Louisiana Department of Natural Resources

Atchafalaya Basin Program

	For more information: Dana Naquin 225.342.6437 Atchafalaya@la.gov
Topics of interest NEW! Governor's Call for Increased Water Flow into Atchafalaya Basin Approved, Will Support Fisheries, Basin Health and Coast (4/16/2013) FINAL FY 2014 Annual Plan 2011 Atchafalaya Basin Inundation Data Collection and Damage Assessment Project UPCOMING PUBLIC MEETINGS Fiscal Year 2015 Annual Plan - Water management plan Project Nomination Form BASIN PICS ABOUT THE PROGRAM Atchafalaya basin program project descriptions and statuses State Master plan for the atchafalaya basin
Splitting off from the Mississippi River near Simmesport, the Atchafalaya River, on its way to the Gulf of Mexico, is the flowing lifeline of the nation’s largest river swamp – the Atchafalaya Basin. Atchafalaya is a Native American word, named in the Choctaw tongue, “hacha” for river and “falaia” for long. Home to some of Louisiana’s signature wildlife – alligators, roseate spoonbills, water moccasins and crawfish, to name a few – and spectacular views of the intersection of plant life, animal life, water and weather, the Atchafalaya Basin has long called to fishermen, photographers, hunters and those who simply enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of nature. As the river’s flow has marked the generations, people have made different aspects of what is now the Atchafalaya Basin spillway part of their heritage, from the Native Americans who made their homes there to the loggers and fisherman who used the natural riches of the basin to make their livelihoods.

About the Atchafalaya Basin Program (ABP)

The state Department of Natural Resources oversees the management of the state master plan for the Atchafalaya Basin Floodway System. The ABP operates under the authority of Act 3 of 1998 and Act 920 of 1999. DNR, the federal U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the basin parishes work together in creating projects by executing cooperative endeavors or agreements that protect and enhance the basin. Several other state agencies, like the departments of Wildlife and Fisheries and Culture, Recreation and Tourism, also work to establish projects aimed at enhancing the basin.

The ABP logo is available here with usage guidelines.

• Atchafalaya Basin Natural Resource Inventory Assessment System Available Online
• Map Monitoring Website Online
  • http://deltas.usgs.gov/spillway/BonnetCarre2011.aspx http://deltas.usgs.gov/BonnetCarre.aspx

Basin Pics

The Atchafalaya Basin Program now provides visitors to the basin the opportunity to share photographs of their own experiences “Livin’ and Playin’ in the Basin.”

We invite you to submit your photographs to dnrinfo@la.gov. We would like your permission to add them to our Atchafalaya Basin Pics collection. Tell us the photographer's name/city, and when (date), and where the photos was taken. Your basin pictures will be posted here! Happy Trails in the Basin!

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