Atchafalaya River — Appendix

Appendix for: Rivergator: Atchafalaya River Appendix 1 - Sources for Atchafalaya River Appendix 2 - Review Panel for Atchafalaya River: Old River to Gulf of Mexico Appendix 3 - Atchafalaya River Public Boat Ramps: Old River to Gulf of Mexico Appendix 4 - Flora & Fauna: As seen on the Rivergator Expedition Atchafalaya River: Old River to Gulf of Mexico Appendix 5 - Baton Rouge to Gulf of Mexico Atchafalaya Resources Useful to Paddlers: Appendix 6 - Baton Rouge to Gulf of Mexico Outfitters servicing the Atchafalaya Appendix 7 - Mark River Atchafalaya Journal Appendix 8 - Grasshopper’s Jumping Journal Appendix 9 - John’s Log - Atchafalaya River Expedition Appendix 10 - Bayou Tech: History & Culture Appendix 11 - Baton Rouge to Gulf of Mexico Dave & Linnea: Camping on the Atchafalaya Appendix 12 - Bayou Teche: Nature & Science Appendix 13 - What is Bayou Paddling?

Demystifying Paddling's Great Undefined Body of Water Appendix 14 - Why Paddle the Mississippi River: Part 5 The Rivergator Crew Goes Deep ...Into the Atchafalaya Appendix 15 - Paradise Gained: Unlike almost every other place along the Louisiana coast, land is growing, not disappearing, at the base of this old canal. Appendix 16 - Across the Atchafalaya Basin by Canoe Appendix 17 - Definitions for Atchafalaya River Appendix 18 - Boat Names in Atchafalaya Basin Appendix 19 - Fish Names in Atchafalaya Basin

Rivergator Atchafalaya River Appendix 1: Sources Contributing writers: Mark River Peoples Wolf E. Staudinger Books: Designing the Bayous: The Control of Water in the Atchafalaya Basin, 1800-1995 2004, Gulf Coast Books, sponsored by Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi by Martin Reuss The Atchafalaya River Basin: History and Ecology of an American Wetland 2013, Nature Conservancy, Texas A&M Press by Bryan Piazza Cajun Families of the Atchafalaya 1989, Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities by Greg Guirard Inherit the Atchafalaya 2007, Center for Louisiana Studies University of Louisiana at Lafayette by Greg Guirard and C.

Ray Brassieur Canoeing Louisiana 2003, University Press of Mississippi by Ernest Herndon Atchafalaya Swamp Life: Settlement and Folk Occupations 1972, LSU School of Geoscience by Malcolm L. Comeaux Bayou-Diversity: Nature and People in Louisiana Bayou Country 2011, Louisiana State University Press by Kelby Ouchley The Historic Indian Tribes of Louisiana: From 1542 to the Present 1994, Louisiana State University Press The Control of Nature: Atchcafalaya 1989, Farrar Straus Giroux by John McPhee C.C.

Lockwood's Atchafalaya 2007, C. C. Lockwood Atchafalaya: America's Largest River Basin Swamp by C. C. Lockwood Atchafalaya Houseboat: My Years in the Louisiana Swamp 2006, Louisiana State University Press by Gwen Roland, photos by C.C. Lockwood Rising Tide: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How it Changed America 1997, Simon & Schuster by John M. Barry The Mississippi River in 1953: A Photographic Journey from the Headwaters to the Gulf of Mexico 2005, The Center for American Places by Charles Dee Sharp Historic Names and Places on the Lower Mississippi River 1977, Mississippi River Commission by Marion Bragg Seasons of Light in the Atchafalaya Basin 1989, Greg Guirard With two stories by William Faulkner Websites: Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Wikipedia Atchafalaya River Basin River Gages Lower Mississippi River Gauge and Week Forecast The New Orleans Times-Picayune www.Nola.com Atchafalaya National Heritage Area Atchafalaya Basinkeeper / Quinta Scott: Atchafalaya River Blog John McPhee: The Control of Nature Bayou Teche Project Bayou Teche Water Trail Louisiana Folklife Program Center for Traditional Louisiana Boat Building Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana Films: Pirogue Maker 14 minutes, Black and White; Original format: Film: 35mm 1949, by Arnold Eagle (In 1948, Robert Flaherty was working on "The Louisiana Story." He was searching for a small boat, or "pirogue" for his young hero.

