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Subscribe to RSSLast year, Associated Press photographer Gerald Herbert covered the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and its aftermath. This month, he returned to see how one impacted area off the coast of Louisiana, Cat Island, is faring a year after the environmental disaster. He discovered a changed ecosystem where land is eroding and vegetation is dead or dying. Biologists from the Louisiana Department of Fish and Wildlife say Cat Island is struggling to recover because the island was completely washed by oil, in part because of poorly maintained oil booms.
Herbert writes: There is no question that Cat Island in Barataria Bay has eroded considerably. Much of the mangrove and marsh grass is gone. The thickets of mangrove, which you could not see through before, now are thinned so much that you can see straight through them. It is quite stunning -- and sad for someone who has seen the previous state of this island -- how much the island has deteriorated both in the accelerated erosion and in the destruction of the flora.
Gerald Herbert / AP
At left, oil smeared pelican eggs are seen in a nest on Cat Island on May 22, 2010 just days after the explosion and subsequent leak began. The island is home to hundreds of brown pelican nests as well at terns, gulls and roseate spoonbills. The photo on right, made at the same spot on April 8, 2011, shows the island significantly eroded and the marsh grass and mangrove trees that pelicans nest on decimated.
Gerald Herbert / AP
At left, oil stained pelicans and baby pelicans are seen on May 23, 2010, on Cat Island. In the image at right, photographed in the same spot on April 8, 2011, the shoreline is heavily eroded and the lush thickets of mangrove trees are mostly dead or dying.
Herbert writes: The pelicans in the region are faring better because they are no longer, for the large part, being contaminated by the oil. The large bands of crude aren't washing onto the nesting shorelines. But, from my unscientific observations, and from reviewing photos and video from then and now, there seem to be fewer pelicans taking flight in the air when we approach the island, probably because there's less real estate to nest there.
Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries biologists told me that pelicans have a very high nesting fidelity, meaning they nest in the same spots where they were nestlings. As a result, where the mangrove has died on Cat Island, you could see pelican nests on the earthen ground. They used to be safely atop the mangrove, which stand roughly three to six feet tall. Those nests are now exposed to ruin from any storm surge that could come through, even from the many tropical depressions and storms that come through almost yearly.
So the pelicans are faring better because they are not faced with the onslaught of crude that we saw during the oil spill, but their habitat in some places has been severely compromised.
Gerald Herbert / AP
In this two picture combo, nesting terns and pelicans are seen on Cat Island on May 22, 2010, left, as oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill impacts the shore. The second photo taken on April 8, 2011 near the same location, shows the shoreline heavily eroded, and the lush marsh grass and mangrove trees mostly dead or dying.
Gerald Herbert / AP
In this two picture combo, pelican eggs smeared with crude oil sit in a nest on on Cat Island in Barataria Bay on May 22, 2010, left. The second photo, taken April 8, 2011, shows newly hatched pelican chicks on the same island.
Gerald Herbert / AP
In this two picture combo, nesting pelicans are seen landing as oil washes ashore on May 22, 2010, left, on Cat Island. The second photo, taken in the same spot on April 8, 2011, shows the shoreline heavily eroded, and the lush marsh grass and mangrove trees mostly dead or dying.
See the most compelling images from the oil spill one year ago.
Leave a Comment:
I think that these are old photos that Bush took and is now trying to use to undermine Obama. Our new president, along with his buddies at BP have taken care of all of this by now - its safe to eat the oysters again - thank you!
You've got to be kidding me viet. Obama's government has done nothing down there. Report after report from the people down there have said that they haven't receive a thing as far as assistance. They are finding oil inside alot of the fish. MSNBC would rather talk about the birthers (Hillary Clinton was the first to question Obama's birth place), than tell the truth about how bad Obama has been in helping these people. Now if Bush were in charge, MSNBC would have raked him over the coals. They will do anything it takes to protect Obama.
