Lacombe Sub-Area

Land Use

Superfund Sites There are two Superfund sites that were located in the Lacombe sub-area, both in the Slidell area. The first site is called Bayou Bonfouca and was a wood treatment facility using primarily creosote. The site is 55 acres and is located 7 miles north of , southwest of where West Hall Avenue and Bayou Lane intersect, within the 100-year flood plain of Bayou Bonfouca (USEPA 1996). There is a cement plant to the east of the site, residential and commercial areas to the north and a residential subdivision to the west. This site began operation around 1882 treating pilings for bridge and railway construction. It operated under the ownership of Southern Creosote Company, Hattiesburg Creosoting Company, Gulf States Creosoting Company and American Creosote Works. In 1970 there was a large fire that ruptured creosote storage tanks causing creosote to run across the site into Bayou Bonfouca. The site was listed to the NPL in 1982 and remedial action began in 1987. Creosote contamination in Bayou Bonfouca was so severe that 1.5 miles of the bayou was biologically sterile and caused second- degree burns to divers (USEPA 2009). The remediation activities included on-site incineration of contaminated soils and bayou sediments and groundwater extraction and treatment. The goals of remediation were to reduce or eliminate the potential for ingestion of carcinogens in groundwater, surface soils and in the food chain, control the migration of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH's) into aquifers and eliminate threat of direct contact with contaminated sediments and on-site wastes (USEPA 1996). Treatment of contaminated soils included incineration of 132,000 tons of hazardous sediments from the bayou and 25,000 tons of on-site soils (Acharya and Ives 1994). After trial operations, commercial incineration of large quantities began in 1993. In 1996, significant quantities of creosote were still being removed from groundwater at 300 to 800 gallons per month (USEPA 1996). At the second 5-year review in 2001 and at the third in 2006 water treatment operations continued and swimming bans in the Bayou remained. The second Superfund site is located at 999 Canulette Road in Slidell and is 54 acres. The site in known as Southern Shipbuilding Corporation and operated as a manufacturing and repairing facility for shipping vessels. The company began operations in 1919 as Canulette Shipbuilding, was purchased in 1954 by J & S Shipbuilding and then purchased by Southern Shipbuilding in 1957. The company filed bankruptcy and ceased operations in 1993 (USEPA 2000). There were two sludge pits in operation until 1972 that were used to dispose of waste from ships. Contamination resulted from these pits as well as bad waste management practices where waste was dumped onto the ground. The site is surrounded by residential areas on the west and south and by a wooded area to the east. The Bayou Bonfouca site mentioned above is located 1.5 miles upstream. The Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) issued compliance orders to Southern Shipbuilding in 1984 when unauthorized discharge from the sludge pits was observed. In 1992, the LDEQ received complaints of contamination and it was discovered that the levees around the sludge pits had failed and 325,000 gallons of waste were released into Bayou Bonfouca. In both 1993 and 1994 EPA initiated an Emergency Removal Action to pump down the liquid levels in the sludge pits and in 1995 installed sheet piling around the levees to stop leakage into Bayou Bonfouca. The site was listed to the NPL in May of 1995. The sludge pits and surrounding soils were contaminated with PAH's and the soils on the site were contaminated with tributyltin. The soils around the site were contaminated with PAH's, PCB's, lead, arsenic and asbestos. The soils were excavated to a depth of 2 feet, and

incinerated and approximately 2,000 cans, containers and drums were removed. The first and second five-year reviews in 2000 and 2005, respectively, found no problems with the site and as of 2008 the site was under discussion for potential re-use.

Current Land use The Lacombe sub-area is the largest of the three areas in the report at 207.4 square miles. It contains many natural areas with 15% of the land in upland forest (31.8 sq miles) and 19% (39.5 sq miles) in wetland habitat. Within the wetland habitat categories almost 7% is swamp and almost 10% is marsh (Table 13; Figure 83). The marsh in this area is mostly brackish and intermediate as it is closer to the Rigolets and Chef Menteur passes which provide means for saltwater to enter the Pontchartrain estuary system. The swamps lie in between the marsh and upland habitats. Development represents 16% of the land area (34.5 sq miles), mostly under low intensity development. The development is due to presence of the eastern half of Mandeville, Slidell and the small community of Lacombe in the sub-area (Figure 84). There is a large amount of undeveloped land, especially uplands that these communities can expand into if the pressure for development caused by an increasing population continues. The sub-area currently has 18,000 acres in conservation in the Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge (BBMNRW; Figure 85). The National Wildlife Refuge System has refocused its commitment to maintaining the integrity of biological systems with its Improvement Act of 1997 where the system posits that it will focus on preserving natural systems first and human uses will come second only if there is minimal effect on the natural ecosystems (Meretsky et al.2006). The Act also instructs the USFWS to expand conservation, assessment and management activities to the surrounding landscapes. In the BBMNRW Comprehensive Conservation Plan written in 2007, the refuge makes a commitment to "the management of natural resources to maintain and improve wetland habitat, monitor targeted flora and fauna representative of the Pontchartrain Basin" and improve public use opportunities while monitoring this use to evaluate if there are any adverse impacts to the natural landscape (BBMNWR CCP 2007).

