Fact Sheet - October 20 I7 Fact Sheet - Hurricane Irma - October 2017
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urricane Irma, at its strong est, the most powerful hurri cane ever recorded in the open Atlantic, made landfall in South west Florida as a category 3 .hurricane on September 10, 2017. With peak wind gusts of 142 mph recorded in Naples. The center of the storm path passed approximately 2.5 miles (4 km) west of Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary and less than 6 miles (9.7 'km) from Corkscrew's Blair Audubon Visitor Cen ter. Between September 9th and September 11th Irma dropped 12.6 in. (32 em) of rainfall on the Sanctuary. This rainfall Hurricane Donna: i960 came during the rainiest summer the Sanctuary has ever experienced and Hurricane Donna made land Donna dropped 5.6 in. (14 contributed to the record rainfall total fall in SW Florida on Septem em) of rainfall on Corkscrew of 76.8 in . (195 em) during the 2017 ber 10, 1960 as a category 4 and brought water levels to rainy season (June -September). Peak hurricane. Donna and Irma a near record high of over 4 water levels following Hurricane Irma took nearly identical paths ft. (122 em) deep at the staff were 4.18 ft. (127 em) as measured at through SW Florida on the gauge in our Lettuce Lakes. same date, exactly 57 years our 'B' staff gauge in the north Lettuce apart. Corkscrew has only passed Lake. This peak water level has only the 4 ft. depth mark four been surpassed twice in Corkscrew's 59 Like Irma, Donna devastated times in our history: 1960, -year continuous water level record: parts of Florida from the 1995,2008 & 2017. Each following Tropicall' Storm Jerry in Au Florida Keys to Everglades time was from a tropical gust 1995 (peak depth=4.44 ft./135 City and northward. Cork storm system and all record em) and Hurricane Donna in September screws boardwalk, then highs were within centime Corkscrew's boardwalk after made of pine, was heavily ters of each other. This sug 1960 (peak depth=4.33 ft./132 em). Hurricane Donna. Photo c/o damaged and closed for gests that 4 feet + is Cork Donna N. Sprunt (9/18/1960) several weeks. screw's peak water depth. Fact Sheet - October 20 I7 Fact Sheet - Hurricane Irma - October 2017 STRUCTURAL IMPACTS ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS Storks was unaffected. High water levels following the storm will in Did the Hurricane damage Cork • The Blair Audubon Visitor Center, • crease fish populations which are built to withstand 150 mph winds, screw's old growth cypress forest? food. However, it is the uncertain and other buildings near it, had mini No. Corkscrew's natural ecosystem is timing of the winter season dry mal damage. The Center served as a evolved for, and depends on, the pe down, when fish become concentrat shelter for several staff members and riodic disturbance that hurricanes ed into small ponds, that has the their families during the storm. provide. Fallen trees become nursery greatest impact on the nesting suc logs, nutrients from fallen vegetation • Corkscrews 2.25 mile boardwalk sus cess of Wood Storks. tained significant damage from fallen are returned to the soil, and treefall • What happened to Corkscrew's trees including 10 boardwalk breach gaps allow sunlight to foster new 'super' ghost orchid? It's unaffected. es, ~70 damaged handrail sections growth on the forest floor. and several broken posts. The special • How are treeS and plants affected? • How was wildlife affected? Our na wood used to build the boardwalk is High winds damaged leaves and cy tive wildlife are minimally affected by very hard and many planks that were press needles, but these are soon hurricanes. Most species 'hunker hit by fallen trees were able to be replaced by fresh growth if the roots down' and ride out storms relatively reused. and trunk are undamaged. It's un unharmed . Species who lose habitat, clear how species who feed on cy • The Sanctuary was without power for such as cavity-dwelling animals that press needles, such as webworms 14 days following Hurricane Irma. are displaced when their trees falls, and cypress loopers, will be affected. • The Panther Island Field Station build must seek out new habitats after the These insects are also an important ing and pole barn was damaged be storm. Flooding can also stress up food source for migratory birds. High yond repair and needs to be replaced. land anima ls, who need dry condi winds also disperse plant seeds in • Many miles of backcountry trails, tions to find food and rest, until wa cluding exotics who out compete na used to study wildlife and conduct ter levels drop. tive plants and imbalance the ecosys tours, were unpassable and requ ired • How will this affect Wood Stork tem. Exotics, such as old world climb hundreds of hours to clear and make nesting? While some large cypress ing fern, popcorn sedge and melaleu safe. trees were lost, our cypress forest is ca may colonize new locations after a intact and nesting habitat for Wood hurricane which increases removal costs and efforts. WHAT YOU CAN DO? • Donate Today-Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary experienced additional costs related to the storm. Donate today to offset these repairs and support further research on the Western Everglades and the last stand of old growth bald cypress re maining. Donations are accepted in the Blair Audubon Visitor Center and online at • Become a Member- Providing annual, ongoing support towards our mission by becoming a Friends of Corkscrew Swamp member provides you and your family with benefits and will support our recovery efforts. Sign -up in the Blair Audubon Visitor Center or online at • Become a Volunteer- Engaging with our staff and volunteers on a wide range of projects is a fun way to give back to the Corkscrew community. Pick up an application in the Blair Audubon Visitor Center or online at • Advocate for Wetland Protection and Restoration-For decades, Audubon has championed the preservation and resto ration of Florida's Everglades and all the interconnected wetlands that have been lost to development. Storm-related flooding has been linked to poor watershed planning, inadequate regulations, and a lack of appropriate science to make sound decisions. Learn more about wetland protection at ........... And watch for Audubon policy positions in the news. Audubon, The Best Conservation Organization in America. For inquiries please visit: Corkscrew.audubon.org CORKSCREW SWAMP LAd b Corkscrew Swa mp Sanctuary SANCTUARY & BLAIR U U on 375 Sanctuary Road CENTER Naples, FL 34120 239-348-9151 .