Flaherty soon became aware that pirogue-making was a disappearing art. Finally, when he found Ebdon Allemon, a Cajun craftsman, he persuaded him to make the pirogue. It may well have been the last piroque made in Louisiana. This is a record of that event.) Old Man River Project 2009 documentary film, in 10 episodes by Canadian adventurer Brett Rogers (The story begins in Kingston, Ontario. Brett and Cliff build a York Boat named Annie. Brett lays out his plan: with Cliff as First Mate, he will lead a crew 2400 miles down the Mississippi River to reach the Gulf of Mexico and donate their boat Annie to the Lower Mississippi Riverkeeper)

Rivergator Atchafalaya River Appendix 2: Review Panel for Atchafalaya River: Old River to Gulf of Mexico Dean Wilson Cara Leverett Bryan Piazza David Hanson Linnea Goderstad Dave Goderstad Melanie Driscoll Boyce Upholt Mary A Sternberg Zoe Sundra Paul Orr Robert Landreneau Michael Orr Mike Beck Michael Clark Mark River Peoples Chris Staudinger Layne Logue Paul Hartfield Ernest Herndon Ashley Herrick Marylee Orr Billy Howell Linda Bear Heart Brewer Adam Elliott

Rivergator Atchafalaya River Appendix 3: Atchafalaya River Public Boat Ramps: Old River to Gulf of Mexico (Functional as of Jan 2016) 313.7 RBD Knox Landing (Mississippi River) Old River Lock & Dam Boat Ramps (4 ramps) 5.3 RBD Simmesport Boat Ramp 29.7 RBD Melville Boat Ramp 42.3 RBD Krotz Springs Boat Ramp 55 LBD Atchafalaya NWR 61.7 LBD Bayou Des Glaises (primitive) Breaux’s Boat Ramp (Old Atchafalaya) Butte La Rose (Old Atchafalaya) Rock Weir Ramp (Sixmile Lake) Verdunville Landing (Sixmile Lake) 122 RBD Berwick Boat Ramp 124.3 RBD Intracoastal Waterway Boat Ramp (S. Berwick)

Rivergator Atchafalaya River Appendix 4: Flora & Fauna: As seen on the Rivergator Expedition Atchafalaya River: Old River to Gulf of Mexico Flora & Fauna: Black Willow American Sycamore Eastern Cottonwood Bald Cypress Box Elder Rough-Leaved Dogwood Southern Live Oak Southern Hackberry aka Sugarberry Chinese Tallow Tree Chinese Privet Green Ash Water Hickory / Bitter Pecan Red Mulberry American Persimmon Button Bush Poison Ivy Pepper Vine Trumpet Creeper Climbing Hempvine at least 3 species of Hibiscus False Indigo Bush Sesbania (rattle box) Blue Mistflower Moonflower Ground Nut unidentified legume invasive poisonous legume Burr Cucumber Lantana number of Grape species Soybean Corn Sagittaria Roseau Cane / Common Reed Spartina (marsh grass) Eastern Baccharis Cattail Giant Bulrush Pickerelweed Water Hyacinth Alligator Weed Pennywort Water Clover (Marsilea sp.) - the "four leaf clover" Pondweed (Potamogeton sp.) - the plant with all the elongated leaves floating near the surface of the water where we got stuck paddling back up.

Spanish Moss Black Vulture Turkey Vulture? Bald Eagle Osprey White Pelican Brown Pelican White Ibis Roseate Spoonbill Magnificent Frigatebird Black Necked Stilt Red Winged Blackbird Great-tailed grackle some Hawks Barred Owl vocalizations seagulls terns American Oystercatcher? Marsh Wren? some kind of sparrows in the marsh some kinds of swallows and/or swifts some kind of sandpiper some kind of warbler Rough Green Snake Red Eared Slider (turtle) Common Musk Turtle Cottonmouth American Alligator lots of frogs Beaver Cottontail Rabbit Whitetail Deer Wild Hog Coyote lots of small rodent tracks Bobcat tracks?

Alligator Gar Asian Carp other Gar Shad? (in the boat) Mullet Catfish River Shrimp Hermit Crab Variety of snails Horned Passalus (big beetle) Golden Orb Weaver number of moths and butterflies

Rivergator Appendix 5 Baton Rouge to Gulf of Mexico Atchafalaya Resources Useful to Paddlers: USACE 2012 Atchafalaya River and outlets to Gulf of Mexico Navigation Chart Folio, 6th Edition Atchafalaya Basin Map (LSU - Louisiana Geological Survey) Full color, large scale map of the basin above Morgan City created by the LSU Louisiana Geological Survey. Waterproof paper. Features main channel, back channels, bayous, vegetation, campsites, roads, boat landings, levees, streams, and more. Fold out or rolled in tube. Satellite image on reverse side. Important Note: does not include Atchafalaya or Wax Lake Deltas below Morgan City/Bayou Teche. Contact the Louisiana Geological Survey at or call 225.578.8590. Or call the DNR Atchafalaya Basin Program Office at 225.342.6437. Folded map = $14.00 and Tubed map = $17.00 Atchafalaya River Basin River Gages Atchafalaya Basinkeeper / Quinta Scott: Atchafalaya River Blog John McPhee: The Control of Nature Bayou Teche Project Bayou Teche Water Trail Atchafalaya National Heritage Area

