Photo Courtesy E.J. Plaisance

Capt. E.J. Plaisance is one of the many anglers who have been running up to Lake Salvador to catch bass, redfish and speckled trout.

Dear Capt. Paul:

Where are the Lake Salvador Christmas Trees?

Thanks, Tom

Unfortunately, there is no one location where the Christmas trees were placed along the shoreline. It is reported that they have placed more than 30,000 such trees in Southeast Louisiana alone.

The trees are encased within a wooden or wire fence that is supposed to hold them in place along the shoreline and in bays as a brush fence.

I suggest you check out the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources at dnr.louisiana.gov/sec/execdiv/pubinfo/newsr/2005/1222sec-christmas-tree-history-details.pdf.

Here’s some info from the site that discusses how the brush fences work:

“The primary goal of brush fences is to slow fetch and trap sediments. They function by reducing wave energies, while allowing the movement of water and sediments by not being a solid barrier.

“Brush fence enclosures are constructed out of wood and filled with clean, discarded Christmas trees. String or rope is attached to the top of the brush fences after the Christmas trees are placed to prevent them from floating away. Brush fences are most effective in lower wave action areas where the water depths are shallower than two feet.”

Another source is the USGS at http://soundwaves.usgs.gov/2008/10/research.html.

As for the Lake Salvador area, I believe they started placing the trees as sediment trappers along the northwest section of the lake from the Bayou Des Allemands area north toward the Bois Chactas Shell Bank area.

I have not ventured in that area since Katrina, but was told they plan to extend the Christmas tree brush fences along most of the lake.

There are similar projects in other parts of St. Charles, Jefferson, St. Tammany and Plaquemines parishes.

Usually there is an announcement during the Christmas season on where and how to participate in the project.