Prior to Hurricane
Katrina, this was a really nice trail and mostly a well kept
secret located in the
Bonne Carre Spillway. It was created by, among others, the
Labranche Wetland
Watchers. Another
link will take you to a site that further explains the
excellent work done by this group at Harry Hurst Middle School.
The site also mentions Milton Cambre, a local environmentalist
and a member of the St. Charles Parish Coastal Planning and Zoning
Committee who has been working to protect and clean up the wetlands
for most of his 70 years. He was very instrumental in preventing
much of the Labranche Wetlands from this point to the Jefferson
parish line from becoming the next urban sprawl.
At the height of Hurricane Katrina this spot was at least eight
feet under water. The trail was reduced to a muddy clearing most of
the way with lot's of uprooted and downed trees. March 4, 2006 a
group of over 200 persons met to clear the trees and debris from
the trail. Plans are to build a boardwalk approximately 1/2 mile to
the canal at the end of the trail. Until then you will need to wear
your best mud boots. Bringing mosquito repellant is recommended.
Although the area is equipped with gators and snakes, you shouldn’t
have a problem if you walk carefully and avoid any surprises. The
board walk, that was once there, has been “washed away”.
Hurst Middle School’s LaBranche Wetland Watchers
Service-Learning Project is working with the community to complete
a project that will include, in addition to the boardwalk nature
trails, a fishing pier, sheltered picnic tables, a playground for
children, and an outdoor classroom. This project will benefit the
families in our community, provide a destination for tourists, and
serve as an outdoor lab for schools throughout the area.
Construction is scheduled to start the first week in April.
Randy Newman; “Louisiana 1927"
“What has happened down here is the winds have
changed
Clouds roll in from the north and it started to rain
Rained real hard and it rained for a real long time
Six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline
Louisiana, Louisiana
They're tryin' to wash us away
They're tryin' to wash us away”
Second Stage Cache original contents:
- “Believe” bracelet
- Date Ball
- Original magnetic “Wooly Willy”
- TB “Memory Chip the Travel Bug”
- Pencil and log; “We came, we saw, we cached!” by Lindychris
from Pittsburg, PA
Warning: hint is a bit of a spoiler, take off a star in
difficulty if used.