Rivergator Appendix 6 Baton Rouge to Gulf of Mexico Outfitters servicing the Atchafalaya Bayou Teche Experience/Cajun Paddle Breaux Bridge, LA T 337-366-0337 Facebook | bayoutecheexperience@gmail.com Canoe 2 Schriever, LA T 985-413-9509 leonardnaquin@yahoo.com Muddy Water Paddle Company Baton Rogue, LA info@muddywaterpaddleco.com Pack and Paddle Lafayette, LA T 337-232-5854 info@packpaddle.com The Backpacker Baton Rouge, LA T 225-925-2677 info@backpackerbr.com Oxbow Paddle Company 6716 False River Road Oscar, LA T 225-485-8999 oxbow.paddle@gmail.com Quapaw - Natchez Outpost Natchez, MS adam.elliott@island63.com Quapaw Canoe Company Clarksdale, MS 662-627-4070 john@island63.com www.island63.com

Rivergator Atchafalaya Appendix 7 Mark River Atchafalaya Journal Day 1- Woodville Hospitality The alarm clocks sounds at 3am. The Quapaw's rise excited about the expedition at hand; finalizing the packing of the Grasshopper canoe. Our plans are to head south on highway 61 to Cleveland where we will meet Boyce and Rory, two photographers documenting the trip. The sun is barely visible upon the horizon, as we continue on towards Vicksburg, hoping to catch the Tomato Place opening their doors. We stop and grab some cinnamon bagels, continuing on to Natchez to grab some extra equipment from fellow Quapaw Adam Eliott and fellow river rat, Gayle Guido.

With the team intact, we head for Fort Adams, our planned put in. We stop in one of my favorite Mississippi towns, Woodville, deciding to have lunch at the town hangout right along the highway. The local gathering place where the people are warm and welcoming, with plenty of food from smoked pork steaks to fried catfish, with all the trimmings. It's also a place for information. Once the local crew found out our expedition plans, we were informed the boat ramp we were hoping to launch from was unaccessible.

With the help of the head of the Chamber of Commerce and the Mayor, we were led to a ditch in the farm fields which connect to the Buffalo River, and then the Mississippi River. The locals made phone calls to assure our safe passage through this close nit community. We find our exact location by stopping at the general store at the end of town. We supplied them with rivergator.org maps, while marveling the hundreds of deer skulls and racks covering the exterior. After that we discussed the river infrastructure south of Woodville and how it affects the farming community.

I really enjoy stopping and talking to locals. They have information you can't find in books or the internet. People truly connected. We said our goodbyes, head through the farm fields and find the ditch which locals use to access the river during high water. You can hear towboats and fishing boats in the distance. Thousands of fire ant rafts float buoyantly throughout the ditch. The water is warming, showing signs of the spawn. A lone straggly raccoon sleeps high in the trees as if it had a long night.

We paddle through the flooded forest onto the Buffalo River, continuing to the Mississippi River, headed for Shreve's Bar where we will spend the night. What a great start. Mark River Day 2- Shreves Bar Wake up to a great fog covering the Mississippi River. Great nights rest as the beavers occasionally splash in the shallows close to camp. Tow boats roar in the fog, not visible from land, unless you ran to higher ground. We make the channel crossing and head for the lock. One towboat staged in the harbor.

Looks like a maintenance boat, with a large selection of tie downs. The lock master drives his truck to the ramp to make introductions and to decide if he wanted to let us through or not. From experience, this is protocol for locking through. They also want to see the canoe. Seven mile flat water paddle to the confluence of the Red River and the Atchafalaya River. Fisherman at the point with a pink four wheeler and stories about the Opelousas catfish run in the early summer. His fishing partner died last year and he misses him.

15 miles to camp. Stuffed peppers. Fir ant mounds. Great day of paddling and fun. I hear turkeys in the night, or could it be the frogs in the lake. Mark River Day 3- Porcupine Point We arrived at a high bluff full of green grass and decide this is the place for the evening. We quickly realize the deep green of the grass is from a herd of cows frequenting the area. We pay no mind, but marvel at the small runnel of water feeding the small pond filled with beautiful yellow rockets. The river is still on the rise and the rate of the water is increasing in the small stream.

These small creeks play a huge role in the beginning of the spawn and the reproduction of reptiles, amphibians and mammals. The small pond will be full of frog eggs, which is a treat for spawning fish fattening up for the spring reproduction. They provide plentiful water supply for young mammals. The sunset is beautiful, as I try to find an elevated spot to assure myself of a dry night of sleep. Driftwood Johnny reminds me of the time we camped at the mouth of the Arkansas River, when it was in the process of changing channels, after the 2011 flood.

