Does The Pollution In The San Jacinto River Affect The Animals And Plants

What volition be the fate of wild animals and their habitats on the Texas Coast in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey? Even as floodwaters from the most extreme rain event in U.S. history continue to recede, the long-term impacts remain unknown.

"Hurricanes are natural events along the Gulf Declension, and native wildlife are adapted to cope with these periodic disturbances," said Dr. Bruce Stein, NWF's acquaintance vice president for conservation science and climate adaptation. "Unfortunately, a combination of climate modify-related increases in sea and air temperatures, and the loss of much of the region's wetlands, prairies, and other natural habitats, has vastly amplified the impact of this tempest on communities and wildlife in the region."

Among the most disturbing prospects – and one the National Wildlife Federation will exist watching closely – is the potential lingering furnishings of the toxins and pollutants released by the storm. Before Harvey hit, the petrochemical industry's shutdown processes sent more than one million pounds of harmful chemicals into the air. In Harvey'due south aftermath, the Arkema chemical establish sent noxious plumes of organic peroxide chemicals into the air, forcing an evacuation. A Valero oil refinery is emitting high levels of benzene, a known carcinogen, in a low-income neighborhood that already has elevated levels of childhood leukemia. Harvey's aftermath flooded at least thirteen heavily-polluted Superfund sites. A few hundred yards abroad from 1 of these sites, balls of the neurotoxin mercury were constitute on the banks of the San Jacinto river.

Harvey'due south dangerous releases create immediate risks and could pose longer-term threats for nearby communities, which are often disproportionately abode to lower income families and people of color.

Americans oft rightly think of the Texas Coast in terms of its economic output – jobs, energy, chemicals, goods, etc. But with the nation's eyes focused on the state it is worth taking time to consider the region'south considerable ecological importance and the potential impacts from the storm on the natural world. Hither is a look at some of the species – and the places they depend on – that could run into impacts from Hurricane Harvey:

Migrant Songbirds

Golden-winged warblers, which migrate along the Texas declension, take declined by more than 2-thirds since the 1960s. Photo: USFWS

Every yr, Texas and its long coastline are host to a fantastic feat of migration. In the autumn, the state's funnel shape seemingly points approximately three hundred species of birds to their wintering grounds further s. But with the 9,000 square mile greater Houston metro surface area in their path – already reducing and altering the food sources available – there are real concerns that Harvey'south extraordinary air current, storm surge and flooding damage could hateful that many birds volition non be able find food to store upward the energy for the long trip due south.

Unfortunately, it seems that the ruby-throated hummingbirds currently migrating through the Littoral Bend are already struggling. Kevin Pillow, the possessor of a Wild Bird Unlimited store in Texas' Loma Country, has visited Rockport, which bore the full brunt of Harvey's winds, since the storm. He reports that thousands of hummingbirds are in the area, but that the surface area has been stripped of the vegetation they feed on. He states, "We are going to lose a percent as the birds simply won't have the fuel to brand the trip. But what pct, nobody knows." Pillow and others are doing what they can to help the hummingbirds, without getting in the style of the human relief efforts.

As a species, the ruby-throated hummingbird has stable populations and will almost certainly recover from Harvey. It is far more uncertain how birds already in decline will fare. For example, the golden-winged warbler'south migration pathway runs right through Houston and south along the coast. This bird already has ane of the smallest populations of any bird non on the endangered species list. For golden-winged warblers – and other species already in peril – Harvey'south habitat damage and potential toxic exposure are simply additional barriers on an already steep road to recovery.

Whooping Cranes

The concluding wild flock of the whooping crane winters near where Hurricane Harvey fabricated landfall. Photo:Jason Mrachina/Flickr

The whooping crane is one of the virtually majestic – most endangered – birds in N America. By 1941, due to habitat loss and uncontrolled hunting, whooping crane numbers had dwindled to less than two dozen individuals in the wild. Today, whooping crane populations number in the hundreds – and the number of chicks hatched this year is the highest ever.

