Blackwater Conservation Area
The Story of Rebirth
Turning a Dirt Pit into Healthy Habitat
In the 1970's much of the park you are about to enter was mined as part of a commercial sand and gravel operation. Through this process the area was logged and stripped of its nutritious topsoil. The land that had once been a viable hardwood forest with baldcypress sloughs became inhospitable habitat.
Due to poor quality soil, a healthy plant community did not return. The barren site became inundated with non-native invasive plant species such as Chinese Tallow and Privet. Native populations of wood ducks and woodcocks disappeared along with other wildlife to find more hospitable habitat.
In 1998, the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge, the US Army Corps of Engineers and BREC partnered to restore the 57.5 acres of affected land under the authority of Section 206 of the 1996 Water Resources Development Act.
The Restoration included:
Creation of two lakes
Addition of lime, fertilizer, and mulch to the soil
Removal of exotic plant species
Development of terracing wetland cells
Creation of walking trails and parking area
Planting of trees representative of the original
forest
this page online
BREC continues to maintain the property with exotic species removals and native species plantings. Native wildlife populations have begun to return to the property which is well on its way to becoming a healthy, bottomland hardwood forest habitat.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Natural Features • Natural Resources.
Location. 30° 32.079′ N, 91° 5.24′ W. Marker is in Central, Louisiana, in East Baton Rouge Parish. Marker can be reached from Blackwater Road (State Road 410) north of Hooper Road (State Highway 408), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9385 Blackwater Road, Baton Rouge LA 70837, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Comite River (within shouting distance of this marker); Original 1931 Baton Rouge Airport Beacon (approx. 3.4 miles away); Parish of St. Alphonsus Liguori (approx. 3.8 miles away); Southern University (approx. 5.6 miles away); Camphor Memorial United Methodist Church (approx. 5.7 miles away); Baron Keith Jackson (approx. 6.1 miles away); Jacklyn Winfield (approx. 6.1 miles away); Isiah "Butch" Robertson (approx. 6.1 miles away).
Credits. This page was last revised on December 21, 2017. It was originally submitted on December 21, 2017, by Cajun Scrambler of Assumption, Louisiana. This page has been viewed 235 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 21, 2017.
