THE BAYOU ST. JOHN URBAN MARSH - NEW ORLEANS, LA.

Dr. John Lopez

January 20, 2016

BAYOU ST. JOHN LOCATION

Elements of Bayou St. John Restoration

Removal of dam & culverts near the Greek Church.

Marsh creation

Increase water exchange with dredging of channel to Lake

Increase water exchange and recruitment through sector gate openings.

PROJECT TO IMPROVE BAYOU HEALTH

Remove defunct flood control structure

Open Sector Gates more often to allow flow into the bayou

Dredge channel to increase flow into the Bayou

Create wetlands using dredge material

June 2013 start dredging of channel

July/August 2013 built retaining wall for wetlands

Oct/Nov 2013 dredge fill for wetlands

Dec 2013 1st planting with Gulfsaver bags

May 2014 Final grade and main planting

June 2014 1st marsh monitoring

Nov 2014 to June 2015 Seven test openings of floodgate with environmental monitoring

TIMELINE

BAYOU ST. JOHN WETLAND CREATION PROJECT

Natural Species Collected from City Park Lakes and Lagoons and Bayou St. John

Species City Park Lakes and Lagoons Bayou St. John Spawn?

Atractosteus spatula Alligator Gar X Y

Lepisosteus oculatus Spotted Gar X X Y

Lepisosteus osseus Longnose Gar X Y

Elops saurus Ladyfish X N

Anguilla rostrata American Eel X X N

Anchoa mitchilli Bay Anchovy X M

Brevoortia patronus Gulf Menhaden X N

Dorosoma cepedianum Gizzard Shad X X Y

Dorosoma petenense Threadfin Shad X X Y

Ictiobus bubalus Smallmouth Buffalo X M

Ameiurus natalis Yellow Bullhead X X M

Ictalurus furcatus Blue Catfish X Y

Ictalurus punctatus Channel Catfish X Y

Mugil cephalus Striped Mullet X X N

Menidia beryllina Inland Silverside X X Y

Strongylura marina Atlantic Needlefish X X M

Adinia xenica Diamond Killifish X Y

Fundulus chrysotus Golden Topminnow X Y

Fundulus grandis Gulf Killifish X X Y

Fundulus majalis Striped Killifish X Y

Lucania parva Rainwater Killifish X X Y

Gambusia affinis Western Mosquitofish X X Y

Heterandria formosa Least Killifish X X Y

Poecilia latipinna Sailfin Molly X X Y

Cyprinodon variegatus Sheepshead Minnow X X Y

Syngnathus scovelli Gulf Pipefish X X Y

Herichthys cyanoguttatus Rio Grande Cichlid X X Y

Morone mississippiensis Yellow Bass X X Y

Lepomis cyanellus Green Sunfish X Y

Lepomis gulosus Warmouth Sunfish X X Y

Lepomis macrochirus Bluegill Sunfish X X Y

Lepomis microlophus Redear Sunfish X X Y

Lepomis miniatus Redspotted Sunfish X X Y

Lepomis symmetricus Bantam Sunfish X Y

Micropterus salmoides Largemouth Bass X X Y

Pomoxis nigromaculatus Black Crappie X Y

Lagodon rhomboides Pinfish X N

Cynoscion nebulosus Spotted Seatrout X N

Leiostomus xanthurus Spot X N

Sciaenops ocellatus Red Drum X N

Cyuprinus carpio Common Carp X X Y

Hypsoblennius ionthas Freckled Blenny X M

Dormitator maculatus Fat Sleeper X M

Ctenogobius shufeldti Freshwater Goby X X M

Gobiosoma bosc Naked Goby X X Y

Microgobius gulosus Clown Goby X Y

Trinectes maculatus Hogchocker X M

Oligoplites saurus Leatherjack X N

45 years of data from multiple sources

48 species of finfish

Based on life history traits

31 can spawn in BSJ or City Park Lagoons

8 might be able to spawn in BSJ or City Park Lagoons

9 cannot spawn in BSJ or City Park Lagoons

BIOLOGICAL SUMMARY

Common Spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) Gulf Menhaden (Brevoortia patronus) Ladyfish (Elops saurus) Striped Mullet (Mugil cephalus)

Uncommon or Rare Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) Spotted Seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) American Eel (Anguilla rostrata) Pinfish (Lagodon rhoboides) Leatherjack (Oligoplites saurus)

Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus) ? Black Drum (Pogonias cromis) ? Sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus) ?

UNABLE TO SPAWN

BAYOU ST. JOHN LOCATION

2 to 4 ppt

0 to 2 ppt

Continue monitoring

Add interpretive signage

Start a “School of Marsh” program for school children

Get the site added as a hotspot of ebird.org for bird usage data

Enhanced bird habitat

Enhanced fishing

FUTURE OF BAYOU ST. JOHN URBAN MARSH PROJECT