Table 13: Land use in Lacombe sub-area 2005.

Class Acres Square Miles Percent High Intensity Development 1,572.60 2.50 1.19 Medium Intensity Development 4,472.70 7.00 3.37 Low Intensity Development 16,006.50 25.00 12.06 Total Development 22,051.80 34.50 16.62 Ag/Grass/Barren 3,892.50 6.10 2.93 Upland Forest 20,348.80 31.80 15.33 Upland Scrub/Shrub 8,271.70 12.90 6.23 Wetland Forest 9,200.90 14.40 6.93 Wetland Scrub/Shrub 3,053.00 4.80 2.30 Marsh 13,023.30 20.30 9.81 Total Wetland Habitat 25,277.20 39.50 19.05 Water 5,532.30 8.60 4.17 132,703.30 207.40 100.00

Figure 83: Habitat map for Lacombe sub-area .

Figure 84: Development and infrastructure map for the Lacombe sub-area.

Figure 85: Conservation areas in Lacombe sub-area.

Land Loss/Land Use Change

Land Loss 1932-2005 Land loss during this time period occurred mostly during the 1932-1958 and 1958-1974 time periods (Table 14; Figure 86). The land loss during the first period can mostly be attributed to the impoundment and subsequent flooding of Eden Isles and the section between Eden Isles and Fritchie Marsh. This land loss occurred at a rate of 152.27 acre per year during this time. Some land loss occurred in the marshes in Big Branch Marsh NWR as well as in the form of shoreline erosion during this time period. During the 1958-1974 time period most of the land loss was in the coastal marshes in the sub-area when large pond areas formed, and land was lost at a rate of 120.32 acres per year. In the 25 years between 1974 to 2001, 688.52 acres of land were lost total. Recently, the marshes in BBMNWR have continued to degrade contributing to land loss in the sub-area. There was significant land loss attributed to Hurricane Katrina storm surge which expanded existing ponds and created new ones through the rafting of marsh vegetation.

Table 14: Land loss in the Lacombe sub-area from 1932 to 2005 and acres per year lost within each time period.

Time Period Acres Acres/Year 1932-1958 3966.91 152.57 1958-1974 1925.1 120.32 1974-1983 356.57 39.62 1983-1990 29.68 4.24 1990-2001 302.27 27.48 2000-2004 3699.2 924.80 2004-2005 2674.35 2674.35

Figure 86: Land loss in Lacombe sub-area, 1932-2005.

Land Use Change 2005-2008 In the Lacombe sub-area, the largest sub-area in the report, there were significant land use changes from 2005-2008 (Table 15). The greatest land use type gain was ag/grass/barren (1630.89 acres or 33.5% of the total land use gain), mostly from open water and upland forests; development (1222.66 acres or 25% of the total), mostly from upland forest; and open water (950.61 acres or 19.5% of the total), mostly from marsh. There was also a significant gain in area of marsh (448 acres or 10% of the total), mostly from wetland forest. Significant land use losses occurred in marsh (1189.86 acres or 24% of the total land use lost), mostly to open water;

wetland forest (1104.86 acres or 23 % of the total), mostly to marsh; open water (901.74 acres or 18.5% of the total), mostly to ag/grass/barren; ag/grass/barren (788.5 acres or 16% of the total) mostly to development; and upland forests (725.9 acres or 15% of the total), mostly to ag/grass/barren. Most of the conversion of open water to ag/grass/barren in the sub-area can be attributed to the CWPPRA project to restore Goose Point and Point Platte where large areas of open water were newly filled during this time period but had yet to be planted and develop into marsh. This project was projected to cover 566 acres and 601 acres were converted from open water to ag/grass/barren. Much of the conversion of marsh to open water may be due to Hurricane Katrina where large areas of marsh were ripped out due to high winds and storm surge.

Table 15: Land use change between 2005-2008 in Lacombe sub-area. Table shows the acres of land that were gained and lost in wetland forests, upland forests, ag/grass/barren and marsh and what land use type land was gained from or lost to. The total acres of the four land uses in 2005 and 2008 is shown at the bottom.