JMW: sure Obama has done something; he's put PEOPLE out of work! No permits for the drilling ie people don't have jobs. Typical Obama.
Obama's government established the $20 billion fund for reparations. They were smart enough to do that, but not smart enough to figure out that BP is NOT going to do the right thing without close supervision.
obama does nothing during a man made disaster, yet G. W. Bush is a bad guy because of a natural disaster.
Intersting photos... I'm sure there are many ways to frame the photos to tell the story you want. It sort of looks like some of these photos were taken during the winter, when plant life isn't as vibrant as the spring...
But I'm sure that journalists NEVER spin a story...
When Katrina blew ashore, GW was partying with McCain at his birthday party in Arizona............remember?
And stayed at the party.
ok John,,,,bush blew it....but continue your comments. If you're going to beat bush up, why not obama too? Oh wait, I know, you'll find a way to blame this on bush too.....
Why don't they just set the damn island on fire? Oh, that's right. Then they wouldn't have it as a club to pull out and bash; Republicans, Capitalists, Anybody that doesn't buy into radical left wing environmentalism, Energy producers, Business owners, Christians, Land owners, Anyone that is against illegal immigration, People that believe in the Constitution, etc... over the head with.
john blount,
You do know that this is probably the dumbest post recorded on the vine today, don't you? When Katrina blew ashore? You wanted President Bush out there trying to save the lives of people that were too stupid to move inland? You wanted him out there doing this while all the emergency personnel were taking cover?
John No this is what it looks like now. Birds don't nest in the winter.
jmw,
That was just a fair response to longhair's post. Or do you not think so?
Blaming Bush? History will do a good enough job. It doesn't need my help.
Svenolboy,
Dumbest? What's dumb about posting truth? People trashing Obama's response to this disaster just because he's Obama might need to look at their own poster child Bush's response to disasters. Who was it said something about those without sin casting the first stone?
That was the jist of my post. Bush is gone, Obama is here. The damages that Bush has done are still here, Obama is still trying to fix what he can.
Obama had nothing to do with the 20 billion dollar fund, that was BP.
As far as Bush being at a birthday party? Who cares? Did you expect him to be there to stop the winds with his hands? Do you expect Obama to be down there with a shovel picking up tar from the beaches? While I'm not a fan of either of these two nor am I a fan of their parties, I can be understanding enough to know that a president has no business being on the front lines of these clean up efforts. Thinking they should be there "doing something" is just foolishness.
Come on people. This isn't about Bush or Obama... it's about decision WE have made in support of taking huge risks so we can drive our SUV's in comfort. All decisions that were made by Bush or Obama were "increments" to our total decision... to drill a little more or less... how much and when to step in and recover the devastation.
The photos are real. They should make you sick. They should make you realize that the world we live in is not forever unless we take care of it.
And WE aren't even close. And WE haven't a clue as to how much damage we are invoking. Nor do we realize how truly irreversible it all is.
Think I'll jump in my SUV and go to Starbucks... maybe get a water for later... I'll think about this while idling in the parking lot... come up with a plan. What idiots we all are.
east coast,
You're basically right there. But then, I just remembered about Alexander the Great and how he actually led his troops into action.
It would have been a great photo op to have seen Bush out retrieving the floating bloated corpses from Katrina with his bare hands, and Obama bent over trying to wash the oil off a dying pelican of snagging tar balls off the beaches. Some good pics there, huh?
tp john 2006106, how can you think these photos have been framed or so by journalists? yes its a possiblity, but this is a big disaster that did eventually happen and should not be ignored. All this dying organisms is REAL. Maybe you should go there and see it yourself. The oil spill destroyed many habitats and killed many animals. But maybe you wouldnt know if you're not too fond of animals or our oceans. go check it out yourself. And to everyone else who thinks Bush had to do with it or all these capitalists and stuff others mention...get real people. This is a NATURAL DISASTER that happened. Yes it was an accident by BP. yes they tried cleaning it and many made efforts to help in the clean up. But im sure many of you have come in contact with oil..and im sure you all have noticed it doesnt clean up easily or even less mix with water. Be realistic people! and instead of criticizing and complaining, how about you all do something to help the matter be better.
