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Resiliency of the Sound
Recolonization at Herring Bay
What we have found is that, despite the gloomy outlook in 1989, the intertidal habitats of Prince William Sound have proved to be surprisingly resilient. Many shorelines that were heavily oiled and then intensively cleaned now appear much as they did before the spill. Most gravel beaches where the sediments were excavated and pushed into the surf zone for cleansing have returned to their normal shape and sediment distribution patterns. Beaches that had been denuded of plants and animals by the toxic effects of oil and by the intense cleanup efforts show extensive recolonization and are similar in appearance to areas that were unoiled.
These two photos are views of the Herring Bay shoreline in 1989, shortly after the spill, and in 1996, 7 years after the spill. This site was oiled, but not treated.
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This photo, taken in 1989, shows shoreline oiling at a "setaside site" in Herring Bay, which was oiled but not cleaned.
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This photo, taken in 1996, 7 years after the spill, shows the same location. No discernible evidence of oil was found.
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For more information
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- What is Recovery? Ecosystems are constantly adjusting themselves. Against that background, how can we identify recovery?
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Other pages in this series
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