Wetland Forest Upland Forest Ag/Grass/Barren Marsh Gained From Lost to Gained From Lost to Gained From Lost to Gained From Lost to Wetland Forest 0 0 44 -16 124 0 439 0 Upland Forest 16 -44 0 0 489 0 2 0 Ag/Grass/Barren 0 -124 0 -489 0 0 1 -376

Scrub/Shrub 0 -391 0 -37 32 -18 1 -67

Water 0 -21 0 -2 601 -151 4 -707

Marsh 0 -439 0 -2 376 -1 0 0 Development 3 -85 21 -179 10 -619 1 -40 Totals 19 -1104 65 -725 1632 -789 448 -1190

Total Area 2005 2008 2005 2008 2005 2008 2005 2008 10,454 9,369 16,987 16,326 3,398 4,243 11,017 10,275

Much of the new development in the sub-area was converted from ag/grass/barren with 50% of the new development being converted from this land use type (Table 16). There is an area to the very east of the sub-area where open water appeared to be filled during the time period and subsequently developed (Figure 87). This area probably accounts for the fact that 24 % of the new development was from open water. Approximately 14% of the new development came from upland forests and 7% came from wetland forest. Only 3% of the new development came from marsh. Overall, 10% of the wetland forest was lost and 6.75% of the marsh was lost in the sub-area, while 4% of the upland forests were lost (Table 17). There was a 24% increase in the area of ag/grass/barren and 3.5% increase in development. Overall, new development represents 0.7% of the total sub-area and new areas of ag/grass/barren account for 0.25% of the total area. Total new potential and actual development in 2008 represents 0.95% of the total sub- area.

Table 17: Total percent loss or gain in land use types in the Table 16: Percent of development attributable to loss of other Lacombe sub-area 2005-2008. land use types in the Lacombe sub-area 2005-2008.

Land Cover Class 2005 (Acres) 2008 (Acres) % Change Developed % of new Wetland Forest 10,454.35 9,367.94 -10.39 Land Cover Class (Acres) development Upland Forest 16,986.69 16,326.22 -3.89 Wetland Forest 85.17 6.97

Upland Forest 179.08 14.65 Ag/Grass/Barren 3,398.47 4,240.86 24.79 Scrub/Shrub 3,392.16 3,891.58 14.72 Ag/Grass/Barren 618.79 50.61

Water 8,069.20 8,118.08 0.61 Scrub/Shrub 3.78 0.31

Marsh 11,017.03 10,275.17 -6.73 Water 294.57 24.09 Developed 31,452.71 32,550.77 3.49 Marsh 40.38 3.3 Developed/Open Space 0.19 0.02

Developed/Wooded 0.71 0.06

There are large areas of change found throughout the Lacombe sub-area. In the west there is development expanding from the east side of Mandeville as well as land being cleared, perhaps for future development (Figure 87). There is also development occurring towards the center of the sub-area as the town of Lacombe expands. Lastly, there is development occurring on the very southeast corner where open water was converted into a development to construct Eden Isles. In the western portion of the sub-area, there are a few large areas of development where barren land and some wetland forest was developed (Figure 88). Towards the east around Bayou Lacombe and the city of Lacombe, there are small spots of development around the town as it expands (Figure 89). There is little development west of Bayou Liberty with small areas of development scattered sporadically (Figure 90). In the easternmost portion of the sub-area, around Slidell, there is little new development as this area was already extensively developed prior to 2005 (Figure 91). There is some development in the southwest corner where a new subdivision was established in open water.

Figure 87: Land use change 2005-2008 in Lacombe sub-area. Circles highlight larger areas of change including the Goose Point/Point Platte restoration.

Figure 88: Close up of development in western portion of Lacombe-sub area 2005-2008. Light blue represents ag/grass/barren and dark green is wetland forest which has beeen converted to development. The dark green area is only partially developed in this case.

Figure 89: Close up of development around Bayou Lacombe and Town of Lacombe in Lacombe sub-area 2005-2008. Light blue is ag/grass/barren, light green is upland forests and orange is marsh that has been converted to development.

Figure 90: Close up of development in area west of Liberty Bayou in Lacombe sub-area 2005-2008. Light green is upland forest and light blue is ag/grass/barren that has been converted to development.

Figure 91: Close up of development in Slidell area in Lacombe sub-area 2005-2008. Light blue is ag/grass/barren, orange is marsh and dark blue is open water that has been converted to development.

Projects: Completed and Ongoing French Property Preservation Project The French Property Preservation Project involves the acquisition of 39.5 acres of land in St. Tammany Parish near Bayou Liberty and Slidell, Louisiana from Mr. James Fenner and Mrs. Flora French (Figure 92). This project has been completed and was funded by CIAP (LACIAP 2009). The land is composed of mixed hardwoods, pine trees and savannahs. The purchase was completed in 2009 at a price of $1,694,664. The purchase of this land was part of a larger project which involves an attempt to preserve a 38 mile riparian corridor that will extend the length of Bayou Liberty and Bayou Lacombe and will connect the Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge with the Abita Creek Flatwoods and the Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge. The riparian corridor will facilitate wildlife movement up and down bayou and riverine areas in order to migrate unimpeded between established natural areas. The purchase of this land will prevent urbanization in these important wildlife corridors which is a concern as population growth continues in St. Tammany Parish with estimated urban areas occupying one-fifth of the Parish by 2025 and one-third of the Parish by 2050 (LACIAP 2009).

