Preserve Restoration Begins After Hurricane Katrina

Bumble Bee on Blazing Star © Harvey Payne

Fierce winds and saltwater floods from Katrina’s 30-foot storm surge left their mark on Conservancy preserves in Mississippi. Preserve signs and thousands of trees fell. More than 70 percent of the pines at the Willie Farrell Brown Preserve in Hancock County were snapped off or uprooted, potentially increasing the likelihood of Southern pine beetle infestations, diseases and wildfires. Many trees were severely pruned by the hurricane’s winds, causing a “second spring” phenomenon in which the trees are growing new leaves and even blooming. 

However, hurricanes are natural events, and some areas have actually benefited ecologically from the storm. While the loss of trees is significant, the storm created gaps in the tree canopy which are allowing more sunlight to penetrate the ground and encourage the sprouting of new trees and plants. For example, at Willie Farrell Brown Preserve downed trees are providing an open area for sunlight to reach plants like gopher apple that endangered gopher tortoises like to eat. Pitcher plant bogs at the preserve seem to be thriving and are filled with blooming blazing stars and sunflowers.

Lakeshore Savanna Preserve in Hancock County, Old Fort Bayou Mitigation Bank in Jackson County and the Shepard conservation easement in Jackson County were flooded with saltwater. Although plants at these preserves are showing signs of stress and many have died, new growth has occurred.

Conservancy scientists and land stewards have completed an initial assessment of these and other impacts from Hurricane Katrina. They will continue to monitor and track the short-term and long-term effects of the storm and will implement management plans to restore important natural areas. They will also keep a close eye out for new infestations of invasive, non-native plants and will step up removal and control efforts. Major storms like this can greatly increase the spread of invasive plants and substantially change the habitat and conditions native wildlife need to survive.

It is unknown at this time what impact the hurricane will have on wildlife. Since the storm ended, gopher tortoises, fresh animal tracks and birds have been observed. Loss of habitat along the coast may affect migrating birds returning from their trans-Gulf flight next spring. Restoration through activities such as prescribed fire and invasive species control will greatly assist in the recovery of the plant communities native wildlife use. These activities will be a high priority for the Conservancy over the coming months and years.

Intact salt marshes, including those in the Coastal Preserves, and barrier islands helped protect residential areas during the hurricane by slowing winds and storm surge and by absorbing floodwaters. The Conservancy will clean up debris and trash to restore these critical habitats and will continue protection efforts along additional undeveloped marsh and coastal lands so that these natural buffers will continue to help protect our coastal communities.

For more information on conservation in Mississippi, please contact Lisa Yager, Director of Conservation Programs.

The Nature Conservancy
Mississippi Field Office
405 Briarwood Drive, Suite 101
Jackson, MS 39206
(601) 713-3355