2. Nature Station Trail Bridge

A LOCAL WATERSHED RESTORATION INITIATIVE

Even the smallest patches of native landscaping can make a big difference to wildlife, air and water quality, and the communities within the Teche-Vermilion Watershed. As a member of our watershed community, YOU can make a difference. Reviving Resilient Landscapes fosters community-led efforts by combining the resources, people power, and knowledge of conservation groups across the region.

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The site was ideal for restoration because construction of the trail bridge left the area bare and there were signs of bankline erosion. The planting plan was strategically developed by volunteer biologists and environmental scientists to stabilize the soil and prevent further erosion. Our partners in preservation volunteered and prepared the site for planting by removing invasive plant species such as Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera) and privet (Ligustrum spp.). On November 16, 2019, members of our watershed community participated in a watershed resiliency workshop. Following the workshop, native plants such as American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) and Cow Oak (Quercus michauxii), were planted by the workshop participants. A seed mix of native plants was then placed on exposed soil. Because the demonstration site was landscaped and planted with resiliency in mind, the stabilized bank line will continue to contribute to a healthy watershed for years to come.

THE BENEFITS OF A BUFFER
RIPARIAN FOREST BUFFER ZONE AND NATIVE HABITAT

A riparian forest buffer located along a body of water can include trees, shrubs, grasses and forbs. Bottomland hardwood forests, comprised of native trees and other plants, provide critical habitat to wildlife and protect downstream communities by storing floodwater from nearby waterways. While trees and shrubs provide berries, nuts, and flowers that feed wildlife, their leaf litter improves soil conditions and prevents erosion. These seasonally flooded forests also filter pollutants, such as oil, pesticides, and sediment carried by floodwaters before they recedes back into waterways.