News Release

Atchafalaya Basin sees big return after 2008 storms

Visitors crowded the Atchafalaya Basin this Easter holiday break, as the Basin area continues to recover from the effects of last year’s Hurricane Gustav.

Good weather and the younger peoples’ week off from school helped contribute to a busy Good Friday and Easter Weekend in the Basin, as people filled local campgrounds and spent time camping, fishing, biking and birdwatching along the western levee and throughout the Basin.

“I am glad to see that people are making the best of good weather and Louisiana’s unique Atchafalaya Basin area,” said Department of Natural Resources Secretary Scott Angelle. “This is exactly why our Atchafalaya Basin program exists – to help keep this area a healthy and vibrant part of our state and the culture of our people. We hope that our new annual planning process will help us continue to strengthen our efforts to preserve and protect one of the signature features of our state.”

The Basin had also recently been the recipient of 65,000 new residents in the form of the stocking of the waters in the Basin with young Florida-strain largemouth bass from the state’s Booker Fowler Hatchery in Forest Hill through the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

The black bass stocking was intended to offset the effects of the fish kill that followed Hurricane Gustav in fall 2008.

The Easter break is traditionally a busy time in the Basin, and weather permitting, the area is expected to be busy again this weekend.

Angelle said he encourages people to take some time this weekend to visit the Basin, and to share their experiences at the Department of Natural Resources’ Atchafalaya Basin website at www.basin.louisiana.gov.