The last wild flock of the whooping cranes winters in and effectually the Aransas National Wild fauna Refuge on San Antonio Bay, very close to Rockport where Harvey made landfall. While wintering in Texas, whooping cranes feed largely on the bay's blue crabs, but Harvey's rains and subsequent river flooding could have temporary impacts on local blue crab populations. The whooping cranes don't arrive in Texas until October or Nov, and then there will hopefully be time for the refuge to recover somewhat beforehand.

"It's going to be a long time before we know what the impacts volition be on both the environment and the [crane'south] food resources," Tim Grunewald, North America programs director of the International Crane Foundation told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "Nosotros are experiencing the reason right at present why the population in Wisconsin was established" – referring to an attempt to reintroduce a migratory population of whooping cranes to the eastern U.s..

This split flock – which is non withal self-sustaining – migrates between Wisconsin and the Florida Gulf Declension and now faces the prospect of habitat damage from Hurricane Irma.

Attwater's Prairie Chicken

Populations of the highly endangered Attwater's prairie craven populations accept recently been on the upswing, but flooding can be a problem for the birds. Photo: USFWS

A century ago, roughly one one thousand thousand Attwater'southward prairie chickens roamed over a littoral prairie that stretched from the Corpus Christi area to the middle of the Louisiana coast. But acre by acre, this unique prairie was plowed under for cities, farms and industry. Many grasslands species like the Attwater'due south prairie chickens – actually a species of grouse – had nowhere to go.

Today, the Attwater'south prairie craven is considered one of the most endangered birds in North America. Simply about a hundred prairie chickens live in the wild, mostly on a national wildlife refuge west of Houston. Recent efforts at controlling invasive burn ants in the refuge appear to have additional Attwater's prairie chicken populations and have given conservationists increased hope for the species.

But flooding tin be a trouble for the birds. Officials at the refuge were able to movement twenty captive birds – which had been scheduled to be released into the wild – before the storm striking. Apparently these birds are doing well at the San Antonio Zoo and are even gaining weight, according to Terry Rossignol, Refuge Manager at Attwater's Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge. U.S. Fish and Wild fauna Service staff are still assessing the effects of Harvey on the wild birds on the refuge.

Galveston Bay Oysters

Hundreds of additional species utilize oyster reefs. Photo: Kathy Reeves/NWF Photo Contest

Historically, Galveston Bay has produced more than oysters than any other unmarried water trunk in the state. Merely Galveston Bay's oyster populations have been hitting hard over the past decade. In 2008, sediment from Hurricane Ike's storm surge smothered roughly one-half of the bay'due south oyster reefs. The record-breaking drought of 2011 – artificially amplified by urban water use – greatly raised salinity levels in the bay for an extended menstruation, harming the bay'due south oysters, which need a mix of common salt and freshwater to survive. Harvey will almost certainly be another accident, equally the blitz of floodwaters volition likely turn much of the bay completely fresh for several weeks – longer than oysters can tolerate.

The projected reduction in oysters could have larger impacts on the health of Galveston Bay. Oysters are incredible natural filters, with one adult oyster having the ability to filter equally much as l gallons of water a day. Oyster reefs are of import habitat for hundreds of species including fish, shellfish, and birds and the projected losses could impact these species likewise.

Moving Forrad

"As a nation, nosotros have a responsibleness to assist the survivors. We as well must study this storm with clear eyes to figure out how nosotros tin forestall this level of catastrophe in the time to come," said Collin O'Mara, president and CEO of the National Wild animals Federation. "We will fight to ensure the disaster recovery packages include assistance for those affected and create policies that encourage nature-based resilience to better prepare the states for the next disaster."

Help usa fight for legislation to encourage smarter planning – including light-green infrastructure – that will better protect communities and wild animals during devastating floods.

Source: https://blog.nwf.org/2017/09/texas-birds-and-bays-hurricane-harveys-ecosystem-impacts/

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