FRI-FS-01: Exploring the Atchafalaya Basin: History, Conservation, and Restoration

Field Session Leader(s)

• 

  Bryan Piazza

  Dr. Bryan Piazza
  The Nature Conservancy
  Baton Rouge, Louisiana
• 

  Justin K. Lemoine, ASLA, PLA

  Executive Director
  Atchafalaya National Heritage Area
  Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Field Session Presenter(s)

• 

  Kevin Hanegan, PhD, PE (he/him/his)

  Coastal Engineer
  Moffatt & Nichol
  New Orleans, Louisiana

Atchafalaya Basin, Courtesy of Justin Lemoine, Atchafalaya National Heritage Area

Journey into America’s largest river swamp—the Atchafalaya Basin. From the heart of the Basin, explore this million-acre wonder where culture, ecology, and innovation converge. Join experts for an immersive boat tour showcasing restoration efforts transforming Louisiana’s last growing delta while preserving its biodiversity.

Experience an exclusive, hands-on field session—limited to just 23 participants. Includes transportation, boat tour, and catered lunch.

Accessibility: A portion of this session takes place on a boat and is not wheelchair accessible, which may present challenges for attendees with mobility limitations.

Learning Outcomes:

• Identify key historical and ecological features of the Atchafalaya Basin and their significance to regional biodiversity.
• Analyze current restoration strategies employed in the basin and their impact on sustainability and resilience.
• Evaluate approaches to working with local communities on cultivating a culture of restoration.
• Develop practical insights for applying lessons from the Atchafalaya Basin to other landscape architecture and restoration projects.