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Congress Approves $4 Million for Acquiring Lands within Cat Island

Baton Rouge, LA—October 17, 2001—Congress Approves $4 Million for Acquiring Lands Within Cat Island NWR Senators Breaux, Landrieu and Rep. Baker Helped Secure Funding for National Wildlife Refuge.

This afternoon, Oct 17, 2001, the House and Senate voted to approve the fiscal year 2002 funding bill for the Department of the Interior which includes the monies for (Red River) (Cat Island). The bill now goes to President Bush for his signature. Baton Rouge, LA-October 17, 2001. The Nature Conservancy, America's largest private conservation organization, today applauded congressional action to approve $4 million in federal funding through the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) for the purpose of acquiring lands within Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge.

"The Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge is a national treasure, and Congress is to be applauded for providing significant funds to help acquire lands within its boundaries" said Dr. Keith Ouchley, the Conservancy's Louisiana Director. "This Refuge, which The Nature Conservancy helped to establish, has the potential to be a hub for a variety of recreational users."

Ouchley thanked in particular Senators Mary Landrieu and John Breaux and Congressman Richard Baker for their help in securing funding for the project. "All three members were effective advocates for getting this impressive amount of funding for the Refuge," he said.

Members of the Louisiana congressional delegation were also quick to praise this investment by the Congress in conservation:

"Cat Island is not only a national treasure and local landmark; it is also home to much of Louisiana's unique wildlife," said Senator Breaux. "It is vital that Louisiana preserve this natural refuge for both its recreational opportunities and its rare natural beauty. West Feliciana Parish and Louisiana are proud to be home to Cat Island, and I applaud the Nature Conservancy for working with the Fish and Wildlife Service to help safeguard this great refuge for Louisiana and our residents."

"Protecting Cat Island for future generations is a fitting birthday present for one of Louisiana's natural treasures," said Senator Landrieu referring to the first birthday of the designation of Cat Island as a National Wildlife Refuge on October 27. "The Louisiana chapter of The Nature Conservancy and the national organization helped make the refuge a reality."

"For more than two years Cat Island has been my top environmental priority, leading to passage last year of my bill creating the Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge and authorization of federal funding to establish it," said Congressman Baker. "Today I am proud to say that the Louisiana congressional delegation is coming through with those funds. I can think of no better way for us to teach our children about the importance of the environment. The impact this refuge will have on education and research will be tremendous. Elementary and secondary school students will have the opportunity to learn firsthand and see conservation in action, while students at Louisiana State University and Southern University will have the opportunity to contribute greatly to research and preservation efforts."

Cat Island is actually a peninsula of land that extends into the Mississippi River. It is one of the few remaining unleveed sections of floodplain along the lower Mississippi River and remains influenced by the natural flooding of the river. It contains the best remaining example of old-growth bald cypress forest in the state, if not the entire Mississippi Valley, and includes the world's largest bald cypress tree. Numerous sloughs and lakes formed by the meanders of the river around Cat Island provide excellent habitat for waterfowl and also serve as a home to alligators, otter, mink and a host of other species. "The close proximity of the Refuge to Baton Rouge and New Orleans makes it an accessible wilderness for hunting, fishing and other recreational activities, and provides West Feliciana Parish a platform for developing an ecotourism industry," noted Ouchley.

The Nature Conservancy has played a major role in the development of Cat Island National Refuge. Last year, the Conservancy acquired the 9,500 acre core area of Cat Island from the Timber Company, a subsidiary of Georgia Pacific, and resold 9,000 acres to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Conservancy will retain the other 500 acres as a preserve. Additionally, the Conservancy has committed to underwrite the first three years of operation and maintenance costs associated with the Refuge, up to $250,000.

Funding for the expansion of the Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge comes from proceeds of the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The Land and Water Conservation Fund allocates royalties paid by private companies for the privilege of developing offshore oil and gas resources for targeted investments in open space protection and outdoor recreation.