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Pat Shingleton: "The Dyerville Giant and a Cleansing..."

5 years 6 months 1 week ago Thursday, September 20 2018 Sep 20, 2018 September 20, 2018 9:00 AM September 20, 2018 in Pat Shingleton Column
By: Pat Shingleton

In 1980 a significant drought was evident within the southern tier of states and Baton Rouge.  The ever-present afternoon-evening convective showers we also comprised.  I remember numerous areas of brown grass along the interstate systems in addition to multiple episodes of grass fires throughout the viewing area. Possibly this sets-the-stage for the following, borrowed from “Mission 2000.”  “The 1,500-year-old Dyerville Giant was the world’s third-tallest redwood.  Measuring 17 feet in diameter and 360 feet tall, it was the pride of California’s Humbold Redwoods State Park. Torrential rain felled it in May 1991.  The park’s superintendent, Don Hoyle, explained that redwood trees depend on each other for support. He said, “It’s like a domino effect, with their roots intertwined. Redwoods have relatively shallow roots and they don’t have a tap root.  Their roots are like a mat and they help each other to stand up. In borrowing previous postings here is another replicating the consequences in the Carolinas.  "Until the end of the year, experts will determine the amount of damage to the oyster beds  in the Gulf from Katrina. Hurricane Fran in 1996 and Hurricanes Dennis, Floyd and Irene in 1999 battered Pamlico Sound and the Neuse River and Estuary in eastern North Carolina. Following the storms, researchers from North Caroliana State University reported that most species of fish eventually regained their health and population levels. Water quality dropped immediately after these storms but the study indicated that 21 water sampling locations  returned to normal.  The research suggests that the storms may have cleansed the waterway of a micro-organisms, harmful to fish in a large area prior to the storms. The Pfiesteria piscicida micro-organism that was blamed for fish kills and human illness in the 90s was washed into areas where it was unable to prosper. What didn't bounce back is the blue crab population due to the hurricanes and over fishing."

 

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