Impacts of Hurricane Harvey on Galveston Bay Dolphins

As a result of Hurricane Harvey, Galveston Bay received an unprecedented volume of freshwater that drastically changed the salinity of the Bay and likely contaminated the water with pathogens and toxic chemicals. After the storm, the Galveston Bay Dolphin Research and Conservation Program (GDRCP), that has been studying the Galveston Bay dolphin population since 2013, observed drastic changes in dolphin numbers and their distribution. Furthermore, many dolphins that were seen were lethargic, had severe skin lesions, and showed signs of malnutrition. The GDRCP is seeking funding to closely track if, when, and which dolphins return to UGB, the presence of calves, short and long-term changes in distribution, and the development of the skin lesions and possibly other health conditions. Knowledge of if, when, and how the population recovers is vital for the establishment of conservation management plans. Furthermore, with the predicted increase in the frequency of intense storms due to climate change, research on catastrophic events is imperative to maintain healthy coastal dolphin populations worldwide.