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Conservation

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Wetlands/Coastal Restoration

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[Image: Image of document]Functions and Values of Wetlands in Louisiana Louisiana accounts for 80 percent of the nation's coastal wetland loss. Simply put, a large proportion of Louisiana acreage is wetland. Much of the state's economy depends upon wetlands. Find information on causes of wetland loss, definitions of wetlands and wetland functions and values. [Image: l]Help the AWCC Restore Wetlands at Avery Island AWCC member Micah Leonard is looking for volunteers to help restore a portion of the marshes in Avery Island, La. [Image: 2]Volunteer to Help Remove Invasive Tree Species The AWCC is looking for volunteers to help remove invasive tree species and clean up a bald cypress swamp. [Image: 2]Southeastern and Central AWCC Members There are more members than ever serving in southeast Louisiana [Image: JA]Southeast La. Members There are 10 members serving in southeast Louisiana ranging from Terrebone Parish to Plaquemines Parish. [Image: AWCC Logo]How To Apply To The AWCC AmeriCorps Program The AWCC AmeriCorps Program is always looking for individuals that are willing to serve for 11 months and give back to their communities. If you are interested in becoming part of the program, feel free to download the more detailed "AWCC Position Description" and/or the "AWCC AmeriCorps Member Year 1 Application." [Image: j]AWCC Hosts Booth at State Fair Come by the "World of Wonder" booth at the AgCenter's AgMagic booth at the State Fair of Louisiana. [Image: 1]Avery Island Restoration Planting Volunteers from across southern Louisiana met at Avery Island to help transplant marsh grass. [Image: 3]Northern Louisiana AWCC Members Wetland Conservation is not just a coastal issue. Check out the members serving in North Louisiana! [Image: 1]AWCC Members Meet Governor AWCC members Ethan Graves and Alicia Scallan present Governor Jindall with bat boxes and wood duck boxes that will be used in later restoration projects. [Image: 3 People Planting Vetiver Grass ]Researchers Evaluating Grass For Levee Protection Scientists from the LSU AgCenter this week started planting grass as the first step in a research project designed to evaluate its ability to protect earthen levees on the Gulf Coast. The plant, which already is used widely for erosion control and is known to have some repellent qualities to termites, is vetiver grass. [Image: AWCC logo]America's Wetland Conservation Corps The AWCC is made up of 18 AmeriCorps members working throughout Louisiana (from Caddo to Lafourche Parish) to promote wetland conservation and environmental awareness through volunteerism and outreach education. [Image: Portriat of an Estuary]Portrait of an Estuary This publication inventories the functions and values of the Barataria-Terrebonne Estuary System at the interface of the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico, and it chronicles the serious plight of landscape deterioration facing its inhabitants. [Image: 5]Volunteer Opportunity in New Orleans The AWCC is looking for volunteers to help restore City Park New Orleans any day between May 11-15. [Image: Constructed Wetland]Improving Farm Effluent Water Quality with a Constructed Wetland The use of a constructed wetland to improve effluent water quality is a potentially valuable tool for agriculture in Louisiana. [Image: 1]Who needs the Beach?! Spend spring break with AWCC College students from California and Vermont volunteer with the AWCC to help restore Bayou St. John. [Image: j]Volunteer to help the AWCC Restore Marsh The AWCC will be leading a group of volunteers plant marsh grass at Big Branch National Wildlife Refuge near Lacombe, LA. [Image: pic]Members in Action! AWCC Members Justin Trahan and Ethan Graves put on great projects! [Image: All]Pitching in to Help 4-H Camp AWCC AmeriCorps members partnered with AmeriCorps members from ULL to help with a variety of renovation projects at 4-H Camp Grant Walker. [Image: ML]Lafayette Members Teach Fishing Clinic Three AWCC members serving in Lafayette assisted with a 4-H fishing clinic 1 2 3 Marsh Maneuvers Helps Young People Learn About Valuable Coastal Resources Marsh Maneuvers may sound like a covert operation – particularly since it involves a group of hand-picked high school students spending five days on a private island. AWCC Members Help Out With Youth Wetlands Week On February 15, 2009, AWCC Members at the 4H Mini Barn in Baton Rouge to help pack supply boxes for the 2009 Youth Wetlands Week. AWCC Members Bond at Ropes Course On February 14, 2009, AWCC members got to know each other and wetlands! Members participated in the high ropes course at the LSU University Recreation Complex. Help the AWCC Install Christmas Tree Fencing AWCC to Intall Christmas Tree Sand Fences Splash!: Ocean Commotion 2008 Ocean Commotion 2008 was a splash of a time! About 8 AWCC members from around the state converged into the Pete Maravich Assembly Center at LSU in order to help promote saving America's Wetlands. Elementary and middle school children from around the state got