Figure 92 : French Property Preservation

Goose Point/Point Platte Marsh Creation Project (CWPPRA PO-33) The goal of the Goose Point/Point Platte Marsh Creation Project is to restore marsh to an area where it was previously located but had been severely damaged. The project area is located on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain in St. Tammany Parish between and Louisiana Highway 11 and is located within the Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge and a small portion of the St. Tammany State Wildlife Refuge (Figure 93). Historic problems in the area include interior ponding and shoreline erosion. Land loss occurred at high rates from 1956 to 1978 due to salt water intrusion into freshwater marshes. As the vegetation composition switched from a freshwater association to a brackish water association large ponds were formed. During this time land loss was 31.3 acres/year at Goose Point and 10.42 acres/year at Point Platte (Brass 2006). A narrow strip of land separates these interior marshes from Lake Pontchartrain but many breaches have occurred over time (Figure 94 ; CWPRRA 2009b). If this strip of land is eroded land loss will be accelerated due to wave energy reaching interior marshes.

Figure 93: Location of Goose Point/Point Platte Marsh Creation Project within the study area. (bottom figure from BCG E & C, Inc. 2009b).

Figure 94: View looking south towards Lake Pontchartrain at the narrow strip of land that separates the interior ponds from the lake (from CWPPRA 2009b).

The project cost-share agreement was reached in May 2004, the design was completed by October 2006 and construction began in April 2008. The goal of the project was to create 417 acres of marsh and nourish 149 acres of existing marsh. To accomplish these goals it was estimated that 2,078,280 cubic yards of material would be dredged from two borrow sites in Lake Pontchartrain. The dredge material would be placed in open water ponds to achieve a desired elevation on which plant growth could occur. This elevation was estimated to be 1.08 feet above mean sea level after 3 years of compaction and remain above sea level over the 20- year life of the project (Brass 2006). The created marsh has been planted with Spartina alterniflora. Marsh nourishment would be achieved through the placement of 214,547 cubic yards of dredge material to an elevation of 1.5 feet above mean sea level. Overall 189 acres of marsh is being created and 100 acres of existing marsh will be nourished at Goose Point and 228 acres of marsh will be created and 49 acres of existing marsh nourished at Point Platte (Brass 2006). The estimated construction costs were $12,550,729 and total estimated project costs were $21 million (Figure 95).

Figur95: Areas of marsh creation and nourishment on Goose Point and Point Platte showing individual fill areas with containment dike (from CWPPRA 2009b).

The project was completed in February 2009 and created a total of 566 acres of new marsh and 49,557 linear feet of earthen perimeter containment dikes between both Goose Point and Point Platte (BCG E & C, Inc. 2009a). The construction costs were $12,995,598.75 which was 0.035 % over budget. A total of 1,388,192 cubic yards of material were taken from the Goose Point borrow site and 1,704,713 cubic yards were taken from the Point Platte borrow area for this project (Figures 96, 97 and 98).

A B

C D

E

Figure 96: Figure shows construction process; A) one fill area showing perimeter diking to hold dredged material in place; B) construction of perimeter diking; C) borrow area in Lake Pontchartrain; D) pipe running into fill area placing dredge material; E) close-up of discharge pipe placing dredged material (from BCG E&C, Inc. 2009a).

Before (2005) After (2008)

Figure 97: Aerial view of Goose Point and Point Platte before and after placement of dredged material.

Figure 98: Aerial view of CWPPRA restoration project at Goose Point (A and B) and Point Platte (C and D) (taken in April 2010).

Recommendations The goal of this section is to make specific recommendations for restoration and conservation of natural habitats (Table 18; Figure 99).

Table 18: Recommendations for conservation and restoration in Lacombe sub-area.

Recommendation Support recovery and protection of the Red-Cockaded woodpecker in the BBMNWR through annual surveys 1 for roosts, nests and 10% of the refuge area for cavity trees. Cavities will be added where needed. Banding of adults should be done Restore marshes in BBMNWR through annual burnings and restore areas where large ponds (> 5 acres) have

2 developed

Protect and restore pine flatwoods and savannahs in BBNNWR using prescribed fire and planting areas that 3 that have been cleared or damaged. Invasive species control should also take place

4 Acquire the remaining 6,634 acres of lands within the approved BBMNWR acquisition boundary

Support the proposed Northshore Restoration Project (R1-PO-04) which will use dredged material to create 5 450 acres and nourish 300 acres of marsh in BBMNWR and Fontainebleau State Park

Support the proposed Bayou Bonfouca Marsh Creation Project (R1-PO-05) which will use dredged material to 6 create and nourish 458 acres of marsh and repair breaches in the shoreline Expand BBMNWR acquisition boundary to preserve wetland forest and pine uplands that exist north of the 7 current boundary Support the Green Property Preservation Project which involves the acquisition of 27.2 acres cypress swamp

and bottomland hardwood as part of larger project to preserve riparian corridors along Bayou Lacombe and 8 Bayou Liberty Support the Northshore Beach Marsh Creation and Restoration Project which will create 600 acres of marsh 9 through placement of dredged material and repair shoreline near Bayou Bonfouca and the community of Northshore Beach Acquire land along Cane Bayou and the Tammany Trace for conservation of relatively natural forest to add to 10 scenic enjoyment of nearby recreational areas

Figure 99: Locations of recommendations for Lacombe sub-area.

