Post Hurricane Katrina Flight of Louisiana

USGS Scientists Begin to Assess Damages to Federal and State Resources in Katrina’s Path

September 9, 2005

Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Wetlands Research Center (USGS-NWRC) have taken a leading role in the damage assessment of biological resources and properties on Federal and State lands in Hurricane Katrina’s path. As the storm approached the Louisiana coast, the NWRC began performing aerial surveys of lands that would be potentially affected by the storm. The primary goal of this mission is to get initial damage assessments to natural resource managers and research scientists who need to quickly prioritize recovery efforts and direct the flow of funds and human resources.

The NWRC’s effort to assess damages is evolving to include a host of other governmental agencies. Thus far, USGS scientists have been joined by personnel from the DOI U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the DOI National Park Service (NPS), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS). The NWRC is also collaborating with various agencies at the State level, such as the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), the Louisiana Office of State Parks, and the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (LDNR). A broad interagency collaboration is necessary to assess damages to biological resources on a large scale.

On August 27 (2 days before Hurricane Katrina made landfall), USGS-NWRC scientists began flying low-altitude aerial surveys of Federal and State lands in southeastern Louisiana. The survey included:

Two Raccoon Island project sites in Terrebonne Parish, La. These are Coastal Planning, Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA) projects that are sponsored by the USDA-NRCS and the LDNR.
Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuge in St. Mary Parish, La. This NWR is managed by the USFWS.

On August 30, the day after Katrina’s landfall, USGS-NWRC scientists flew again. They revisited Raccoon Island and Bayou Teche NWR, and they also surveyed the following sites:

Grand Isle State Park in Jefferson Parish, La. The park is managed by the State of Louisiana.
Grand Terre Island in Jefferson Parish, La. The island is the site of several points of interest: (1) the LDWF’s Lyle St. Amant Marine Research Lab, (2) Fort Livingston, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, and (3) two CWPPRA projects that are sponsored by the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service and the LDNR.
Delta National Wildlife Refuge in Plaquemines Parish, La. The refuge is managed by the USFWS.
Breton National Wildlife Refuge in St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes, La. The refuge is managed by the USFWS.
Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge in St. Tammany Parish, La. The refuge is managed by the USFWS.

On September 1 (3 days after the storm), USGS-NWRC scientists flew again to the Breton National Wildlife Refuge. They also surveyed the following locations:

Pearl River Wildlife Management Area in St. Tammany Parish, La. This WMA is managed by the LDWF.
Barataria Preserve unit of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. The Barataria Preserve is 5 miles south of New Orleans, La. It is managed by the DOI National Park Service.
Pass a Loutre Wildlife Management Area in Plaquemines Parish, La. This WMA is managed by the LDWF.

On September 7 (9 days after Katrina), the USGS-NWRC performed its first interagency and longest aerial survey to date. The mission required the use of two aircraft, one supplied by the USGS and the other by the USFWS. During this survey, USGS scientists, along with other governmental personnel, returned to the Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge and the Barataria Preserve unit of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. They also surveyed the following locations:

Davis Pond Freshwater Diversion Project in St. Charles Parish, La. This project is a joint venture between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and LDNR.
The Caernarvon Freshwater Diversion Project and the Caernarvon Diversion Outfall Management project in Plaquemines Parish, La. The Diversion Project is a joint venture of the USACE and the LDNR. The Outfall Management project is a CWPPRA project that is sponsored by the USDA-NRCS and the LDNR.
Fritchie Marsh Restoration project in St. Tammany Parish, La. This is a CWPPRA project that is sponsored by the USDA-NRCS and the LDNR.
Chalmette Battlefield and National Cemetery unit of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. Located six miles southeast of New Orleans, this is the site of the 1815 Battle of New Orleans and contains the graves of soldiers from the Civil War, Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, and Vietnam. It is managed by the DOI National Park Service.
Gulf Islands National Seashore. The Seashore is a series of barrier islands off the coasts of Mississippi and Florida. This survey included assessment of Cat Island, West Ship Island, East Ship Island, Horn Island, and Petit Bois Island. It is managed by the DOI National Park Service.
Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge in Orleans Parish, La. The refuge is managed by the USFWS.
Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet in St. Bernard, Plaquemines, and Orleans Parishes, La., which is the site of a CWPPRA project that is sponsored by the USACE and LDNR
Salvador State Wildlife Management Area in St. Charles Parish, La. This WMA is managed by the LDWF.
Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge in Jackson County, Ms. This NWR is managed by the USFWS.
Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Jackson and Mobile Counties, Ms. This NWR is managed by the USFWS.

The mission to assess damages to Federal and State lands in Katrina’s path is ongoing. Scientists at the NWRC are collaborating with other agencies to plan future flights.

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Photographs from the NWRC Rescue Effort
Before and After Photographs