Photography by Bevil Knapp unless otherwise noted. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) maps by Sammy Briuglio Line maps by Wanda R. Gautschi Design and layout for the second edition by University of New Orleans Marketing & Communications The preparation of the second edition of this publication was funded by The Pontchartrain Restoration Program, 2000. The first edition was funded by A grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Permission is given to reproduce portions of this publication for use in educational activities. Published by the Pontchartrain Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of New Orleans and the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation. © 2004, UNO & LPBF Suggested citation for the second edition: Maygarden, D. F., Knapp, B., Briuglio, S., Rheams, A. B., (2004). A Guide to the Wetlands of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin. New Orleans, LA: Pontchartrain Institute for Environmental Sciences at the University of New Orleans. Metairie, LA: The Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation. PIES_CRL Technical Report Series_04013 qPrinted on recycled paper MC 485/1104 Acknowledgements Anne Rheams of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Many people took time to share their knowledge Foundation has supported this project from its inception of the wetland places they know and love. These to the completion of the second edition. people include: Joe Madere who has spent much of his life in the Bayou Sauvage wetlands; US Fish The preparation of the first edition of this guide was and Wildlife Service Rangers Doug Hunt and Chris possible with the help of many people. George LaRouge; Claire Coco at Tickfaw State Park; Frierson contributed text and created the maps for Barbara Caldwell and Larry Burch at NorthLake the first edition. Nature Center; Dr. Bob Hastings, Robert Moreau and Michael Greene at Turtle Cove Environmental For the second edition, Sammy Briuglio created the Research Station; and Milton Cambre who has GIS maps and provided invaluable technical help. provided endless information about the LaBranche Heather L. Egger edited the aerial photograph maps Wetlands. of Bayou Sauvage. The Second Edition includes information about Doug Daigle of the Mississippi River Basin Alliance the Pine Savanna wetlands of St. Tammany Parish. and Jill Mastrototaro of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Nelwyn McInnis and Larry Burch of The Louisiana Foundation provided invaluable editing, making Nature Conservancy provided information about completion of the text of the first edition possible. TNC preserves at Lake Ramsay and Abita Creek Flatwoods. Without boats and a reliable guide it is hard to get to know the wetlands. Thanks to Byron Almquist and Jim Landry of Canoe and Trail Adventures, exploration of the places described in this booklet has been possible. Frank “Blackie” Campo at Shell Beach, St. Bernard Parish 1 Table of Contents Region 2. The North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain . .18 7. Northlake Nature Center . .18 The Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation . .4 8. Cane Bayou . .19 9. Big Branch National Wildlife Refuge . .20 The Pontchartrain Institute for Environmental Sciences . .4 a. Lemieux Road . .20 Introduction b. Lake Road in Lacombe . .20 c. Boy Scout Road . .20 Lake Pontchartrain Basin . .5 d. The Non-motorized Boat Launch . .21 The Geology of the Pontchartrain Basin . .5 10. Fontainebleau State Park . .21 Factors Determining Wetland Habitat Types . .6 11. The Nature Conservancy’s Long Leaf Pine Savanna Preserves . .22 The Wetland Habitats of the Pontchartrain Basin . .7 a. Lake Ramsay Preserve . .23 The Importance of the Wetlands of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin . .9 b. Abita Creek Flatwoods – Pitcher Plant Trail . .23 How Wetlands Benefit the People of the Pontchartrain Basin . .10 Challenges Faced by Wetlands in the Pontchartrain Basin . .10 Region 3. The South Shore of Lake Pontchartrain . .23 Solutions to the Challenges . .12 12. The LaBranche Wetlands . .24 13. The Bonnet Carré Spillway . .25 The Wetland Regions 14. Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge . .27 of the Pontchartrain Basin The History of the Bayou Sauvage Area . .27 Region 1. Western Region . .14 Opportunities for Exploring Bayou Sauvage . .28 The Pontchartrain-Maurepas Land Bridge . .14 a. The Ridge Trail . .28 Field Trips in the Pontchartrain-Maurepas Land Bridge . .14 b. The Joe Madere Unit and the Bayou Thomas Boardwalk and canoe trail . .28 1. Turtle Cove Environmental Research Station . .14 c. The Bayou Sauvage Bike Trail . .28 2. The Swamp Walk at Joyce Wildlife Management Area . .15 3. Ruddock Canal to Lake Maurepas . .16 15. The Eastern Land Bridge - Lake St. Catherine . .30 Field Trips on The North Shore of Lake Maurepas . .16 Wetland Places to Explore Within the City . .30 4. Tickfaw State Park . .16 16. Lake Pontchartrain Beaches . .30 a. Lincoln Beach . .30 Field Trips in the Upper Maurepas Basin . .17 b. Pontchartrain Beach . .30 5. Alligator Bayou . .17 17. Audubon Nature Institute Facilities . .30 6. Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center . .18 a. Louisiana Nature Center . .30 b. Audubon Zoo . .31 2 Region 4. The Eastern Marshes: . .31 Field Trip Opportunities in St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes . .32 18. Los Islenos Heritage and Cultural Society Museum . ..32 19. Bayou Road, Shell Beach . ..32 20. Caernarvon Freshwater Diversion Project . ..33 21. Gore Pumping Station - Lake Borgne Levee District . ..34 22. Biloxi Wildlife Management Area . .34 23. Plaquemines Parish Marshes . .34 24. Bayou Terre aux Boeufs and Delacroix . ..35 Region 5. The Pearl River Basin: . .35 Field Trip Opportunities in the Pearl River Basin . .35 25. The Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge . .35 a. Lock One to the West Pearl River . .35 b. Lock Three to the Bogue Chitto River . ..36 c. Lock Three to Devil’s Swamp . .36 26. Poole’s Bluff . .36 O 27. Honey Island Swamp Nature Trail . .37 yster boat returning on the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet, Hopedale 28. Dr. Wagner's Honey Island Swamp Tours . .37 29. Davis Landing . .37 30. Indian Village Landing . ..38 Appendix . .42 31. Highway 90 Boat Launches . ..38 Aerial Photo Maps . .43 32. White Kitchen Preserve . ..38 Map 1 - Western Region . .43 Glossary . .39 Map 2 - North Shore & Pearl River Basin . .44 References . .40 Map 3 - South Shore Region . .45 Wetland Resources and Contacts in the Lake Pontchartrain Basin . 41 Map 4 - Eastern Region . .46 Selected Websites for Further Wetlands Exploration . .41 3 A Guide to the Wetlands of The Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation the Lake Pontchartrain Basin The Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, a non-profit, membership-based This guide was originally produced in 2000 by a partnership citizens’.