It bothers me that most of these comments are pointing fingers at the Government and that we are always looking to them to fix our problems. If we figured out ways to fix our own problems or at least help in some manner the issues in our own back yards wouldn't go on for so long. What happened to our independence as a Nation of people helping our neighbors? I know that there are people as far away as Wisconsin that took it upon themselves and their own money to go down to Katrina Hit areas and work to paint, build houses or whatever they can give in their own sweat. They are doing this NOW. They are not rich people by any means but knew that people needed help. Why don't we as individuals go down and help re-plant the grass and Mangrove tree's? Why don't we find out how we can help instead of criticize? People as individuals can find a solution, the Govt is a big corporation and moves very slowly. This has always been the case.
America! Boycott BP until they go down and clean up their mess.
Why don't you go down there and supervise?
Don't forget to ask all the local and state officials what exactly have they done with all the money that they were given to help the local economy restart itself after the disaster.
I am a lifetime resident of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. I recently had to move away due to my husband was unemployed, and found a job in Ohio. This is truly heart breaking to me. It does not matter who takes the blame. Someone needs to step up and take care of the problem. The people and the eco system down there have been through hell in the last few years. It seems to me, our goverment is into helping everyone else, instead of what is going on here in the United States. We need to take care of our own, before we try to help everyone else in the whole wide world. At least finish what we start here at home. There are plenty of people, animals and eco systems right here that need help!
You have no way of effectively boycotting BP. Do you honestly think that when you stop and buy BP gas that it was refined at a BP refinery using oil from a BP well? That's not how it works. Until Americans understand the basic model that the oil industries follow we're going to have people wasting their time with this kind of nonsense and asking themselves why nothing works.
Do you really want to stick it to them? If so stop this foolishness about boycotts, stop using the product altogether if you can. Be smart and plan a life that uses less oil. While the price may still go up and they may still profit from you in other ways, we will be steps closer to a largely oil independent society. Alternatives in a lot of areas do exist today but the consumer must support them or the alternatives will wither on the vine. Vote with your dollars.
Amazing,It was all good the day after the pipe was capped ,never heard another word about it.
I have family there,no it is not all clean and viable,sorry to say it is a big mess underneath that water.
Here comes the Kracken.
After the 3 million barrel oil spill in 1979 from the Ixtoc 1 well, scientists noted that the ecosystem in the Gulf had returned to a near normal state in a very short period of time considering the devastation that took place over the 10 month blowout.
Here is more information on the Ixtoc 1 spill:
http://viableopposition.blogspot.com/2010/07/ixtoc-1-no-longer-biggest-blowout-in.html
CathyBernard - Excellent point!
The Ixtoc 1 and Deepwater Horizon incidents both started with blowout preventer (BOP) failures which were similar. Ixtoc 1 was a shallow well at 500 feet and those involved still could not plug it for 10 months. BP did a fabulous job in stopping the deep well leak in less than 4 months - a tremendous technical achievement that they shared with the world through underwater cameras!
Several times last May and June I wrote in various posts that one strong hurricane over the area after the oil leak was stopped would virtually eliminate all signs of the Deepwater Horizon accident. That hurricane never came after the July 15 leak stoppage. Still, one ecological 'expert' rated the whole area 70 before the leak and a 69 now. Doomsday jounalists are clueless!
Cathy,
That one still ain't over. There are huge blocks of squishy tar still remaining from Ixtoc down below. The lighter weight tars have dispersed, hopefully into the fish you ate for supper last night, but the heavier ones don't break up so easily. Who knows what the full impact of that one was. One thing is for certain, the oceans around the world are suffering a slow death. Anyone doubting that had better get in line for tickets to Mars.