Problems/Stressors There are many problems and stressors in the Lacombe sub-are that are contributing to a deteriorating environment and ecology. These problems include but are not limited to: Marsh Deterioration - Large areas of open water are developing in the coastal marshes in the sub-area due to diminished health and storm events, especially in Big Branch National Wildlife Refuge including the Bayou Lacombe and Bayou Bonfouca areas Upland Development - Development in the uplands results in an increase in impervious surface that results in greater flows downstream as well as the destruction of upland forests eliminating important connections between the upland forests to the swamp to the marsh and a diminished water quality; also important and unique pine savannah habitat is being lost in the sub-area Riparian Zone - The riparian zone along bayous is in danger of development or is already developed Shoreline Retreat - In some areas that shoreline is retreating at a rate of 4.7 feet per year which encroaches on interior marshes and lowers protection during flooding and storm events Big Branch National Wildlife Refuge - This large tract of state land experienced extensive damage from Hurricane Katrina winds and storm surge

Goals The goals for restoration and conservation in the Lacombe sub-area are to expand the existing Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge northward to include upland pine savannah

areas that are in need of restoration and conservation as this habitat type is rare, extremely diverse and supports many unique species (endemics) as well as the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. Within BBMNWR there are many opportunities for marsh restoration in large areas of open water created by land loss over time and, more recently, Hurricane Katrina. There is also marsh restoration needed outside of the refuge area in the Bayou Bonfouca area. The goal is to maintain much of this sub-area in its natural state while restoring those areas that have been degraded by anthropogenic or natural effects. Much of the population on the Northshore moved to this area to enjoy the natural areas that are very close to municipalities and the recommendations in this section will help to maintain this desired life style. Below is a schematic (Figure 100) of the ideal condition in the Lacombe sub-area representing the ultimate condition for restoration and conservation that should be achieved in the sub-area.

Figure 100 : Schematic showing ideal habitats in the Lacombe sub-area or goals for restoration and conservation.

Restoration in Big Branch National Wildlife Refuge (Recommendations 1-7 on Table 18) Big Branch National Wildlife Refuge (BBNRW) occupies 18,000 acres of land in the sub-area (except the 6,500 acre Fritchie Marsh tract which lies outside the report boundaries) within a 24,000 acre acquisition boundary. The refuge has diverse habitats such as marsh, swamp and pine savannah (see detailed description of the refuge in the Ecosystem Conservation and Natural Areas section). While BBNWR consists of an extensive swath of natural lands there

are some problems and needs for restoration in the area, especially after Hurricane Katrina. The BBNWR recognizes these needs and has made plans and suggestions for restoration and conservation in the refuge area in the BBNWR Comprehensive Conservation Plan (BBNWR CCP) completed in 2007.

Problems In the long term, marshes in the BBNWR are in danger of submergence from sea-level rise. Subsidence does not cause marsh loss in this area because it is not built on deltaic deposits as the underlying deposits are Pleistocene. In a study in the marshes of BBNWR, it was found that the marsh elevation was keeping pace with sea-level rise and were not in immediate danger of submergence (Reed et al. 2009). The oligohaline marshes of BBNWR could be in danger of excess nutrient addition from nearby expanding urban environments. These marshes can also be subject to saltwater intrusion although the marshes in BBNWR tend to be brackish (approximately 10-20 ppt) or intermediate (approximately 0.5-10 ppt) so the species that comprise these marshes are adapted to some salt content. One of the largest problems is the creation of open water areas or ponds. Large open water areas were created in Big Branch marshes during Hurricane Katrina through the effects of storm surge (Figures 101 and 102). These large areas of water are too deep to be colonized by seed and too large to be filled in by vegetative growth from the edge. The upland pine and hardwood forest areas in BBNWR experienced extensive damage from Hurricane Katrina winds. These forests are also being affected by invasive species.

tice results of Goose Point

: Marsh loss from: Hurricane Katrina storm surge in Big Branch National Wildlife Refuge marshes just west of Lacombe Bayou. No 101 Figure Project in 2008 photo.

Project in 2008

in Big Branch National Wildlife Refuge marshes due to Hurricane Katrina east Lacombeof Bayou. Notice results ofGoose Point : Marsh loss : 102

Figure photo.

The BBNWR Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) lists many objectives and projects for conservation and restoration of natural areas within the refuge. Some of the goals and projects will be emphasized below to recognize their importance in the BBNWR but this by no means represents a comprehensive list.

