Big Branch Marsh
National Wildlife Refuge

Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge was formed in 1994. It is comprised of 15,000 acres of pine flatwoods, oak rides and coastal marsh. This diverse habitat is a wonderful example of the natural coastline of Lake Pontchartrain surrounded by fast developing communities.

DIRECTIONS TO REFUGE: Take Highway 434 south from I-12 in Lacombe, LA, to the lake or turn east off of 434 onto Highway 190 and drive 2.5 miles and turn south on Transmitter Road. Transmitter road ends at Bayou Paquet Rd., which runs through the refuge. Turn right and take your second left to get to Boy Scout Road, a main visitor use area.

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

ENDANGERED & THREATENED SPECIES ON THE REFUGE: Red-cockaded woodpecker, bald eagle and brown pelican

OTHER WILDLIFE SPECIES: Rabbit, turkey, various neo-tropical birds, deer, squirrel, migratory waterfowl, wading birds.

HABITAT DESCRIPTION: The refuge has unique habitat zones that contain diverse combinations of plant communities. These zones begin with the sandy beach fringing Lake Pontchartrain. Moving inland, the next zone is the brackish marsh. The third zone has a water level that is slightly below the marsh floor and the predominate plants are wiregrass and spike rush. The farthest inland plant zone is the upland zone and it consists of pine flatwoods and bottomland hardwood hammocks.

MANAGEMENT GOALS: Efforts are being taken to protect and manage habitat for the future through preservation, enhancement, and restoration of this valuable wetland and pine flatwood ecosystem.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC USE: Environmental education, birding, fishing, hunting, biking, hiking, photography and canoeing.

HURRICANE DAMAGE:

The facilities at Big Branch Marsh NWR were damaged by Hurricane Katrina. The Boy Scout Road Trail boardwalk was destroyed but a new and improved boardwalk was built in early 2007. The other facilities on the refuge have been repaired or rebuilt. Sections of marsh vegetation were damaged and thousands of trees were destroyed or damaged. We planted trees on the refuge in 2006, 2007, and 2008. A marsh restoration project is scheduled for 2008 in the Goose Point and Point Platte areas and Christmas tree fences have been placed in some areas of the marsh. Discarded Christmas trees placed in these fences slow wave action, trap sediments, and combat erosion.

The new Boy Scout Road Boardwalk offers excellent views of the pine flatwoods, fresh marsh and Cypress Bayou.       © Tom Carlisle

Big Branch Marsh NWR has a variety of habitat including this freshwater marsh.         © Tom Carlisle