North Cape oil spill

Of the many affected communities, one important habitat was the Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge is nearly in area and protects the only undeveloped salt pond in the state and its inhabitants. The oil caused a large number of deaths in wildlife such as birds, lobsters, surf clams and sea stars. More than 2,000 birds were killed, one of these species being the piping plover, a federally listed threatened species. The wind and choppy waters of the storm in combination with the oil caused a rapid and foamy dispersion of the oil into the water column. Because of the complex interconnected nature of the marine ecosystem, the effects on one species eventually spread to every level of the food chain in that environment. Even small and uncommon species can serve as keystone species for the ecosystem, determining the functionality of the community as a whole. ==Social and economic impacts==

Humans were affected by the disturbance in several ways such as temporary loss of the fishing industry and financial strain. Residents and tourists alike depend on the coastal environment for both recreational and economical pursuits. More than of commercial fishery were closed for several months following the spill ==Recovery efforts==

As a result of the severe weather during the time of the spill, the oil spread quickly to the deeper levels of water, making cleaning up more difficult and the skimming method less effective. The total project cost was $117 million. Many organizations were involved to find a solution to the disaster, and to find a way to clean up all the oil from the deep levels of the sound. ==See also==