1. Assessment of Ecological Condition in Coastal Waters Impacted by Hurricane Katrina

2. National Coastal Assessment (NCA) NCA is the coastal portion of EMAP State-based probability survey designs –Enable states to estimate condition of estuaries with known confidence –EPA can assess condition of estuaries at regional or national scales with known confidence Common set of indicators Standardized methods, quality controls, training, data analysis Provide baseline (pre-storm) ecological condition for Lake Pontchartrain, LA and other coastal systems affected by Hurricane Katrina

3. Hurricane Katrina Pre-Storm Baseline Assessment

4. Louisiana

6. LA DEQ Historic Ambient Water Sites

7. NCA Indicators Water Quality –Dissolved Oxygen –Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen –Dissolved Inorganic Phosphorus –Chlorophyll a Sediment Quality –Sediment contaminants –Total organic carbon –Sediment Toxicity Tests Biological Condition –Benthic Community Condition Index Fish & Shellfish Tissue Contaminants

8. Data Interpretation Tables of mean values and ranges for each indicator –Provide historic “normal” values –Compare new data from post-Katrina surveys –Are post-Katrina values within historic normal ranges? Bar Charts of percent of sites with values above or below guidelines –Indicator of extent of “impairment” –Compare new data from post-Katrina surveys –Is the extent of “impairment” post-Katrina different than pre-Katrina?

9. Lake Pontchartrain Water Chemistry 2000200120022003 Mi nMaxMean Mi nMaxMean Mi nMaxMean Mi nMaxMean ANALYTE 1.212.852.191.3512.064.220.437.513.302.7011.186.81 Chlorophyll a (μg/L) Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen (mg/L) 0.020.100.060.010.130.050.000.080.020.010.100.03 Dissolved Inorganic Phosphorus (mg/L) 0.000.01 0.000.040.010.040.070.050.020.050.03 Ammonia (NH 4 mg/L N) 0.020.100.060.010.090.030.000.060.020.000.070.02 Nitrate (NO 2 mg/L N) 0.000.010.00 Nitrate (NO 3 mg/L N) 0.00 0.050.020.000.030.010.000.040.01 Total Nitrogen (mg/L).........0.180.660.39 Total Phosphorus (mg/L).........0.030.070.05 Total Suspended Solids (mg/L) 4.6212.128.462.1436.3611.622.6315.867.133.7012.007.84

10. Lake Pontchartrain Pre-Katrina Water Quality Indicators

11. Lake Pontchartrain Dissolved Oxygen (Bottom-water) 2000-2004 DO < 2 mg/L DO 2-5 mg/L DO > 5 mg/L

12. Lake Pontchartrain Pre-Katrina Water Quality

13. Lake Pontchartrain Pre-Katrina Sediment Quality

15. Lake Pontchartrain Pre-Katrina Benthic Index

16. Lake Pontchartrain Fish Tissue Contaminants Index 2001-2002 Poor Fair Good

17. Lake Pontchartrain Pre-Katrina Ecological Condition Water quality was fair. Low dissolved oxygen and high dissolved inorganic phosphorus concentrations occurred at ~20% of sites over four years. Sediment quality was good. Few contaminants exceeded guidelines in any of the four years. Biological condition was poor as indicated by the benthic index over four years. This condition is more likely related to hypoxia or disturbance than to sediment contamination or toxicity. Contaminants in fish tissue were low or undetectable in all but one sample in two years.

18. Hurricane Katrina Post-Storm Ecological Assessment

19. Objectives Characterize the magnitude and extent of coastal contamination and ecological effects resulting from Hurricane Katrina Assess human-health risks and environmental impacts of Hurricane Katrina in the affected waters and a record changes over time Support local, state, and national efforts to mitigate health and environmental threats and their effects

20. Interagency Partnership ORD Region 4 OW OAR NMFS NOS

21. Environmental Assessments Assessment of the Effects of Hurricane Katrina on Coastal Ecosystems EPA, NOAA, USGS, MDEQ, ADEM Joint NOAA Cruise –Response Aboard the RV Nancy Foster and Related Efforts NOAA NOAA National Status and Trends Program (NS&T) Mussel Watch Project Contaminant Monitoring NOAA, FDA FDA Assessment of Seafood SafetyFDA, LDHH, LDWF, LDEQ NOAA Expansion of Mussel WatchNOAA NOAA Assessment of Downstream Contamination and Coastal Ecosystem Threats NOAA, USF, UM, FDEP

23. Samples and Data Collected Sediment quality –Chemistry (DDT, pesticides, PCBs, PAHs, metals, flame retardants, Fipronil) –Grain size and TOC –Toxicity (Microtox and P450 assays) Water quality –DO, salinity, temperature, pH, –Turbidity, TSS, DOC, Chlorophyll –Nutrients (TN, TP, NO3, NO2, NH4, PO4) –Chemistry (Organics, oil & grease, metals, Atrazine) Biological Indicators –Benthic Invertebrate Community Condition –Shrimp, blue crab, and Atlantic croaker –Bacterial and chemical contamination Microbial Pathogens –Fecal coliforms –Enterococci –Clostridium perfringens –Bacterial and viral indicators of fecal contamination Oyster tissues –Pesticides, Metals, PAHs, and PCBs –Microbial pathogens (fecal coliforms, bacteriophages, E. coli, enterococci). Oceanographic Hydrodynamics –Satellite remote sensing data (altimetry, color, and SST) –Field observations

24. Status All sample collection is completed. Field data is being entered into the database. Microbial pathogen indicators should be completed in 2 weeks. All water samples have been shipped to the laboratory for analysis. (most perishable) Sediments will follow soon. NOAA data will be included as it becomes available. USGS should send microbial data this week.