s 



< LOUISIANA 



< 



CO General description: A large portion of the southern half of the state is wetland 



3 formed by the delta of the Mississippi River. An area estimated to be about 10 



3 million acres, consisting of swamps, lakes, and bayous extends almost continu- 



ously from the Pearl River and Lake Pontchatrain on the east to the Sabine 

 River on the west. Northward, bottomland forests are found along the major 

 river systems, the Mississippi and the Red. Shallow lakes are choked with sub- 

 merged and floating aquatics. In places, especially along the coast, extensive 

 marshes have developed. The bottomlands and swamps are mostly forested with 

 cypress, tupelo gum, and other bottomland hardwoods. On slightly higher 

 ground dwarf palmetto stands and cane brakes may be found. Extreme varia- 

 tions in water levels, such as occur at Catahoula Lake, create unique growth 

 forms and plant associations. On the uplands of the Kisatchie National Forest 

 may be found seepage areas supporting bands of vegetation, known as bay galls 

 (Hillside Bogs) with Magnolia virginiana as one of the dominant species. 



Status of the wetlands: The vast swamp forests of this state have all been cut 

 over. Only fragments of the original timber remain and some of these are of 

 poor quality. Other adverse impacts include oil exploration, pollution from 

 paper mills and sewage, drainage, highway construction, siltation, and grazing. 



Sources of data: Personnel of the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife and 

 university biologists have provided data. 



Recommendations: As is the case with most of the original habitat types that were once 

 widespread in North America, the swamps and marshes of Louisiana have been 

 exploited with little regard to preservation of undisturbed samples. Remnants of old- 

 growth cypress may still be found at Spanish Lake, and in places along the Atachafalaya 

 Floodway, especially around Lake Verret. Riverbank swamp forests, although formerly 

 logged for cypress, may be found along the Blind, Amite, Tickfaw, and Pearl rivers 

 (Honey Island). These areas should be reviewed to determine which are the most 

 suitable to be designated as landmarks. Catahoula Lake represents a different habitat 

 situation characterized by extreme fluctuations in water level. Landmark status for a 

 portion of this bottomland might help preserve this public holding from encroachments. 

 The same might be said of Coochie Brake, a large and varied swamp, fed by springs and 

 underlain by bedrock, now partly held by the U.S. Forest Service. The bay galls 

 (Hillside Bogs) of the Kisatchie National Forest are a unique habitat that should be 

 considered as a landmark. The Ponchatoula Marsh, although disturbed by drainage, fire, 

 and logging around the periphery, is the only habitat of this type for which a report has 

 been received. Talisheek Creek in St. Tammany Parish has been reported as an outstand- 

 ing undisturbed water course of great biological interest. It should be included in the 

 landmarks program under the appropriate theme study. 



