Katrina?

[Triton X2]

Here is unusual question about the flooding in Nawleans....Is most of the water, ocean water or fresh water? If it is mostly saline, what will it do to the plants and animal life? Inquiring minds want to know.

[BornBad]

Triton, is your questions open for general discussion or are you seeking certifiable researched conclusions?

[Tigerhaze]

My guess is that the water is mainly brackish water (mixture of fresh and saltwater). Lake Ponchatrain (which is causing most of the flooding) is a brackish lake, and the stormsurge was likely a mixture of water from the Gulf and Lake Ponchatrain. Thus, the water is probably somewhat saline.



Being in a coastal environment, many of the plants are somewhat salt-tolerant. Animals may or may not be salt-tolerant dependent on the species. I think the plant and animal life have a lot bigger problems, like existing in 20' of water and the toxic chemicals and sewage floating in the city basin.

[Triton X2]

BB, either but I just got to wondering about the plant life and since saline water was mixed into some of the bayous that are fresh, would it harm the bass and other species of fish. The last time a large hurricane hit La. it did cause some of that damage. In either case, Tigerhaze you are right about the lake ponchatrain causing a lot of flooding. Just thought I would throw the question out for review.

[BornBad]

Human impact aside.



Katrina was a disruption to the existing balance, no doubt about it. New habitats have been opened for some and old habitats lost to others. Some species will suffer while others will thrive. I am betting it will be an ecologist's wet dream to get a grant to study the developing population dynamics.

[Tigerhaze]

This will be a much-studied catastrophe from all sides of science. I am a geological engineer, and I know several professors who would likely want to study the levee failures and the hydrological impacts from the storm surge to improve knowledge of coastal engineering. Many of my classes in college involved studying disasters of this type.

I am sure there will be lots of biological science professors wanting to do the same. Obviously that would be well down the road (maybe years) after the situation stabilizes. As BB said, the human aspect of the disaster is the primary concern right now.

BTW, the CNN site quoted a police chief in NO as stating that there were thousands of fish swimming in his neighborhood near Lake Ponchatrain.

[LadyAngler]

I'm sure most of you get the same "mainstream" info I do, but I have heard there is a possible 12 feet rise in the current flooding (meaning the French Quarter will be mostly underwater). I don't think New Orleans will ever be the same. Dang it, I love Burbon Street!

[Warmouth]

LA you just like the beads, be honest.

[PoisonSnake]

I was wondering how high the water was going to get. I have heard mixed stories. Last year, when the storm hit east of NO, that was their major concern. Flooding that is. In the aftermath of Katrina, it seemed as if they were breathing a sigh of relief due to missing the huge storm surge that hit MS. But, one would have to be stupid to believe that Ponchatrain wasn't gonna be breached somewhere. NO is a weird town. I've been there a few times and I do like the atmosphere. But, it has a stench only comparible to Venice, Italy. I don't care much for cajun food either. Pretty neat, however, walking along the levee on one side and seeing oil tankers that are actually floating above you. Water levels in the MS River are even higher than what the level of ground for the French Quarter is. Just seems weird.

[counts]

I guess the lesson here is: Don't build a city under water. Someone had to figure that in time the city would be ruined. Think about a terrorist bomb on that levee. I wonder if the flood damage would have been the same?

[Hellbender]

I'm still amazed they didn't do a better job of protecting the pumps.

[Triton X2]

Yeah Hellbender, that really sucks...
I really shouldnt be kidding around about something like this. It sure is terrible.

Oh yeah, about the levee breaking...Just another screwup by the Corpse of Engineers.

[LadyAngler]

PoisonSnake said:
NO is a weird town.

Shut it, PS! New Orleans is a GREAT town. Fun will be had by all who seek it.

[PoisonSnake]

Venice is a fun town too. But, it stinks to freaking high heaven.

[LadyAngler]

After a few drinks, who cares?