By: Grace Condinho
Today we went to the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) in Mississippi to explore the plant life and how they restore the ecosystem by using techniques like controlled burning. We started with a lecture about the local ecosystem including how past hurricanes greatly affected the local lumber industry. We also learned more about the history of how the United States has approached wildfire mitigation from the Big Burn in the early 1900’s to today’s policies which try to incorporate “good” fire.
After, we were taken on a walk along the trail on the Reserve. You notice the differences in plants and animals as you make your way towards the end. You try to find cool lizards and skinks sunning on the boardwalk, or capture pictures of colorful dragonflies perched on plants. Walking along this trail is most enjoyable and successful during the periods of spring and fall migration. We also met with their “Burn Boss” who is responsible for doing the prescribed fires on the Reserve.
After we had explored the NERR we took a trip to Front Beach in Ocean Springs, Mississippi to cool off after being in the heat all day. After we went for a swim we drove along the entire coast of Mississippi where you can still see the recovery efforts from Hurricane Katrina. We stopped in the city of Gulfport where we saw the high water marking sign from Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Camile in Coastal Mississippi. There are twelve visible markers in communities from Waveland to Ocean Springs but the one we saw had the record height of 28ft. We then wrapped the day up with one more lecture and what better way to enjoy a lecture with a side of ice cream?!