Seems like this left vs right thing boils down to grouping people into those who think mankind can do whatever the fk it pleases as long as there is a profit to be made, and those whose mama's taught them better.
john blount,
you make me laugh. You would think at least part of the time that when good news or in this case when optimistic news is shared it would be met with some kind of happiness or gladness that maybe things aren't as bad for old mother earth and her little creatures after all. Nah, the Leftist in this world are a miserable and lonely lot. Nothing good can come of anything. Do yourself a favor. Go take a walk Schleprock. It's a beautiful day.
Svenolafson,
Glad to be able to enrichen your life some. Actually I'm not a leftist. I'm a Trotskyite. The fascist right feared the commie left. The commie left feared Trotsky.
While the atmosphere above is reaching levels of carbon dioxide not seen since the last major extinction, while the dead zones in the oceans are growing all around the world, while major food species of fish are being decimated to unsustainable levels, while the water aquifers that take millions of years to flush themselves out are becoming poisoned, while species are disappearing at faster and faster rates, while you sit on your butt, drink your beer, and think everything is going to be just peachy........
there are others who think something could and should be done.
Like remove all government guides and regulations on the major corporations?
Once it was said, Let them eat cake. It might come down to saying, Let them eat longpig.
John,
Yeah, because the left has done so much more. [rolling of eyes]
The people need to pony up and stop taking the cheap way out. We can overturn the oil economy if we did the right thing and supported those that support alternative technologies. We can't wait for big brother to lead us to the promise land anymore.
east coast,
I just finished a carbon neutral wood gas generating system that produces 45KW of electricity burning wood scraps. We need to take this into our own hands and forget about getting the government to help. Seems they are incapable.
one thing i would like to input into this.
after katrina, GWB was bashed for the mismanagment of it.
this happened completely on Obama's watch and he has handled it no better than GWB did katrina.
from a personal stand point that is worse than GWB.
i say that because Obama had a model of what not to do in an emergency and he has decided to do nothing.
He could have won a reelection bid just on getting Louisiana back on its feet. he could have fixed the oil spill and katrina all at the same time and been a national Icon.
But he hasnt and doesnt look like he will either.
in his run for president in 08 he made alot of promises i knew he couldnt keep, like change the way politics are done. 1 person cant change the way politics are done on a naional level, so i knew he was over his head.
OMG really people?!! - Excellent points!
Some journalists last year suggested that the oil spill would be 'Obama's Katrina'. They should have kept that alive because Obama butchered everything. His moratoriums have hurt us all.
The Cat Island pictures are near meaningless. Pictures taken before and after a major hurricane would show much greater damage to islands (and on shore) and the deaths of wildlife over large areas.
Pictures taken before and IMMEDIATELY after a hurricane would show damage. A year later, the hurricane damage wouldn't be so apparent.
Viet Sem Fi are you ignorant or just plain stupid.....really you can answer at any time....there is no way any of this is cleaned up not to mention the Bottom of the sea bed in the gulf is ruined it's sad that as a fellow human being i have to share this rock with you ppl, Obama is just finishing what bush started this county will be nothing after he is done and we have ppl like bp to help him along...o FYI it is not safe to eat the oysters or anything coming out of the gulf
that is why we are all going to try very hard to get Obama OUT OF THERE!!
Psst - it was satirical dude.
It's really hard to have a post taken as satire on the internet without emoticons or some other indicator.
Especially to someone with a username which shows that every post will include the absolute hate of the President.
Stop blaming Presidents past or present for the greed of SELFISH oil companies. Most of the people blogging just get in their cars and go to work without one thought of where that oil comes from. And they know this.
100% correct. We, as the consumers, need to step our game up.
Seriously? Are we still talking about this? I'm sorry MSNBC but this story has been done to death! Let the past die for pete's sake!
