Effects of Hurricane `Lili' on a Moso Grove (USA)

[Mark Meckes]

Following are some pictures of the effects of Hurricane `Lili' (Oct 2002) on a grove of Phyllostachys (heterocycla) pubescens, or Moso, by it's common name, located on private property at Avery Island, Louisiana.
This grove was in the process of being rejuvenated through work-parties organized annually for the last 4 years by the Louisiana Gulf Coast Chapter of the American Bamboo Society, and was well on the way to restoration, and then the forces of nature stepped in...
(See News Article excerpt below)

Posted on Wed, Oct. 02, 2002
By CAIN BURDEAU
The Associated Press
Hurricane Lili prompts evacuations in Texas and Louisiana as
Gulf Coast residents brace for Hurricane Lili
330,000 evacuate and brace for 9 foot tidal surges.

NEW IBERIA, La. Packing sustained winds of 135 mph, which extended outward 45 miles from the center of Lili, with gusts of more than 150 mph., Hurricane Lili strengthened to a Category 4 storm as it churned on Wednesday October 2, 2002 toward the Gulf Coast, where residents braced for the second major storm in a week. "Hurricane Lili is not as large as Hurricane Isidore, but it is much more powerful."

Forecasts showed Lili heading for the middle of Louisiana's coast, and officials warned that areas could be inundated with as much as 20 feet of water.
At Avery Island, the home of Tabasco hot pepper sauce, McIlhenny Co. officials prepared for a possible shut down of bottling operations.
The structure served as a storm shelter for residents during the peak of the storm.

This Moso grove was in the process of being rejuvenated through work-parties organized annually for the last 4 years by the Louisiana Gulf Coast Chapter of the American Bamboo Society, and was well on the way to restoration.
Then the forces of nature stepped in...

Pictures:
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/528/thumbs/1MosoAvryLili-255.JPG (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=107) http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/528/thumbs/1MosoAvryLili-257.JPG (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=108) http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/528/thumbs/1MosoAvryLili-258.JPG (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=109) http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/528/thumbs/1MosoAvryLili-260.JPG (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=110)

http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/528/thumbs/1MosoAvryLili-264.JPG (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=111) http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/528/thumbs/1MosoAvryLili-266.JPG[/url] [url=http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=113]http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/528/thumbs/1MosoAvryLili-265.JPG (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=112)

[audior1]

Cannot the canes be leaned back upright and tampted tight? Even the ones uprooted could be replanted ? We have blown downs in our Nursery on taller transplants and we just guy em up or tamp them tight. Ren

[Mark Meckes]

We will be going with a work-party to the grove in about a months time to see what can be done.
It certainly is possible to upright some of the culms
but it's a matter of having enough time and the equipment, and the owner's wishes.
Many of the culms are probably still alive and growing.

It will be interesting to see the grove, after 3 months away.
I know there was heavy equipment in the region, harvesting all the fallen trees (of which there were many), and we were asked to remove specific canes to give access to the fallen oak, which was in the middle of the grove.

I think this grove itself is about 2-3 acres.

It is growing in between two other species which are taking up more acreage.
- Phyllostachys nigra` Henon'
- Phyllostachys bambusoides