Big Branch Tree Planting
Wednesday, February 13 2019
PLEASE REGISTER BY CONTACTING: Danny Breaux at daniel_breaux@fws.gov or call at 985-882-2030
Volunteers are needed to assist with a tree planting at Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge on February 11, 12 and 13, 2019 from 8 AM - 3 PM. We will be planting over 8,000 trees at Bayou Bonfouca, a newly created area by CWPPRA project that was completed in February 2018. Now that the ground has had time to settle it is time to plant trees on the ridge area of the creation project and we need help!
When: Monday February 11, Tuesday February 12 and Wednesday February 13, 2019
Time: 8 AM - 3 PM
Where: Meet at the Bayou Liberty Marina (58047 Hwy 433, Slidell, LA 70460)
What to Bring: Dress for the weather but were clothes that one can get dirty. Bring field boots, sack lunch and plenty of water.
CWPPRA completed the Bayou Bonfouca Marsh Restoration project in February 2018. During Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, marshes on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain suffered extensive damage from storm surge. The storm inundated barrier marshes with salt water and created avenues for erosion. Since then, the Louisiana Coastal Wetlands Conservation and Restoration Task Force identified areas on the North-shore that are key to protecting coastal communities from storms.
Using sediment pumped from Lake Pontchartrain, the CWPPRA Bayou Bonfouca Marsh Creation project created over 1,000 acres of marsh and areas of high ground that support trees, in which was once open water ponds. Restoration of this wetland area will improve shoreline stability for residents of St. Tammany Parish, and support waterfowl and estuarine fish habitat for future generations. Restoration efforts continue to ensure that the CWPPRA Bayou Bonfouca Marsh Creation project is a success, which is why the refuge needs volunteers to assist in the February tree plantings. Transportation to the tree planting site will be provided by the BBMNWR.
Thank you in advance!
Rebecca "Becky" Larkins
Supervisory Refuge Ranger
Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuges Complex
61389 Highway 434
Lacombe, LA 70445
985-882-2025 office
985-882-9133 fax
http://www.fws.gov/southeastlouisiana/
Contact the event organizers: Alanna Frick