Manage and Protect Endangered and Threatened Species through Implementation of Recovery Plans Recovery plans are made by recovery teams which include species experts. The recovery plan outlines steps to be taken to restore a species and the needs of the species. 1 In some plans critical habitat is designated which are areas that are essential to the recovery of a specific species and must be protected, or requires special management. The BBMNWR is in the Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes Ecoregion for the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker Recovery Plan. The population in BBMNWR is small but is the only population within this ecoregion. The area is not considered a recovery unit but the population is designated as a support population for recovery. To aid in the protection and recovery of the red-cockaded woodpecker, the wildlife refuge has committed to annual spring roost surveys, annual nest surveys, annual survey of 10% of the refuge area for cavity trees, annually add cavity inserts if needed, band adult population and band and translocate young when populations are high enough. The plan also calls for the management of the 8,000 acres of pine flatwoods and savannahs, the habitat of the rec-cockaded woodpecker population.

Manage and Maintain Marsh, Slough and Cypress Habitats The marshes in the refuge are tidally influenced with varying salinities and the transition from marsh to forested wetlands is sharp and easily discernable. The BBNWR CCP 2 denotes objectives for surveying the land as well as proposing projects for the marshes. The refuge would like to determine acreage of different vegetation types, sample vegetation by habitat type to detect any changes in species composition over time, provide opportunities for research, monitor salinity and implement a prescribed fire program. The plan also emphasizes the need to determine both the hydrologic and fire history over the last 100 years. Projects to be undertaken to restore the marshes include annual prescribed burns over 1,000 acres of dense marsh to increase the plant diversity and create more wildlife habitat. The plan also proposes to restore marsh in areas where ponds reach more than five acres which would be accomplished through projects of dedicated dredging, Christmas tree structures, terracing, etc., with subsequent plantings of marsh vegetation. The plan also emphasizes the need to fortify the shoreline. The BBNWR CCP recognizes the need for innovation and information on restoration techniques and practices and proposes to investigate the effect of burning of vegetative communities, wildlife and subsidence, research various marsh restoration techniques and materials, monitor restoration projects, determine the effects of pipeline canals on the hydrology and saltwater intrusion, and consider plugging openings to Lake Pontchartrain.

Manage and Maintain Pine Flatwood, Savannah, and Hardwood Hummock Habitats The pinelands below the 5-foot contour experience shallow flooding and support a wiregrass (Spartina patens) understory. Above this contour the vegetation is more 3 characteristic of a pine flatwood or pine savannah habitat. The dominant pine species are slash pine (Pinus elliotii) and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) with some longleaf pine mixed in (Pinus palustris). Mixed within the mosaic of the pinelands are hardwood hummocks, sumps, swamps, ponds, drains and bayous. Hurricanes are often the largest stressor in these habitats bringing in storms surge flooding, saltwater and high winds. Most recently Hurricane Katrina

caused extensive damage to the pine forests. Many trees were uprooted or snapped and in some areas tornados left areas that were once heavily wooded with few standing trees. The goal of the refuge is to establish an active forest management program. Vegetative species composition and changes in this composition over time will be monitored. The refuge will implement a prescribed fire and wildfire prevention program to maintain the natural fire- adapted communities. Fire will be managed through prescribed burns and fuel removal to prevent wildfires that could damage nearby communities. Prescribed fire will be used on a annual basis on at least 2,000 acres, using both dormant and growing season burns. The restoration of historic pine flatwoods is important and will occur through the use of historic fire regimes, creation of open stands with large basal area trees, restore native ground cover and implement an aggressive invasive species control and eradication program. The refuge also has the goal of the restoration of 300 acres of pine savannah to support the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. Areas designated for this restoration will be planted with longleaf pine at 12-foot spacing. The planting will be considered successful if 80% of the trees survive after one year. If native groundcover does not establish within a few years it will also be planted. When the Fritchie Marsh section is acquired 240 acres of this area will also be set aside for pine savannah restoration.

Acquire Lands within the Approved Acquisition Boundary Within the approved acquisition boundary established in 1994 , which is 24,000 acres, 17, 366 acres currently are part of the refuge leaving 6,634 acres available for 4 acquisition. When land within the acquisition boundary becomes available from willing sellers, it will be prioritized by the quality of land and the ability to support refuge resources and funding will be sought. The refuge will also determine if any of the lands qualify for inclusion into the National Wilderness Preservation System (NWPS) with Wilderness designation. The NWPS was established by the Wilderness Act of 1964. The NWPS was established to have lands under preservation and protection in their natural condition for present and future generations in the face of expanding populations and settlement (Wilderness.net). The NWPS consists of federally owned areas designated as "wilderness areas." A wilderness is recognized as "an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain" (Wilderness.net). It is also an "area of undeveloped federal land retaining its primeval character and influence, without permanent improvements or human habitation, which is managed and protected so as to preserve its natural conditions." A wilderness area will appear to have been affected primarily by the forces of nature, with the imprint of man's work substantially unnoticeable, has outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation, must be at least 5,000 acres of land or is sufficient size as to make practicable its preservation and use in an unimpaired condition and may contain ecological, geological, or other features of scientific, educational, scenic or historical value. To become a wilderness area, in general, the land must be recommended by an agency, organization or individual to the congress. Congress votes and, if passed, enacts wilderness legislation which goes to the president who will sign or veto the wilderness bill. For the USFWS the process is slightly more involved. The agency must inventory refuge land and water to see if it meets the minimum criteria listed above as well as perform an EIS. If the area meets the criteria, the agency must perform a formal wilderness study to determine if the area is suitable for wilderness. The Department of the Interior reviews the recommendation and, if approved, proposes it for wilderness designation to the president. If the president approves the designation the proposal goes to congress for review. The congress then enacts wilderness legislation which the president will review and sign a wilderness bill if the area is approved.

