MUD, SPARTINA, AND FUN
Normally when I hear the word wetland, I think “Oh lord, what terrible project or permit has the Corps proposed now.” Then I think about communities losing flood protection, habitat destruction, fisheries being compromised, natural pollution filtration destroyed…the list goes on and on. This weekend, however, I got to think about something else—fun!
As part of the Restore America’s Estuaries Conference, the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana organized a great habitat restoration project along Bayou St. John in City Park. Ecologists, conservation biologists, lobbyists, master gardeners, grade-schoolers, out of towners and townies all came together in City Park for a day of mud, Spartina, and fun.
Matt Rota and I joined over 200 people from 22 states and 6 nations in an afternoon dedicated to stabilizing coastal soils, clearing storm damage debris, improving fish and wildlife habitat, and—my favorite—educating volunteers about the region's coastal land loss issues.
It felt great to be covered in muck, standing shoulder to shoulder with so many passionate folks, dedicated to restoring and protecting such an important natural resource. It made me think: not only do wetlands protect our communities, they bring communities together. Wetlands are an essential (or perhaps, the quintessential) part of our culture and our identities as New Orleanians, Louisianans, and Gulf Coasters.
A culture that gives us dishes like the Alligator Sauce Piquant that stewed in huge pots ready to feed the droves of hungry volunteers that had worked up an appetite. (Despite the Cajun cook’s rather convincing argument that alligator is fish—I ate my piquant sans crocodile.)
While eating I realized that when I returned to the office Monday morning, there’d probably be another wetland fill project to fight. But the sight of hundreds of muddy comrades reminded me that there is a ray of hope shining through the ominous clouds. With enough people, one day we will put a stop to the destruction and will restore all of our natural treasures!
Stephanie Powell is the GRN's Outreach Associate
Normally when I hear the word wetland, I think “Oh lord, what terrible project or permit has the Corps proposed now.” Then I think about communities losing flood protection, habitat destruction, fisheries being compromised, natural pollution filtration destroyed…the list goes on and on. This weekend, however, I got to think about something else—fun!
As part of the Restore America’s Estuaries Conference, the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana organized a great habitat restoration project along Bayou St. John in City Park. Ecologists, conservation biologists, lobbyists, master gardeners, grade-schoolers, out of towners and townies all came together in City Park for a day of mud, Spartina, and fun.
Matt Rota and I joined over 200 people from 22 states and 6 nations in an afternoon dedicated to stabilizing coastal soils, clearing storm damage debris, improving fish and wildlife habitat, and—my favorite—educating volunteers about the region's coastal land loss issues.
It felt great to be covered in muck, standing shoulder to shoulder with so many passionate folks, dedicated to restoring and protecting such an important natural resource. It made me think: not only do wetlands protect our communities, they bring communities together. Wetlands are an essential (or perhaps, the quintessential) part of our culture and our identities as New Orleanians, Louisianans, and Gulf Coasters.
A culture that gives us dishes like the Alligator Sauce Piquant that stewed in huge pots ready to feed the droves of hungry volunteers that had worked up an appetite. (Despite the Cajun cook’s rather convincing argument that alligator is fish—I ate my piquant sans crocodile.)
While eating I realized that when I returned to the office Monday morning, there’d probably be another wetland fill project to fight. But the sight of hundreds of muddy comrades reminded me that there is a ray of hope shining through the ominous clouds. With enough people, one day we will put a stop to the destruction and will restore all of our natural treasures!
Stephanie Powell is the GRN's Outreach Associate
Labels: Member Groups, Wetlands
posted by Stephanie at 4:20 PM
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