Hundreds of sea oat plants bent in the breeze on a sandy beach as LSU AgCenter researchers walked among them, looking for plants with potential to help stem erosion on Louisiana’s Gulf Coast.

Members serving in Southwest LA for 2008

2008 AWCC Members serving in North Louisiana

Members serving in Southeast LA for 2008

AWCC Members need volunteers to help plant marsh grass in Cameron Parish

The AWCC is made up of 18 AmeriCorps members working throughout Louisiana (from Caddo to Lafourche Parish) to promote wetland conservation and environmental awareness through volunteerism and outreach education.

DNA technology finds practical ways to help establish genetically diversed vegetation to restore Louisiana’s wetlands.

Marsh Maneuvers may sound like a covert operation – particularly since it involves a group of hand-picked high school students spending five days on a private island.

An AWCC member led a team to install wood duck boxes along the Vermillion River.

The use of a constructed wetland to improve effluent water quality is a potentially valuable tool for agriculture in Louisiana.

Teaching students to be aware of the environment is the first step to their actively becoming environmental stewards. And during the LSU AgCenter’s second annual Youth Wetlands Week, March 31-April 4, more than 55,000 Louisiana students in grades fourth through 12th, some in every parish, will be taking that first step.

The AWCC AmeriCorps program is looking for extra volunteers to help with a tree planting project at Nibblets Bluff State Park in Vinton, LA.

The AWCC, the Vermillion Chapter of Delta Waterfowl, the LSU AgCenter, and the Abbeville High School Industrial Arts Dept. have teamed up to construct and place wood duck boxes along Vermilion and are looking for volunteers to assist in the project.

(Distributed 01/22/08) Although only about 140 miles long, the Atchafalaya River is the fifth-largest ocean-discharging river in North America, said Dr. Andy Nyman, associate professor of wetland wildlife management in the LSU AgCenter’s School of Renewable Natural Resources.

(TV News, 1/14/08) Coastal plants are one weapon in the war against coastal erosion. A team of researchers with the LSU AgCenter is breeding grasses that are helping to rebuild disappearing marshlands. (Runtime 1 minute, 59 seconds)

This document provides a synoptic overview of this 40-year-old navigation channel from project inception through modern day. Economic and environmental impacts related to the MRGO are documented for St. Bernard Parish and potential restoration scenarios are described. Additional information is provided on the time and financial resources required to fully address the environmental degradation caused by the MRGO.

One of the biggest questions that has arisen in recent years involves the apparent disparity in federal restoration funding provided for the Florida Everglades versus that provided for coastal Louisiana. This document uses published reports and secondary data to develop a parallel comparison of Florida and Louisiana wetlands at the state, regional, program and resource levels.

An historical overview of Louisiana fisheries in the context of pre- and post-levee construction on the Mississippi River. Data from the Caernarvon Freshwater Diversion is used to describe the relationship between freshwater re-introduction and estuarine fisheries productivity. The report characterizes the conflict between Louisiana’s short-term and long-term goals of coastal restoration and coastal fisheries management.

More than 75% of Louisiana’s coastal wetlands are privately owned, yet the majority of restoration funding provided through federal and state initiatives is directed toward large-scale, public restoration projects. This report compares and contrasts the programmatic and economic aspects of the coastal and inland models of wetland restoration that have evolved in Louisiana over the past decade.

State 4-H members that qualified (in own specific category) for the state level made it to 4-H University.

In an effort to stem the relentless erosion of Louisiana's coastal wetlands, researchers at the LSU AgCenter are applying proven plant breeding and genetic techniques to improve native marsh plants that can withstand the troublesome coastal environment.

The AWCC AmeriCorps Program is always looking for individuals that are willing to serve for 11 months and give back to their communities. If you are interested in becoming part of the program, feel free to download the more detailed "AWCC Position Description" and/or the "AWCC AmeriCorps Member Year 1 Application."

The America’s Wetland Conservation Corps is leading a team to help pick up litter as part of the Lake Pontchartrain Beach Sweep.

Get involved and volunteer to help the America's Wetland Conservation Corps create wetland habitat in Lafitte, Louisiana, on September 8th.

The America's WETLAND Foundation through the Campaign is raising awareness of the impact of Louisiana's wetland loss and increase support for efforts to conserve and save coastal Louisiana.

AmeriCorps is a network of local, state, and national service programs that connects more than 70,000 Americans each year in intensive service to meet our country’s critical needs in education, public safety, health, and the environment.

On August 4th, 2007, the AWCC and a group of community volunteers gathered in Lafitte, LA to help plant marsh grass on newly constrcted terraces.

Louisiana’s coastal wetland forests are of tremendous economic, ecological, cultural and recreational value. But many acres of these forests have disappeared over the past century, and many more are being degraded or lost each year.

AWCC members participated in a restoration planting event at Rockefeller Refuge on May 18th. The members planted a half mile stretch of canal bank with Spartina Alterniflora to help stabalize the bank and minimize erosion.

Teach the young about the value of Louisiana’s coastline and marshes, and they’ve learned a lesson for a lifetime. That’s the philosophy behind the LSU AgCenter’s annual series of Marsh Maneuvers camps. They’re unique opportunities to mix fun with education – and in the end, help save our coast.

Scientists from the LSU AgCenter this week started planting grass as the first step in a research project designed to evaluate its ability to protect earthen levees on the Gulf Coast. The plant, which already is used widely for erosion control and is known to have some repellent qualities to termites, is vetiver grass.

There are two performances open to the public. They are taking palce at Chalmette High School, located at 100 East Judge Perez Drive, Chalmette, LA. at 1:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m on July 14th.

AWCC members attended wetland training at Rockefeller Refuge from May 16 to 18th, 2007.

America's Wetland Conservation Corps members will be assisting at Camp Azzie, a camp for children with asthma. The camp runs from July 15 to July 19, 2007.

Regional increases in flooding are likely to reduce the productivity of baldcypress-water tupelo swamps in coastal Louisiana. Although these trees are merchantable for lumber production, it will be important to design appropriate management plans for these sites.

Louisiana accounts for 80 percent of the nation's coastal wetland loss. Simply put, a large proportion of Louisiana acreage is wetland. Much of the state's economy depends upon wetlands. Find information on causes of wetland loss, definitions of wetlands and wetland functions and values.

LSU AgCenter coastal resources agent Mark Shirley had hoped to bring a group of students back to a plot near Holly Beach where they had planted marsh grass during the 4-H Marsh Maneuvers program in July. But, after driving for several miles on La. 82 between Holly Beach and Johnson’s Bayou last weekend, Shirley gave up on his hope to find the transplanted grass, which apparently fell victim to Hurricane Rita’s wrath.