Lake Verret was historically part of the Atchafalaya River floodplain; however, when the Flood Control Act of 1927 was put into place, allowing for the creation of the East Atchafalaya Basin Protection Levee, suddenly “the flow through Lake Verret was limited to drainage from rainfall runoff from surrounding areas.” Small deltas began forming at the mouths of the waterways due to the sizable amounts of sediment entering the lake because of this. Even more unfortunately, this was not aided by the 1978 USDA report entitled “Environmental Impact Statement, Lake Verret Watershed, Ascension, Assumption, and Iberville, Parishes, Louisiana,” which within its pages offered “benefits to 55,300 acres of agricultural lands, land treatment measures necessary to treat 46,500 acres of agricultural lands, and land-use changes to create an additional 1,200 acres of open land area.” That only contributed to the sediment build-up in the water, upsetting the processes in place. The sediment, it has been declared, has caused a reduction in the variety of fish as well as the lake vegetation.
Both a current impact and a historic use, hunting and fishing have in large part contributed to the overall atmosphere of the ecosystem Even from a quick search, it is apparent that people have a genuine fondness for and familiarity with the lake. A facebook group has been created in its honor, of which there are more than one hundred members. People who no longer live in the area continue to express this strong sense of familiarity toward this ecosystem as a place perhaps not only where they grew up but one with which they were allowed interaction. Indeed, hunting and fishing are both very common practices in the area—for instance, Lake Verret is said to boast “bass, crappie, bream, and catfish.” The impact of these recreational activities has been determined as good. The restrictions—seasonal and species-related—that have been placed upon the land have apparently succeeded in overturning far too well-known matter of the Tragedy of the Commons.
Tourism, too, is an incredibly valuable part of this ecosystem—for one, this ecosystem is included in the Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge, which pays host to the Louisiana black bear and American alligator, for example, both listed as either endangered or threatened, but of course offers a far wider range of wildlife and vegetation than that alone. That in and of itself—not to mention the events it hosts alongside—is certainly a draw. It is apparent simply from a quick search of Lake Verret that all of the websites closely associated with it have been created with tourists in mind—hotel recommendations are not only an inevitability but make a frequent appearance. And, of course, these gestures are made in hopes of snagging tourism.
But humans are impacting the land in other ways, too—there is a large amount of agricultural land being established in the upper part of the watershed, which leaves the matter of agricultural runoff to consider and addresses the existence of phosphorous in the water at this point. Though the degree to which it exist does not seem to have any severe disadvantageous effects on the environment, and is not a relatively high-concern factor, it should certainly not be underestimated, for run-off due to pesticide use has impacted bodies of waters such as this worldwide. Dissolved oxygen, too, is a notable problem in the wetlands, in that there is simply not enough. This means that we are facing an overwhelming amount of organic materials—and that, while not at its most severe, could certainly play in an unhealthy status of the water, for the depletion of dissolved oxygen could leave many fish without adequate means of survival. This is believed to be the fault of the introduction of non-native species into the environment—and it certainly wouldn’t be the only time invasive species have put native ones in danger by creating a niche where before none existed. Lastly, the aforementioned sediment is of some concern, for as sediment increases the depth of the water is altered, and thus both flow and temperature follow, creating a new environment for which the organisms are not remotely adapted.
One of the most real dangers in the future of this ecosystem—and in fact in the future of all Louisiana swamps—is the problem of rising sea levels. Though there is much to be discovered about the exact responses of this particular ecosystem to flooding, and more studies to be done, it is clear that rising sea levels would have a decidedly negative impact upon the vegetation. The degree is varying depending upon the particular type of vegetation, of course, but never is there an observable positive impact—unsurprising, considering any alterations made to any ecosystem will threaten the adaptations created for those exact surroundings. Though cypress do have the ability to survive after flooding has begun, the eventual effect is of course unfavorable. Because they are relatively tolerant of flooding, a study showed that after spending a year in water greater than 120 cm deeper, 50% of the cypress die after four years. This is not a ground rule for all wetland cypress anywhere, but it is certainly indicative of the dangers for one of the most characteristic species of this ecosystem.
The problem is that rising tides are one of the most commonly expressed consequences of global warming—and that is a problem that, while a variety of policies have been implemented worldwide to attempt to combat, is both a very noteworthy and very hot topic problem of today. Things may be changing—we may be producing more fuel efficient cars, we may be establishing cap and trade systems in the world, but our carbon dioxide emission is still at disastrously high levels. This area, then, due to its proximity to sea level and the ease with which it can be flooded, is put in remarkable danger in the face of climate change.
Otherwise, it must be said that the state of Verret and Grassy Lake—as well as their surrounding ecosystems—is looking thoroughly positive. There are problems, yes, but the state of this refuge certainly to at least some degree sets an example for the monitoring and positive outcomes of other wildlife refuges. It seems at this point that the future prospects very much coincide with those of the present, for the refuge will likely continue to function as both a tourist attraction and as a remarkable place of affection for the locals all at once. Until a dangerous potential is realized—most likely at this point, one would imagine, as the rising sea levels, surging up to flood the ecosystem—this ecosystem indeed seems to be functioning quite fluidly. The only exception might indeed be the sediment build-up (which of course, ironically, produces the direct opposite effect of rising sea levels and produces a more shallow, warmer system) or perhaps rising oxygen depletion, each of which should at the very least be confronted and addressed.
In the future, care should continue to be taken in the matters of these recreational activities; no creature should be overhunted or overfished to the point in which there is ever any notable disparity in the population size from one year to the next. So far, the impact has been good and sustainable, so to continue in that direction would be ideal. At the very least, the water ought to be tested thoroughly for the status of pollutants within—phosphorous, often an indicator of agricultural runoff, and the amount of dissolved oxygen remaining, as well as the build-up of sediment. It is certainly possible to clean the water so as to remove these pollutants, and to do so before they become a violent liability would mean a preventative rather than reparative measure, which, to say the least, is certainly more cost-effective. Restrictions, similar to those that direct hunting and fishing, ought to be placed on agricultural and run-off, to limit the amount seeping into the waterways. Primarily, laws should work to prevent the polluting of the lakes, before anything becomes too far past the point of no return.
| TMDL Document Name | TMDL Date | TMDL Pollutant Description | TMDL Pollutant Source Type | Cause(s) of Impairment Addressed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Verret And Grassy Lake 120204 Do And Nutrients Tmdls | Sep-30-2008 | Nitrogen, Total | Nonpoint Source | Nutrients; Dissolved Oxygen; Phosphorus; Organic Enrichment/Low Dissolved Oxygen |
| Lake Verret And Grassy Lake 120204 Do And Nutrients Tmdls | Sep-30-2008 | Oxygen Demand | Point/Nonpoint Source | Organic Enrichment/Low Dissolved Oxygen; Dissolved Oxygen; Phosphorus; Nutrients |
| Lake Verret And Grassy Lake 120204 Do And Nutrients Tmdls | Sep-30-2008 | Phosphorus, Total | Nonpoint Source | Dissolved Oxygen; Organic Enrichment/Low Dissolved Oxygen; Nutrients; Phosphorus |
Sources:
Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuges
Wikipedia
Best Western
US Army Corps of Engineers
Coastal Impact Assistance Program
Fishing Louisiana
Rising Water Levels and the Future of Southeastern Louisiana Swamp Forests by William H. Conner and Michael Brody
Use Attainability Analysis for Barataria and Terrebone Basins
EPA: Watersgeo
Battles of the Civil War
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