Louisiana

Established in 1907, Shell Keys National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is one of the oldest refuges in the National

Wildlife Refuge System. It is also a testimony to the fast eroding shoreline of Louisiana. Its boundary was and still is rather loosely described as "... a small group of

unsurveyed islets located in the Gulf of Mexico about three and one half miles south of Marsh Island, LA,

and approximately at latitude 29 degrees 26 minutes north, longitude 91 degrees 51 minutes west from

Sabine NWR,about 8 miles south of Hackberry, on State Highway 27, was established in 1937 to provide

habitat for migratory waterfowl and other birds. The refuge consists of a basin of wetlands located

between the Gulf's beach cheniers (oak ridges)and the coastal prairie, which is one of the most productive

and fertile areas of North America. It encompasses 124,511 acres of fresh,intermediate and brackish marshes

and is one of the largest estuarine-dependent marine species nurseries in southwest Louisiana. It has also been

The Kisatchie Hills Wilderness now contains a total of 8,679 acres and is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. All of the wilderness is in the state of Louisiana.

Public land becomes wilderness through legislation passed by the United States Congress in the form of public laws.

Highlights of this route include four National Wildlife Refuges, salt and freshwater resources, Civil War and archaeological dig sites, and miles of natural beaches, marshlands, and prairie lands, yielding an abundance of wildlife and scenic appeal.

The refuge provides excellent wintering habitat for tens of thousands of ducks and geese. The endangered red-cockaded woodpecker and the threatened Louisiana black bear are found on Upper Ouachita NWR. Other wildlife species that call the refuge home include alligators, deer, turkey, squirrels, bald eagles and beaver. Upper Ouachita NWR is one of the four refuges managed in the North Louisiana Refuges Complex.

Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife was authorized in 1986 and officially established in 1990. The refuge is located within the city limits of New Orleans and encompasses approximately 23, 000 acres. It is the largest urban National Wildlife refuge in the United States. The refuge is one of the last remaining marsh areas adjacent to Lakes Pontchartrain and Borgne.

Lacassine NWR, in Cameron and Evangeline Parishes in southwestern Louisiana, was established on 12/30/37 by Executive Order No. 7780 as "a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife." The refuge is nearly 35,000 acres in size, including

653 acres leased from the Cameron Parish School Board. The

vegetation types occurring on the refuge are primarily water

tolerant grasses, sedges, and shrubs. Vegetation in the

undeveloped marshes is dominated by bulltongue and maidencane.

The habitat is divided into 16,500 acres of natural, freshwater

Take Highway 61 to Highway 48 (Apple Street) into Norco. Turn right at River Road and go 1 mile.

Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) was established in October 1994, and is comprised of

15,000 acres of coastal marsh and pine forested wetlands. Of this total, the

Conservation Fund has donated over 10,000 acres to the Service from Richard King Mellon Foundation funds. The purpose of the refuge is to protect some of the only Lake Pontchartrain shoreline that exists in its natural state and to provide habitat for a

diversity of wildlife species, with special emphases on migratory birds and endangered species.

The Delta National Wildlife Refuge is located 10 miles South of Venice, Louisiana along the

Mississippi River. The area formed when a breach in the natural levee of the Mississippi River

occurred in 1862 approximately 100 miles below New Orleans, Louisiana. The 48,000 acre

refuge was purchased in 1935 with the primary purpose to provide sanctuary and habitat to

wintering waterfowl. Waterfowl counts in excess of 400,000 ducks and geese present on the

refuge during peak population periods have been recorded.