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New Orleans, Louisiana Oil Spill

NEW ORLEANS, La. - On July 23, 2008, a tanker and barge collided in the Mississippi River near downtown New Orleans, Louisiana. The barge was reported to be "ripped in half," discharging its entire contents — over 9,000 barrels (380,000 gallons) of #6 fuel oil. The release necessitated the closure of more than 80 miles of river to commercial shipping and recreational boating. The river, shorelines, and adjacent wetlands were impacted in much of the area. This incident represents a significant threat to fish, wildlife, and habitat quality. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) Environmental Contaminant Program and National Wildlife Refuge System personnel responded to the incident.

Fish and Wildlife Service Activities:

The Members of the Service's Southeast Region Spill Response Regional Strike Team are on-site in the Incident Command Center (ICC) in Belle Chasse and participating in field-based operations on the Mississippi River in New Orleans and downstream areas of St. Bernard Parish and Plaquemines Parish.

Water- and Land-Based Operations

Significant but variable oiling was observed via water- and land-based operations conducted on the Mississippi River, batture lands (i.e., alluvial wetland areas between the river and levees), trenasses (i.e., hydrologic connections to adjacent wetlands), and other areas. Environmental Contaminants staff are geo-referencing oiled habitats and attempting to locate and capture oiled wildlife observed during aerial surveillance or reported on the Oiled Wildlife Hotline. Locations for the deployment of propane canons are also being identified. Sixty-eight propane cannons have been deployed at select locations to scare wildlife away (known as "hazing") from the contaminated marshes and swamps.

To date, the following oiled animals have been observed:
The Great Egret (Casmerodius albus) is one of many species impacted by the oil spill.
Credit: Karney/USFWS

        * white ibis (Total number=2)
        * ibis sp.* (1)
        * great egrets (64)
        * snowy egrets (32)
        * cattle egrets (11)
        * great blue her
        * tri-colored heron (1)
        * yellow crowned night heron (1)
        * grebe (1)
        * green-winged teal (2)
        * wood duck (3)
        * duck sp.* (20)
        * crane sp.* (1)
        * heron sp.* (4)
        * gull sp.* (2)
        * black vulture (6)
        * mourning dove (1)
        * rock dove (3)
        * beaver (2)
        * muskrat (2)
        * American alligators (2)
        * box turtle (1) .  

All duck species observed have been 100% oiled. Unverified reports on the Oiled Wildlife Hotline also have been received.

sp.* = The specific species of duck, crane, gull, etc. is unknown.