Atchafalaya River Basin II
Implementing Organization
The Nature Conservancy
Overview
DWH Project Funding
$1,000,000
Known Leveraged Funding
$0
Funding Organization
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
Funding Program
North American Wetlands Conservation Act NAWCA
Details
Project Category
Environmental
Project Actions
Habitat Restoration and Enhancement
Targeted Resources
Wetlands/Marshes/Estuaries
Project Description
This proposal is part of a larger effort to reverse this downward trajectory in wetland quality in the Atchafalaya. It will be the first project to install hydrological restoration features on private lands in the Atchafalaya River Basin. Without restoration and enhancement activities that address these hydrological problems, habitat quantity and quality will continue to decline along with critical ecosystems such as bald cypress-tupelo forest and back swamp lakes, fisheries, and waterfowl and waterbird habitat. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and partners will restore a more natural hydrologic regime on a portion of TNC's Atchafalaya Basin Preserve (Basin) and adjacent state lands. The hydrologic restoration, and the accompanying wetland restoration, will be focused on the areas south of Bayou Sorrel and incorporates restoration elements from the State of Louisiana's East Grand Lake Plan (LADNR-ABP 2012). This Plan seeks to restore the natural north to south sheet flow pattern in portions of the Basin that have been isolated by stream channelization and canal dredging. A critical challenge to accomplishing large-scale restoration projects is that landowners are reluctant to cooperate with the LADNR-ABP due to fears about loss of property rights and liability. The proposed restoration and enhancement will allow TNC and the state to work together to implement projects, for the first time, and develop a platform to demonstrate to landowners, the benefit of cooperating in wetland restoration efforts. Our hope is that success of this project on TNC and State lands will encourage other private landowners to engage with LADNR-ABP, thus allowing us to leverage this work for additio
Contact
James Bergan2253381040
jbergan@tnc.org
Project Website
Caterpillar Foundation, Enterprise Products Operating LLC, Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, Meta Alice Keith Bratten Foundation, Private Contributors, The Nature Conservancy
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