Killian Bayou

The Killian Bayou Mitigation Site focuses on enhancing, preserving, reestablishing, and rehabilitating bottomland hardwood (BLH) forests within the Lake Pontchartrain LRAM Basin. BLH forests are fluctuating water level ecosystems maintained by natural cycles of wet and dry periods. These systems support diverse plant and animal communities that depend on specific landforms, soils, and hydrologic conditions. They also play a vital role in improving water quality, regulating floodwaters, and providing habitats that are productive for fish and wildlife.

The project’s goals are to enhance native vegetation, restore natural topography and hydrology, strengthen biogeochemical processes, improve sediment retention, reduce nonpoint source pollution, and expand wildlife habitat. Ultimately, the project aims to establish a self-sustaining BLH ecosystem that is both resilient and resistant to natural disturbances, while maintaining the function and water quality of the aquatic ecosystem within the catchment.