Seriously? How can you possibly think that this story should be forgotten? 13 people died and this company gave themselve bonuses for their high safety record. Plus the company is still screwing the people who's lives they ruined.
Have you no knowledge of nature in any way shape or form?
humansmatter,
And there's a $20 billion fund set up that the government has control of. How is BP screwing anybody? You got a problem go talk to Obama. Psuedonym is right. Let the past die. But we all know you can't do that. At least not until another disaster get's your attention like when a dog sees a squirrel or in your case you see a shiny object.
The numbers regarding the payouts by BP and their 'fund' are a joke.
But we all know you can't accept that. They are an oil company and all righties must support them no matter how they mistreat humans or nature.
Our (?) govt and the mainstream media are going out of their way to ignore the serious health hazard poised by the dispersants used in the clean up. Many countries prohibit the use of this dispersant because it is a carcinogen. People living in the affected areas have serious health problems; there are toxic substances in their blood. But this apparently is a taboo subject. Just wait until later this year when a big hurricane hits the Gulf and spreads this evil stuff over most of the Southeast.
You can't blame Obama any more than you blamed Bush for the handling of any man-made or natural disaster. Things happen and it takes a concerted effort of everyone working together to get things back in order. Stop the blaming and the name calling already - "MEDIA". It's old and ineffective at proving a point. People are not as dumb and stupid as you want to believe they are. Get involved instead of being armchair quarterbacks and do something in your own community. COMMUNITY ORGANIZE or CREATE JOBS or whatever you are able to do, be it small or great- Just Do It and stop whining already.
I love my gulf coast and I hate not being able to go to the beach and enjoy the beauty or eat the seafood. I think my family and I will find out what still needs to be done and help out any way we can. How about you?
looks like obama's gon'a have to take a vacation down there ..but that money would be spent in america so he probably won't..he's a great president..
Please, be good little americans and do what you normally do, pray to Jesus Christ and everything will be alright. You're not to look at the hard science, because this was heaven sent, just believe, and eat your shellfish and keep on praying.
Guys, from someone who's brother does studies for the fisheries and wildlife commission and is still working the gulf coast studying the impact of this on the fishing industry.............the damage from this oil spill in human terms (he's an antrhropoligist) are almost beyond measure. A whole way of life for people who have lived there for generations and made their livings from the sea has almost completely disappeared. Everyone down there is pretty much realizing that continuing to play some senseless "blame game" is futile in the face of reality. Reality is that many have either moved away in hopes of finding something better somewhere else or have had to go to government aid to feed themselves and their children. Many obtained their personal food sources from the sea, plus obtained their income from the sea. No longer able to eat from the sea, nor having the ability to go to town and purchase food since they lost their income, they found themselves quite stranded.
Just the way it is. You guys elsewhere can think of this in political abstractions all you want. Obama this, Bush that. Leftist this. Teanut that. We just lost one of the most beautiful and vital parts of the America we all so love.
id imagine they cant fish until the fish population raises back to normal, but id also imagine its not as bad as you make it sound considering that your brother would be working in the hardest hit areas. generally a snapshot doesn't tell you much if the context is overlooked. BP did do a terrible job at responding quickly though.
(i didn't check unemployment and poverty rates so correct me if i'm wrong)
also sorry if i sound harsh i'm just trying to remain unbiased.
oh come on people Snookie has ruined more beaches than bp :P
Once the wildlife becomes extinct there is no turning back. Where did the oil go? Doesn't take Einstein to figure out it is at the bottom and wait until the next big hurricane, because it will be coming ashore with more damage to the ecosystem. That why it is called the stinky, black, goo with the water included. I lived thru the Exxon Valdez catastrophe and had to endure salmon from another region. BP kept comparing the two spills and saying this is what we will do. Then turned around and didn't do it. You cannot compare these spills as water & weather temperature plus time of year is definately different. Just hope the public will keep on the pressure until the mess is completely cleaned up and not partially taken care of.