In late September 2022, Hurricane Ian roared into the coast of Florida. A Category 4 hurricane, it was the fifth strongest storm to make landfall in the U.S. It caused widespread damage and loss of life.
The Everglades Foundation reached out to Lighthawk, a non-profit organization that uses a network of volunteer general aviation pilots in environmental and conservation efforts, to plan a reconnaissance flight over the coastal Everglades, Florida Bay, and the southwest coastline to assess water quality and document the impacts from Ian.
Volunteer Pilot Robert Decker responded to the call and took Steve Davis, Chief Science Officer with the Everglades Foundation, along with Alex Harris, a reporter for the Miami Herald climate team, on the aerial tour.
During the nearly two-hour flight, they were able to capture a number of photos and observe the impacts Ian had on the Everglades ecosystem.
What did they find? The ecosystem fared pretty well. Mangrove forests appear to have survived, unlike their fate after Hurricane Irma in 2017. The previously standing deadfall had been blown over, but of the living mangroves, there was very little evidence of defoliation, indicating they survived the hurricane this time around.
They also noted evidence of water having been pulled out of basins and into Florida Bay. These basins are separated from one another by mangrove islands and mud banks. Without getting flushed out after high tides, salty conditions have caused seagrass die offs in the past.
Additionally, algae has grown in the basins leading to unhealthy environments for other plant life and animals. Ian appears to have flushed out those basins, which will help seagrass recovery.
They also noted clear water conditions, which is a great sign for the environment, Lighthawk officials reported.
During a conversation after the flight, Davis noted that the only way to make these observations and gather this kind of information is in the air. He was also able to observe the benefits of completed and ongoing restoration projects in the Everglades. Due to the scale of projects and the size of the area covered, the aerial perspective is the only way to get a clear picture of the situation, he said.
For more information: Lighthawk.org