WBRZ - Baton Rouge

The Coast Guard says the 5,600 vessels taking part in the oil spill operation make up the largest fleet
assembled since the Allied invasion of Normandy.

Hordes of helicopters, bulldozers, Army trucks, ATVs, barges, dredges, airboats, workboats, cleanup crews, media, scientists and volunteers have descended on the beaches and marshes of the Gulf
Coast.

That's a lot of propellers, anchors, tires, and feet for a fragile ecosystem to take, and a tough truth is emerging: In many places, the oil cleanup itself is causing environmental damage.

Since the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded, federal, state and BP officials say they've been guided in their response by picking the less damaging cleanup method.