Northshore Marsh Restoration Project (R1-PO-04) The Northshore Restoration Project involves the use of dredged material to create and nourish marsh within Big Branch National Wildlife Refuge and Fontainebleau State 5 Park (Figure 103). The project area has experienced marsh loss at 35 acres/year between 1974 and 1990 (CWPPRA 2009a). These losses are due mostly to saltwater intrusion. Hurricane Katrina also contributed to this loss by destroying 3.6 square miles of marsh in the project area. A narrow strip of shoreline remains between interior ponds and Lake Pontchartrain which has been breached in several places, increasing the rate of interior marsh loss. The project proposes the placement of material dredged from Lake Pontchartrain within the ponds to create 450 acres and nourish 300 acres of marsh. The estimated construction costs are $16 million based on the costs of the Goose Point/ Point Platte Marsh Creation Project (P0-33). This project was proposed for the CWPPRA PPL-19 voting process in region 1 (Lake Pontchartrain Basin) and was not nominated for funding due to competition from other projects.

Figure 103: Location of North Shore Marsh Restoration Project within the study area and the location of marsh creation and nourishment areas within the project area.

Bayou Bonfouca Marsh Creation (R1-PO-05) Bayou Bonfouca is located within the BBMNWR acquisition boundary but is not currently part of the refuge system. It experienced extensive marsh loss due to storm 6 surge caused by Hurricane Katrina (Figure 104). The newly created open water areas contribute to further marsh loss due to wind driven fetch (CWPPRA 2009a). There is also danger of breaching to the shoreline into the interior pond and marshes which will also contribute to marsh loss. The project would create and nourish 458 acres of marsh in the Bayou Bonfouca area and repair existing and impending breaches along the shoreline. The dredge material will be borrowed from Lake Pontchartrain. The project is estimated to cost $14.1 million based on the cost of the completed Goose Point/Point Platte Marsh Creation Project (PO- 33). This project was proposed as part of PPL-19. It was tied for third to be funded but did not win the re-vote.

Figure 104: Location of Bayou Bonfouca Marsh Creation Project within the study area and location of marsh creation areas within project area.

Expand Acquisition Boundary It is recommended that the acquisition boundary for BBMNWR be expanded for future opportunities for conservation and restoration as funding arises. While the current 7 acquisition boundary includes most of the area along the coast and protects vast areas of marsh and some area of pine savannah, there is an opportunity for acquisition and protection of pine uplands and wetland forest just north of the current boundary. The recommended acquisition boundary should extend in two sections from its current outline up to I-12 with one section between Mandeville and Lacombe and another section between Lacombe and Slidell (Figure 105). Adding this area into the acquisition boundary would provide potential for conservation of tracts of wetland forest in the western section and upland pine forest that were abundant in the area but are dwindling. Pine forest once extended from southeastern Virginia, south into Florida and west into Texas (Penfound and Watkins 1937). This large tract has been extensively logged including the portion that lies within Louisiana. It was estimated in 1930 that 8,600,000 acres of virgin longleaf pine forest existed throughout the south and were being cut at a rate of 750,000 acres per year (Penfound and Watkins 1937). Longleaf pine communities are the most species-rich plant communities in North America with a maximum of 50 species/m2 with an average of 35 to 40 species/m2 (Myers 2010). In wet pine savannas 140 species/1000 m2 are found. In these longleaf pine communities there are high levels of endemism. Of the 1630 vascular plant species endemic to the southeastern coastal plain, 1000 are obligate to longleaf pine ecosystems (Myers 2010). It is commonly thought that the high diversity in these ecosystems is maintained through fire (increases resources, decreases woody competition), and reduced competition from large woody shrubs and soil moisture (wetter sites tend to have higher diversity). A unique subset of this vast pine community is the pine flatwoods and pine savannas which are found at lower elevations in wetter soils than traditional pine woodlands. Longleaf pine savannas in Louisiana represent the westernmost edge of a once contiguous longleaf pine ecosystem (Keddy et al. 2006). Pine savannas occur on flat topography where the water table is close to the surface. They tend to exhibit high species richness and are dominated by herbaceous vegetation with scattered pines throughout (Keddy et al. 2006). In one study of pine savannah in southeast Louisiana, researchers found 168 different species in a series of plots totaling 1750 m2 (Penfound and Watkins 1937) and in another found 126 species in a series of plots totaling 360 m2 (Clark et al. 2008). In St. Tammany Parish many of these flatwoods have been lost as the population has increased over the last 30 years, leading to more development. Over a 12 year period during the 1980's and early 1990's many areas of pine forest were converted to urban development in St. Tammany Parish (Figure 106). Much of this conversion occurred south of I- 12 in the study area for this report. The unique longleaf pine savannas are also disappearing due to fire suppression and hydrologic changes that increase draining or flooding (Penland et al. 2001a). As mentioned above the pine savannas of BBMNWR support the only population of red cockaded woodpecker in the Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes ecoregion. The refuge is working hard to expand red-cockaded woodpecker populations to as high a level as possible that can be supported by available habitat. Red-cockaded woodpeckers require open pinelands and savannas with old pines that contain cavities for nesting and roosting (USFWS 2003). These habitats are dwindling quickly and adding this habitat to the BBMNWR for conservation will help recover red-cockaded woodpecker populations. Also, some of the land within the new acquisition boundary may historically have been pine land but has since been cleared. These areas represent potential restoration projects where the longleaf pine habitat can be recovered, again expanding available habitat for the red-cockaded woodpecker.

