The Louisiana Coast: Guide to an American Wetland

5. Coastal Vistas: Human Activities

F or many people—local residents and visitors, city and country dwellers—the coast’s fertile blending of land and water is rest for the weary, excitement for the adventure seeker, food for the table, and balm for the soul. Human use of louisiana’s “working wetland” has for generations incorporated both the harvest and appreciation of wetland wildlife, as well as other resourcerelated activities like cattle ranching, oil and gas extraction, and water management. this chapter describes some of the more visible human activities of the coastal zone. it anticipates and answers questions like “what is that person doing?” “what is that thing used for?” and “why is this here?” it also offers insight into aspects of wetland culture that may be less evident to a traveler but are a part of everyday life for people who live and work along the coast. Recreational activities include pastimes like fishing, hunting, birding, and nature photography that enrich the lives of area residents and attract visitors to the region. While participants do not seek financial gain for their efforts, these recreational activities nonetheless are an important part of local and regional economies, for participants may spend considerable sums for equipment, fuel, food, lodging , guiding, and additional services. commercial activities, of course, also benefit the area’s economies and individuals and heavily influence the cultural landscapes of coastal louisiana . today these landscapes bear the imprint of human activities such as oil and gas exploration, production, and support services; waterborne commerce ; cattle grazing; and wildlife and fisheries harvest. in addition to recreational and commercial activities, research and conservation-related activities take place here, for the louisiana coast is a valuable resource that scholars and scientists have long deemed worthy of study, protection, and proper stewardship . Protecting and caring for the coast are not easy, however, for these tasks involve reconciling the conflictchapter 5 Coastal Vistas Human Activities 100 chapter 5 ing interests and viewpoints of a variety of wetland users. all wetland activities—recreational , commercial, and research/ conservation—have one thing in common: they are dependent on the presence of healthy wetlands. as coastal land loss takes its toll on wetland acreage, these activities, along with the economies and cultures linked to them, become as vulnerable as the soil, vegetation, and wildlife that constitute louisiana’s swamps and marshes. if the activities are to survive, so too must the habitats and resources on which they depend. People, Wildlife, and Wetlands the following photographs depict seasonal activities in the coastal wetlands and waters as they progress through spring, summer, fall, and winter. Many of these activities are linked to peoples’ use of wildlife and are influenced by the growth cycle and movements of species. Yearround pursuits, including mineral extraction, livestock ranching, and wildlife management, follow the seasonal vistas. the photos conclude with some examples of watercraft that make coastal resources more accessible to recreational and commercial users. In late winter and early spring, as the days lengthen and warm, crawfish emerge from their burrows and begin to grow. Rice and crawfish farmers accordingly set wire mesh traps in their fields, which they often flood after the rice harvest in order to attract waterfowl. A variety of other birds, including herons, egrets, ibises, and many shorebird species, also use these “agricultural wetlands.” Here a great egret hunts among crawfish traps in a flooded rice field in Vermilion Parish. Coastal Vistas: Human Activities 101 Coastal Vistas: Human Activities 101 As early as the 1700s, the Houma—a southeast Louisiana tribe of Native Americans—used the crawfish as its emblem. Today the crawfish image is displayed throughout the southern part of the state and serves as a symbol of Cajun and coastal culture and identity. This restaurant in Lake Arthur, just north of the Chenier Plain, advertises both its style of cooking and a featured item on its menu. 102 chapter 5 Observing birds brings pleasure to thousands of nature enthusiasts, many of whom come from other states and foreign countries to observe the spectacle of spring migration in coastal Louisiana. From mid-March through mid-May, as birds flow through the state’s forests and wetlands on their way to northern breeding areas, many are in colorful plumage and stand out among the green of new leaves, including those surrounding live oaks on Little Pecan Island. Birders often return to the coast later in the year to observe fall migration and wintering waterfowl. With...