Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1990.  It's 23,000 acres of fresh and brackish marshes, all within the city limits of New Orleans, make it the nation's largest urban wildlife refuge.  Bayou Sauvage is only 15 minutes from the French Quarter.  Most of the refuge is inside massive hurricane protection levees, built to hold back storm surges and maintain water levels in the low-lying city.

An enormous wading bird rookery can be found in the swamps of the refuge from May until July, while tens of thousands of waterfowl winter in its bountiful marshes.

DIRECTIONS TO REFUGE:

From Slidell: Take I-10 west; take Irish Bayou exit #254; turn left onto hwy. 11, go 6 miles to hwy. 90; turn right and go approximately 2 miles.

From New Orleans: Take I-10 east to exit #246A (Chalmette, I-510); go about 2 miles on I-510 to hwy. 90 east exit; turn left and go approximately 4 miles.

For contact information, see the About Us page of the Southeast Louisiana Refuges.

ENDANGERED & THREATENED SPECIES ON THE REFUGE:

The brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) is listed as an endangered species and is a year-round resident of southeast Louisiana. The number of nesting brown pelicans has substantially increased despite loss of nesting habitat. Brown pelicans are frequent users of the refuge.

The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is listed as a threatened species. Several bald eagles visit the refuge each year.

OTHER WILDLIFE SPECIES:

Waterfowl, wading birds, shorebirds, marsh rabbits, white pelicans, alligators, and other raptors, game and small mammals, reptiles and amphibians

HABITAT DESCRIPTION:

The refuge contains a variety of different habitats, including freshwater and brackish marshes, bottomland hardwood forests, lagoons, canals, borrow pits, chenieres (former beach fronts) and natural bayous. The marshes along Lakes Pontchartrain and Borgne serve as estuarine nurseries for various fish species, crabs and shrimp. Freshwater lagoons, bayous and ponds serve as production areas for largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish. The diverse habitats meet the needs of 340 bird species during various seasons of the year. Peak waterfowl populations of 75,000 use the wetland areas during the fall, winter, and early spring months.

MANAGEMENT GOALS:

Habitat preservation through water and moist soil management, archaeological resource protection, cypress reforestation, endangered species management, waterfowl management, environmental education and promotion of recreational programs

OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC USE:

Bayou Sauvage NWR has enormous public use potential because: (1) it is located 16 miles from downtown New Orleans; (2) over one million people live within 10 miles of the refuge; (3) there is access to the refuge via three major highways; (4) the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway traverses the refuge.

HURRICANE DAMAGE: Hurricane Katrina damaged some of the facilities at Bayou Sauvage NWR. Some of them have been or will be repaired or replaced.

The swamp tours have been discontinued. The Ridge Trail boardwalk was severely damaged and it will be rebuilt and reopened in 2007. We will conduct extensive clearing and replanting near the Ridge Trail boardwalk. The bikeway is closed until further notice.

The flooding from the hurricane allowed saltwater to enter freshwater areas of the refuge and it will take time for these areas to recover. There was also wind damage to many trees. Tree planting and marsh plantings will be conducted to help in the restoration process.

Thousands of wading birds, shore birds and migratory waterfowl use Bayou Sauvage NWR.   © Tom Carlisle