Figure 105: Recommended new acquisition boundary for the BBMNWR to incorporate more upland forest and pine communities into the refuge system, protecting them from development .

Figure 106: Areas converted from pine forest to developed land between 1981 and 1993 in St. Tammany Parish (Gunter et al. 2000).

Recommendations for Areas Outside BBMNWR (Recommendations 8-10 on Table 12)

Green Property Preservation Project The Green Property Preservation Project involves the acquisition of 27.2 acres of land in St. Tammany Parish from Mr. Haywood Green, located near Bayou Lacombe, south of 8 Highway 190 (Figure 107; LACIAP 2009). The land is comprised of cypress swamps and bottomland hardwoods. Many resident birds use the area for foraging and nesting and migratory birds use it as a flyway. The proposed project will cost $1,044,905. The acquisition of this land is part of a larger project to preserve riparian corridors along Bayou Lacombe and Bayou Liberty to connect Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge to Abita Creek Flatwoods and Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge. The project is also part of St. Tammany Parish's Eco-Tourism Plan in which it plans to connect St. Tammany Trace linear park to a network of projects that will be used to educate the public on the value of Louisiana's natural habitats. The acquisition of this property will facilitate the movement of wildlife between designated natural areas.

Figure 107 : Location of the Green Property proposed for acquisition within the study area.

Northshore Beach Marsh Creation/Restoration The Northshore Beach Marsh Creation and Restoration project is located near the community of Northshore Beach south of Slidell, just outside of the BBMNWR. The 9 project boundaries are Bayou Bonfouca to the north and west, Lake Pontchartrain to the south and the Gulf, Mobile, Ohio (GMO) railroad to the east (LACIAP 2009; Figure 108). The project area sustained high damage due to Hurricane Katrina with marsh sediment and debris stacked 9 feet high on the tree line to the north. It is estimated that 600 to 900 acres of marsh was lost in this area due to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The project was nominated by the St. Tammany Parish government for the CIAP program, requesting $2,182,568 in Parish CIAP funds. The project will create 600 acres of marsh through hydraulic dredging and placement of 2 million cubic yards of material. Proposed borrow sites for this project include Lake Pontchartrain, the Highway 11 Canal and Bayou Bonfouca if it has suitable sediment. The project also will repair and construct shoreline along Lake Pontchartrain to close breaches and protect interior marsh from further erosion. Over 20 years it is projected that this project will protect and create 2,500 acres of marsh in the area (LACIAP 2009). The creation of the marsh

will also aid in reducing the rate of loss of existing marsh. The project is located partially within the Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge.

Bayou Bonfouca

Project Area GMO Railroad

Figure 108 : Northshore Beach Marsh Creation and Restoration Project location within the study area. Acquire Land Between Tammany Trace and Cane Bayou It is recommended that a small portion of land on the west/north bank of Cane Bayou just south of the Tammany Trace be acquired for conservation (Figure 109). This 10 area is relatively pristine bottomland hardwood and cypress forest. The area is a good candidate for conservation because across Cane Bayou from this area is Fontainebleau State Park and to the north is the Tammany Trace. Both of these areas are used for recreation and having a natural habitat adjacent to these areas will enhance the aesthetic enjoyment of these recreational areas. This land could be in danger of development as there is extensive development to the west and some development to the north (east side expansion of Mandeville). Also the Tammany Trace is intended to be a scenic corridor as well as a wildlife conservation area and to provide educational opportunities for children. The acquisition of this land for conservation will help maintain the scenic appearance along the Tammany Trace and provide more opportunities for conservation education.

Figure 109: Land proposed for acquisition on the bank of Cane Bayou near the Tammany Trace and Fontainebleau State Park. The area supports relatively natural forest and would add to the scenic enjoyment of the Tammany Trace and Fontainebleau State Park.