JOINT INFORMATION CENTER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 12, 2008

Department of Wildlife and Fisheries News Update

LDWF WILDLIFE DIVISION REPORTS ON HURRICANE GUSTAV IMPACTS

Baton Rouge - Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) biologists report forest and marshland damage and scattered instances of flooding caused by Hurricane Gustav's Sept. 1 landfall.

The preliminary assessment focuses on department-owned properties and is based on air and ground surveys conducted by LDWF Wildlife Division personnel between Sept. 5 and 10. The report includes waterfowl habitat assessments across the state's coastal zone from the Texas state line to the mouth of the Mississippi River and aerial coverage of Catahoula Lake.

Among the report findings, Attakapas Wildlife Management Area (WMA), within Iberia, St. Martin and St. Mary parishes, received heavy damage to black willow stands. Higher than normal water and localized fl! ooding was noted in Maurepas Swamp WMA in St. John the Baptist Parish.

Red River/Three Rivers WMAs in Concordia experienced low to moderate tree line damage on batture areas along the Mississippi River. Heavy flooding was noted on Russell Sage, Ouachita and Boeuf WMAs from rains that raised water levels in the Boeuf River and Bayou LaFourche. Those three WMAs include state-owned acres in Ouachita and Caldwell parishes.

The complete report is available at www.wlf.louisiana.gov and can be accessed via the Hurricane Preparation and Response banner under the link titled "Preliminary Impacts to Wildlife Resources from Hurricane Gustav."

For the latest information on Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, you can visit emergency.louisiana.gov or call the state's emergency hotline at 1-866-288-2484 to listen to a recorded message with the most up-to-date information.

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