to see the different types of wetland ecosytems in Louisiana. Some adventurous kids also got to experience the wonders of marsh mud! Install Wood Duck Boxes in Lincoln Parish The AWCC member, Ashley Roach, will be installing wood duck boxes outside of Ruston, LA on January 19, 2009 and could use extra hands! Coastal Louisiana and South Florida: A Comparative Wetland Inventory One of the biggest questions that has arisen in recent years involves the apparent disparity in federal restoration funding provided for the Florida Everglades versus that provided for coastal Louisiana. This document uses published reports and secondary data to develop a parallel comparison of Florida and Louisiana wetlands at the state, regional, program and resource levels. Fisheries Implications of Freshwater Re-introductions An historical overview of Louisiana fisheries in the context of pre- and post-levee construction on the Mississippi River. Data from the Caernarvon Freshwater Diversion is used to describe the relationship between freshwater re-introduction and estuarine fisheries productivity. The report characterizes the conflict between Louisiana’s short-term and long-term goals of coastal restoration and coastal fisheries management. Stewardship Incentives for Louisiana’s Coastal Landowners More than 75% of Louisiana’s coastal wetlands are privately owned, yet the majority of restoration funding provided through federal and state initiatives is directed toward large-scale, public restoration projects. This report compares and contrasts the programmatic and economic aspects of the coastal and inland models of wetland restoration that have evolved in Louisiana over the past decade. Closing the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO): Environmental and Economic Considerations This document provides a synoptic overview of this 40-year-old navigation channel from project inception through modern day. Economic and environmental impacts related to the MRGO are documented for St. Bernard Parish and potential restoration scenarios are described. Additional information is provided on the time and financial resources required to fully address the environmental degradation caused by the MRGO. Planting at City Park NO The AWCC is looking for volunteers to help with a Planting Restoration Project at New Orleans City Park Shreveport Wood Duck Project! Come join up with Natalie Hunsicker, American’s Wetlands Conservation Corps member ,and Sci Port Louisiana Science Center in Shreveport to help construct and put up wood duck boxes. Duck, Duck, Box!: St. Bernard Parish Wood Duck Project Come Help Save the Wood Ducks in St.Bernard Parish.On November 24th, 2008, Gary Decossas and St.Bernard Parish 4-H Junior Leadership Club will go to St.Bernard State Park to help put up Wood Duck Boxes. America's WETLAND The America's WETLAND Foundation through the Campaign is raising awareness of the impact of Louisiana's wetland loss and increase support for efforts to conserve and save coastal Louisiana. AmeriCorps AmeriCorps is a network of local, state, and national service programs that connects more than 70,000 Americans each year in intensive service to meet our country’s critical needs in education, public safety, health, and the environment. Beach Sweep The America’s Wetland Conservation Corps is leading a team to help pick up litter as part of the Lake Pontchartrain Beach Sweep. Lafitte Terrace Planting Sept. 8th! Get involved and volunteer to help the America's Wetland Conservation Corps create wetland habitat in Lafitte, Louisiana, on September 8th. Protecting Coastal Wetland Forests: What Can You Do to Help? Louisiana’s coastal wetland forests are of tremendous economic, ecological, cultural and recreational value. But many acres of these forests have disappeared over the past century, and many more are being degraded or lost each year. Restoration Planting at Rockefeller Refuge AWCC members participated in a restoration planting event at Rockefeller Refuge on May 18th. The members planted a half mile stretch of canal bank with Spartina Alterniflora to help stabalize the bank and minimize erosion. Rockefeller Training: May 2007 AWCC members attended wetland training at Rockefeller Refuge from May 16 to 18th, 2007. 1 2 3 Camp Azzie America's Wetland Conservation Corps members will be assisting at Camp Azzie, a camp for children with asthma. The camp runs from July 15 to July 19, 2007. Baldcypress Site Relationships and Silviculture Regional increases in flooding are likely to reduce the productivity of baldcypress-water tupelo swamps in coastal Louisiana. Although these trees are merchantable for lumber production, it will be important to design appropriate management plans for these sites. Marsh Maneuvers Participants See Devastation Along Coast LSU AgCenter coastal resources agent Mark Shirley had hoped to bring a group of students back to a plot near Holly Beach where they had planted marsh grass during the 4-H Marsh Maneuvers program in July. But, after driving for several miles on La. 82 between Holly Beach and Johnson’s Bayou last weekend, Shirley gave up on his hope to find the transplanted grass, which apparently fell victim to Hurricane Rita’s wrath. 1 2 3