina passed approximately 5 miles to the east of Charter Oak Baygall Preserve. The area has not been directly observed by The Nature Conservancy, however, based on observations of other hardwood-dominated forests in the area, The Nature Conservancy anticipates severe blowdown with most trees greater than 15-inches to 20-inches diameter-breast-height lost. Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes EcoregionLafitte Woods Preserve (Grand Isle)Both Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita effected Grand Isle. The Nature Conservancy estimates that the western eye-wall of Katrina passed directly over Grand Isle. The eye of Hurricane Rita passed about 150 miles to the southwest of Grand Isle at its closest point as it closed in on the Cameron Parish area. Grand Isle, as did the entire coastal area of Louisiana, experienced strong southerly winds for 3 to 4 days associated with this storm (Rita). The barrier island live oak woodland habitat, which is dominated by live oaks, probably sustained moderate wind damage from Katrina, and little wind damage from Rita. With Katrina, a storm surge came in from the north side of the island that put about 5-feet to 6-feet of salt water into the area. Water probably over-topped the area for a day or two. Rita shoved a storm surge in from the south that probably was not as deep but may have remained longer. It is difficult to estimate the damage and long-term effects caused by salt water flooding on the forests of the area. One effect may be mortality of any younger/smaller seedlings and saplings of regenerating overstory trees, particularly live oak, that were under water for long periods of time. Only pilings remain of the elevated board walk. The Nature Conservancy is working to determine necessary recovery work and repair. Lower West Gulf Coastal Plain EcoregionCC Road Savanna PreserveThe Hurricane Rita eye-wall passed approximately 70 miles west of the CC Road Savanna Preserve. At the time of the initial assessment, there appeared to be minimal impact to the preserve. CC Roads Savanna Preserve has been managed through fire by The Nature Conservancy and has thus been an open savanna for some years. Because of the open savanna, the trees are wind resistant and fared well during the storm; only about one dozen longleaf pines came down during the storm. Persimmon GullyThe Hurricane Rita eye-wall passed approximately 40 miles west of the Persimmon Gully Preserve. Key herbaceous plant communities, including savannas and saline glades, received little or no damage. The Nature Conservancy estimates approximately no more than 5% of trees in the longleaf pine savanna of the area are down; the larger trees were more heavily impacted, with some trees broken or pushed over. The most significant effects occurred in the hardwood bottomlands along Persimmon Gully where there is an estimated 50% of the tree canopy broken or pushed over, including mainly large oak trees. The Nature Conservancy staff stated that while this is disturbing visually, it is a natural process and may lead to a healthier system. Due to extended periods of fire suppression, the hardwood stands along Persimmon Gully are wider now than they were historically, which allowed hardwood encroachment into the adjacent longleaf savanna. Because of the thinning due to the hurricane, The Nature Conservancy’s prescribed burns will penetrate more deeply into these areas and advance restoration of savanna plant communities, which is our key conservation target at this preserve. Hollister ChenierDue to a roadblock, Nature Conservancy staff were not allowed to enter Cameron Parish on the day of assessments. The Nature Conservancy will assess the tract as soon as conditions allow. For More Information:
|
