Breaux Act Newsflash - LDWF Acquires 7,200 Acres within Joyce WMA
***********************************************************************L.D.W.F. ACQUIRES 7,200 ACRES WITHIN JOYCE WMA
Land Purchased from The Conservation Fund
BATON ROUGE -- The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF),
with funding assistance from several conservation partners, today announced
the purchase of more than 7,200 acres within the boundaries of Joyce
Wildlife Management Area (WMA) from The Conservation Fund (TCF).
"The conservation and restoration of our state's coastal wetlands, like
those found around Lake Pontchartrain, are of utmost importance and these
vital resources must be protected for generations to come," said LDWF
Secretary Robert Barham. "Our partners are to be commended for making this
happen."
The nearly $2.2 million purchase was finalized during a ceremony at the June
5 Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) meeting. The land,
formerly known as the Octavia tract in Tangipahoa Parish, had previously
been leased from TCF.
"Coastal wetlands not only protect fragile ecosystems, but also provide
important public recreation opportunities," said Ray Herndon, TCF's director
of the lower Mississippi region. "This effort is a testament to the power
of partnerships. It proves that all sectors - governmental, corporate and
non-profit - can work together to achieve great outcomes. We commend all the
parties involved, especially the members of Octavia Partners, for their
commitment to this effort and their willingness to enable this important
project."
The funding sources making the purchase possible include a National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration grant ($1.67 million), a North American
Wetland Conservation Act grant ($392,000) and $100,000 from LDWF's Wildlife
Habitat Natural Heritage Trust Fund. TCF was able to reduce the state's
purchase price with $450,000 provided by a National Fish and Wildlife
Foundation Grant through its partnership with Shell Oil ($250,000) and
private funds donated through TCF by Ameriprise Financial ($200,000).
"We have to take the necessary steps to ensure the preservation of
Louisiana's natural environments," said Senator David Vitter in
correspondence delivered to ceremony participants. "Our state's wetlands
support a vibrant ecosystem, provide recreational and educational
opportunities to Louisianans of all ages and are a critical component of
hurricane protection. The conservation of these unique areas will ensure
their enjoyment by future generations of Louisianans."
"This unique collaboration between public, private and nonprofit entities
demonstrates our shared commitment to preserving and restoring Louisiana's
vital wetlands," said Senator Mary Landrieu when informed of the property
acquisition. "I have long championed the protection and restoration of the
vital ecosystem along our coast, which provides a natural barrier of
protection from storms. I was also proud to secure an independent funding
stream for this purpose in 2006 when Congress passed the Domenici-Landrieu
Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act. Protecting Louisiana's ecosystems is not
only critical for our communities -- it also greatly benefits the rest of
the nation that so relies on our Gulf seafood industry and the domestic
energy we produce off our coast."
To date, funding support from NOAA's Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation
Program (CELCP) has helped to preserve more than 32,000 coastal acres
throughout the U.S. In addition, $15 million is included for the CELCP in
the fiscal year 2009 budget request for NOAA.
"NOAA has been pleased to support the implementation of the CELCP since its
creation by Congress in 2002," said David Kennedy, director of the Office of
Ocean and Coastal Resource Management. "The CELCP's objective -- to help
permanently conserve lands in coastal and estuarine areas with significant
ecological, conservation, historic, aesthetic, or recreation values -- will
clearly be met by the protection of the Octavia tract addition to Joyce
WMA."
"We are fortunate to have both private and governmental funding sources able
to support the department's land acquisitions goals and help secure more
public land for conservation management and outdoor recreational use," said
LWFC Chairman Patrick Morrow.
Joyce WMA is located five miles south of Hammond. The area consists of
12,809 acres donated to LDWF by the Joyce Foundation in 1982 and 2,250 acres
donated by Guste Heirs in 1994. An additional 850 acres and 484 acres are
leased from the Joyce Foundation and the Tangipahoa Parish School Board,
respectively. With the addition of the 7,274-acre Octavia tract and the
1,040-acre Salmen tract also acquired from TCF this month, Joyce WMA acreage
now totals 24,707.
"The North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) Council works closely
with regional bird habitat conservation groups such as the Gulf Coast Joint
Venture (GCJV) to stimulate partnerships that conserve wetlands for birds,"
said GCJV Coordinator Barry Wilson. "The acquisition of this tract
exemplifies both a committed group of partners and a tract of important
migratory bird habitat."
The entire area is a wetland within the Pontchartrain Basin and consists
primarily of cypress-tupelo swamp. A large portion of the area is a dense
shrub-marsh community with red maple, wax-myrtle, red bay, and younger
cypress-tupelo. A 500-acre fresh marsh of primarily maiden-cane is located
on the northern portion of the property.
Game species found within the WMA include deer, rabbits, squirrel and
waterfowl. The primary importance of the tract to hunters is its waterfowl
resource. Mallard and woodduck are the major species using the area along
with gadwall, widgeon and pintail occurring less frequently. Trapping is
permitted for raccoon, nutria, muskrat, otter, mink and opossum. Alligators
are also common on the area.
An elevated boardwalk constructed in 1990 at the northwest corner of the WMA
provides visitors easy access to view wildlife and vegetation within the
ecosystem. For more information and directions to Joyce WMA, visit the LDWF
web site at www.wlf.louisiana.gov.
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