Since I'm from Louisiana, I'm well aware of the marshes. I was referring to beaches. As to the effects on the marshes, we'll have to wait and see. I don't think "Mother Nature" is quite the weak sister that a lot of folks think she is.
Some indirectly relevant info:
"Katrina's storm surge also destroyed an oil tank at Chevron's Empire facility, releasing oil into a retention pond in a region surrounded by marshland. Three and half weeks later, Hurricane Rita's storm surge hit the oily mess in the retention pond, washing 4,000 - 8,000 gallons of oil into nearby marshlands, which were heavily or moderately oiled. According to the EPA and Merten et al. (2008), the oiled marshlands were set on fire six weeks after the spill, resulting in 80-90% removal of the oil and contaminated vegetation. The marshland recovered fairly quickly, as seen in aerial photos taken five months after the burn (Figure 1)--though oil still remained in the roots, affecting burrowing crabs and the wildlife that feed on them."
From:
http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=1492&tstamp=&page=2
I don’t think Mother Nature is a weak sister either. Eventually she will adapt, recover and thrive. A short time frame for Mother Nature, a long one for man.
But this is a big and continuing blow to life in the Gulf and to livlihoods dependent on it. Louisiana has 40% of the US marshlands and that’s where a great deal of gulf food starts.
The sub-surface problem, from all causes, adds to damage:
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/05/30/1656217/gulf-oil-spill-this-disaster-just.html