COASTAL MANAGEMENT DIVISION'S

GULF ECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT SITE

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Name:
Gregory J. DuCote

Address:
La. Dept. of Natural Resources/Coastal Management Division
P. O. Box 44487
Baton Rouge, LA  70804-4487

Phone #:
225.342.5052
1-800-267-4019

E-mail:
gregdu@dnr.state.la.us

Facsimile:
225.342.9439


GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION:

Location:
Chandeleur Islands (Breton National Wildlife Refuge)
               

County:   St. Bernard Parish

Lat/Long: Lat. 29ø55'00", Long. 88ø50'15"
               

Boundary:  Barrier islands - surrounded by Gulf of Mexico and Chandeleur Sound
           


Relative Size: 18 miles long x .5 mile wide (average)
           

Date Submitted:                                     
ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
?
(please list and describe any of the following attributes that distinguish the site)

ECOSYSTEM FUNCTION:

Hurricane protection



GEOMORPHIC FEATURES:

Beach-dune systems on barrier islands



UNIQUENESS OF NATURAL COMMUNITY:

Barrier island with beach-dune system and mangrove thickets & submerged grass beds.
Coastal dune grassland species:  sea oats (Uniola paniculata), beach panic (Panicum amarum),
purple sandgrass (Triplasis purpurea), saltgrass (Distichlis spicata), and wiregrass (Spartina
patens)
Mangrove thicket - black mangrove (Avicemia germinans)
Grassbeds - turtle grass (Thalassia testudina)



RARE OR ENDANGERED SPECIES:

Brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)
Reddish egret (Egretta rufescens)
Snowy plover (Charodrius alexandrinus)
Piping plover (Charadrius melodus)
American oyster catcher (Haematopus palliatus)
Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleolba)
Finback whale (Balaenoptera physalus)
Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta)



BREEDING OR NURSERY AREA:

Breeding and nesting area for waterbirds
Nursery area for finfish and shellfish
     


MIGRATORY SPECIES:

Songbirds and passerines
     


INTERPRETIVE AND ECONOMIC VALUE:

INTERPRETIVE USE:

Bird sanctuary/rookery.  Only accessible by boat or float plane.



RECREATIONAL USE:

Saltwater fishing (speckled trout, flounder, redfish)
Shrimping & crabbing
Birding
     


COMMERCIAL USE:

Commercial shrimping & crabbing in surrounding waters.
     


ARCHAEOLOGICAL FEATURES:
?                                                                                                                                         
(describe any significant archaeological features of site)


MANAGEMENT STATUS:

LAND OWNERSHIP:

Federal refuge (USFWS)
     

EXISTING DESIGNATIONS:

Federal refuge for breeding & nesting waterbirds
     


MANAGEMENT STATUS:

Federal refuge



SITE VIABILITY

ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY:

Very pristine barrier island chain
Only turtlegrass beds remaining in Louisiana


MANAGEMENT POTENTIAL:

Already federally managed for waterbird refuge
     


OTHER:
?
(please provide additional information regarding any significant aspects not covered)