I placed my tent in a low lining area, only to wake up to a lake forming outside my tent, with fish splashing around. It was a lesson learned about rising rivers. The morning came quickly as I was serenaded by frogs and the sound of turkeys. I've never heard turkeys call at night, and I figured some local was practicing his call. I paid no mind and slept like a newborn. The stream had increased its velocity and fish were starting to enter the small pond that turned to a lake. The canoe was tied in the stream and a spotted gar used the canoe to take a break from the current.

Gail, one of our teammates, lunged out to successfully catch it. We admired its beautiful pattern of spots and released it unharmed. I take a walk to explore the terrain and noticed a unusual hump on a exposed tree branch. Looking closer, I realize, it's a tree frog. After further research, I learned it was a Mexican Tree Frog. Usually this frog ranges throughout the southwest states, but to see it in northern Louisiana could bring up the argument about global warming. We load the boat and head downstream.

Small cottages rested on the cut banks, with homemade revetments lining the bluffs. A family of cormorants ride a falling tree down the middle of the channel gives us the same idea, so we take a break, tie to a fallen tree, and imitate the cormorants. We head towards Melville. There we will be losing two of our teammates, Rory and Boyce. Melville is considered the "catfish capital" of the Atchafalaya River. Some locals reminded us we were crazy like them for paddling the river. One lady claimed she lost two brothers to the river.

I wanted to ask if they were wearing floatation devices, but restrained. I noticed that many were not wearing them in their fishing boats. We ate lunch and head down river searching for the next campsite. There is a chance of rain so we want to set camp and prepare dinner early. A family of eagles is spotted spending time together in the trees as if to welcome us, so natually we pick this spot for the night. Mark River Day 4- Owl's Hoot We rise to the unique call of the barred owl high in the trees.

It was so close and personal, I thought Brax was using his owl call. We set off into a foggy river, occasionally announcing our presence, with the banging of the lid of the dutch oven , to let commercial fisherman know of our existence in the channel, eventually continuing on to make our lunch appointment with the Atchafalaya River- keeper. Dean Wilson and family are the watchful eyes of this unique ecosystem teaming with wildlife. We discuss illegal logging, while we float as one down the river, eating lunch.

We discussed the adaptability of the coyote, who become silent in order not to give up their position to a landscape full of domestic dogs. We converse on the tendencies of the river and how it effects the animals who thrive in this wilderness, watery environment. We head downstream to meet the Mississippi River keepers, Paul and Micheal Orr, for our resupply at the infamous Whiskey Bay. Large flocks of double breasted cormorants take flight around every turn. Eagles perch high in their nests watching us float by.

An osprey builds a nest on the pipeline bridge. The navigational channel is lined on both sides with house boats, cabins and hunting camps. We pick the first available campsite to end a 32 mile day and have wild catfish and potatoes for dinner as we watch the sunset. Mark River Day 5- Swamp Spawn I wake on a tiny peninsula along Whiskey Bay navigational channel next to a tiny swamp full of yellow rockets and driftwood. The evening before, Driftwood Johnny took a swim in the debris infested swamp and noticed the temperature was quite warmer than the main channel.

That let me know the spawn is upon us. Large gar and black bass splash in the swamp throughout the night preparing for the most exciting time for animals of all kinds- the spawn. The spawn is the time of plenty for most animals. The flooding and warming of these waters triggers reptiles and amphibians of the arrival of spring, the time to reproduce and celebrate the welcoming of new generations. We let the fog burn off the river and head towards the entry to Grand Lake. A maze of bayous and slough threading throughout the natural floodplain, loaded with houseboats, homesteads, and hunting camps.

Bayous named Jakes, Bloody, Indigo, Florida, Bee, Flat Lake Pass and Keelboat Pass. Hunting camps and homesteads like Willow Bend, Ruttin Buck, Hog Island and Broad Road. Some looked cozy and well kept; some looked like my room, disorganized and chaotic, but home sweet home. Many commercial fishermen roared by scoping out potential spots for the upcoming crawfish season and some looked as if to be joyriding celebrating the rise of the bayous. We surprised alligators relaxing, waiting on the water temperature to climb, and large gar suspended in the channel getting fat before the peak of the spawn.

Small frogs and turtles skip between logs, while kingfishers stealthily fly across the channel hunting for baitfish. Raccoons scramble up trees, while great blue herons and hawks occupy the trees. Large palmettos sit on the high grounds of the swamp, while large cypress trees thrive in the shallow lake marshes. We found a campsite on a peninsula at the conf