If the Gulf of Mexico oil spill were to enter the Gulf “loop current” Virginia Key, with its vast expanse of wetlands, marshes and mangrove forests and sea-turtle nesting beaches, would be severely impacted.
Though the oil is now more than 80 miles away from the Gulf loop current, changes in wind and weather patterns could bring the oil to the Florida Keys and around to Miami Dade's beaches and barrier islands. The oil rig site is discharging approximately 210,000 gallons a day for a total estimated output of 3.5 million gallons already spilled into the Gulf. Fishing grounds throughout the region have been closed.
Everglades and Biscayne National Parks are bracing for the impact, already documenting conditions pre-oil spill.
Average citizens are also taking action in the wake of this unprecedented environmental catastrophe. Some are documenting current conditions through photos of shorelines and beaches. Others are holding events calling for an end to off-shore oil drilling.
THINGS TO DO NOW:
Rally: Miami-Dade County Says “No to Off Shore Drilling” Rally took place May 11 on Miami Beach where several hundred participated.
Photo Project: Tropical Seike is collecting photos of shorelines to document existing conditions. The photo-baseline project will collect images of our beaches, estauries, and harbors before and after the BP-Deepwater Horizon oil/tar arrives. Include the name of the specific site and date. The project site is: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tropical-Selkie-gathering-the-ocean-tribes/231034041891?ref=mf
Resources:
http://miami-dade.ifas.ufl.edu/environment/sea_grant_oilspill.shtml
http://www.google.com/crisisresponse/oilspill/
Thanks for letting us know. Please keep us up-to-date with information on how to help! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to the organizers of today's protest against off-shore oil drilling. More than 100 people participated, including Miami Beach Mayor Mattie Bower and State Rep. Dan Gelber. This should be the first of many protests throughout Florida.
ReplyDeleteIt's not clear how the buoyantly neutral dispersant-filled oil will react once in the Gulf Stream. Will we get tar balls washing upon the shore? Will it enter the food chain? Will it coat mangroves? We don't know. But the longer the leak goes unchecked the higher the risk for South Florida. Where are the publicly-noticed meeting in Miami-Dade? It's better to be prepared and to let the public know what you're doing even if we're not quite sure of the form or scope of the damage.
ReplyDeleteBiscayne National Park, whose boundaries are just outside of Virginia Key near Stiltsville, has been conducting a baseline condition assessment to document conditions before the oil spill arrives. What are City and County officials doing to assess pre-conditions at Crandon Park and Virginia Key and how do they plan to protect the natural resources of these barrier islands?
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