Property along Bayou Bartholomew abuts Chemin-A-Haut State Park, offers fishing and hunting opportunites.
A 247-acre tract of land purchased from The Nature Conservancy for $300,000 will become a state conservation area dedicated to outdoor recreation, including hunting and fishing, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries reported today. The property, located on Bayou Bartholomew in Morehouse Parish adjacent to Chemin-A-Haut State Park, will be named the Ben Lily Conservation Area, the LDWF said.
Ben Lily was a legendary outdoorsman who guided President Theodore Roosevelt during a Louisiana big-game hunting trip in 1907. “This is another step in our effort to provide quality outdoor experiences in every corner of the state,” LDWF Secretary Robert Barham said. “We appreciate the cooperative efforts of The Nature Conservancy and their long-term commitment to protecting the natural resources of our state.” When site improvements are complete, the conservation area will provide opportunities for canoeing, kayaking, birdwatching, hiking, nature photography, fishing and seasonal hunting.
An access road and boat launch are planned for 2014. The property was acquired with LDWF land-acquisition funds.
The Nature Conservancy bought the property in 2009, initiated a reforestation program on approximately 143 acres of the property the following year. The tract’s appraised value is $495,000, the LDWF said. ”This project has been a great example of a successful public-private partnership,” said Keith Ouchley, Louisiana state director for The Nature Conservancy. “Our efforts have resulted in the protection and restoration of a strategically important parcel of land, while also contributing to LDWF’s mission of providing high-quality outdoor recreation opportunities.
“The Conservancy was able to generate private-sector funding to support the project and also received significant surface-use concessions from New Century Resources, which holds the mineral lease, and for that we are especially thankful.” The acreage contains a variety of habitats, including mature bottomland hardwoods and approximately three miles of frontage along Bayou Bartholomew — which is protected by the Louisiana Scenic Rivers Act. Bayou Bartholomew contains the highest fish and mussel diversity in the state and forested land along the bayou provides critical buffer for water quality.
