Atchafalaya: America’s Largest River Basin Swamp

10/1/2026 | 26m 13sVideo has Closed Captions

The 1977 C.C. Lockwood 16-mm film has been re-mastered.

10/1/2026

Atchafalaya: America’s Largest River Basin Swamp

10/1/2026 | 26m 13sVideo has Closed Captions

The 1977 C.C. Lockwood 16-mm film has been re-mastered.

The 1977 C.C. Lockwood 16-mm film has been re-mastered. Lockwood, then a student at LSU and working with a coalition of environmental groups, crawfishermen, hunters and swamp dwellers, made this movie that caught the attention of National Geographic and helped turn the tide in stopping development of the Atchafalaya Basin.

10/1/2026

Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback

Atchafalaya: America’s Largest River Basin Swamp is a local public television program presented by LPB

Atchafalaya: America’s Largest River Basin Swamp

10/1/2026 | 26m 13sVideo has Closed Captions

10/1/2026

Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback

Genre

Culture

Share This Video

Embed Video
Atchafalaya: America’s Largest River Basin Swamp
Atchafalaya: America’s Largest River Basin Swamp
S2026 EpNaN
Fixed iFrame
Width: in pixelsHeight: in pixels
Responsive iFrame

Where to Watch Atchafalaya: America’s Largest River Basin Swamp

Atchafalaya: America’s Largest River Basin Swamp is available to stream on pbs.org and the PBS app.

Open in new tab

>>> WINTER. SPRING. SUMMER. FALL. THE SEASONAL WATER REGIME IS CRUCIAL TO THE WILDLIFE OF THE RIVER BASIN SWAMP ♪ >>> ATCHAFALAYA, AMERICA'S LARGEST RIVER BASIN SWAMP. >> 41 PERCENT OF AMERICA'S WATER HAS FLOWED DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER BASIN. FROM THE SMALLEST TRICKLE TO THE MIGHTIEST RIVER, THIS SYSTEM DRAINS TWO-THIRDS OF THE UNITED STATES. IT'S MULTITUDE OF TRIBUTARIES, EXTEND THEIR ARMS INTO 31 STATES, AND TWO CANADIAN PROVINCE. FOR GENERATIONS THE MISSISSIPPI OVERFLOWED THE BANKS EVERYBODY SPRING. AND FED BACK WATER SWAMPS WITH NUTRIENT RICH WATERS. BUT MAN FOR NAVIGATION STRAIGHTENED THE RIVER. HE BOOTED LEVEES SO HE COULD FARM THE LAND THAT WAS ONCE SWAMP. TO CLEAR THIS LAND AND TO BUILD HIS HOUSES, MAN CUT THE TREES ALONG THE TRIBUTARIES AND HE CONTINUED TO DEVELOP THE LAND ALONG THE RIVER WITH NO THOUGHT OF THE FUTURE. THE LAND WAS OVERFARMED. THE TREES WERE OVERCUT. THEM THE LAND FAILED TO HOLD RAINWATER. THE RESULT, EROSION. AND MAN WHO HAD BUILT HIS FARMS AND HOUSES BEHIND THE LEVEE HAD TO FACE THE RISING WATER. IN 1927, A DISASTROUS FLOOD PROVED THAT THE LEVEE SYSTEM WAS NOT ENOUGH TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE WHO HAD FOOLISHLY BUILT IN THE FLOOD PLAIN. THE ATCHAFALAYA BASIN AND SOUTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA OFFERED A SOLUTION, LEVEES WERE PUT UP AROUND NORTH AMERICA'S LARGEST RIVER BASIN SWAMP, TO BUILD A FLOODWAY. FROM ITS JUNCTION, WITH THE MISSISSIPPI, THE ATCHAFALAYA FLOWS 130 MILES TO THE COAST. HERE AT THE CONTROL STRUCTURE, ABOUT 30% OF THE MISSISSIPPI POURS INTO THE ATCHAFALAYA RIVER. TO MAKE IT THE MISSISSIPPI'S LARGEST TRIBUTARY, SINCE THE BASIN IS NEEDED AS A FLOOD OUTLET, TO PROTECT NEW ORLEANS DURING HIGH WATER YEARS, IT IS ALSO A PERFECT PLACE TO KEEP UNDEVELOPED THE THREAT OF FLOODING AND THE PAYMENT OF FLOWAGE EASEMENTS HAS NOT STOPPED THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MOGANZA FLOODWAY, THE NORTHEAST PART OF THE ATCHAFALAYA BASIN. HOMES AND FARMS HERE HAVE TAKEN MUCH AWAY FROM THE PRODUCTIVE WETLAND BUT TO THE SOUTH LIES A MASS HILL OF 1,400,000 ACRES OF UNDEVELOPED HARDWOOD BOTTOM LAND, CYPRUS SWAMP AND COASTAL MARSHLAND. IF MAN CAN LEAVE THIS LAND, AS A FLOODWAY, WET, WILD, AND FREE, OUR PRODUCTIVE ANIMAL KINGDOM WILL REMAIN FOREVER. THE SLEEK RIVER OTTER CAN CONTINUE TO SEEK ITS AQUATIC PREY. FOR THE PREDATORS, LIKE THE RIVER OTTER, AND THE PREY, LIKE THE YELLOW CATFISH TO EXIST, MAN MUST UNDERSTAND THEIR ECO-SYSTEM FROM THE SMALLEST MICROSCOPIC PLANTS TO THE MAJESTIC WHITE TAILED DEER, ALL PLAY A VITAL ROLE. DURING THE FALL AND WINTER WHEN THE WATER LEVEL IS LOW, THE GRASS AND ANNUAL PLANTS HAVE A CHANCE TO GROW, WITH THE COMING OF THE YELLOW TOP, THE SPRING RAIN BEGIN. THE RESURRECTION FERN, AND EPIPHYTE OPENS AS THE RAIN CONTINUES TO FALL. DURING THE HEAVY SPRING RAIN, THEY CAN BLOOM FORTH IN A MATTER OF HOURS. THE COMING OF SPRING BRINGS THE CRAWFISH OUT OF THE FURROW. THE ANNUAL PLANTS ARE GROWING PROFUSELY, AND AS THE MISSISSIPPI PUSHES HER SNOW MELT AND RAINWATER FROM THE NORTH, INTO THE ATCHAFALAYA, THE YELLOW TOP IS SUBMERGED, PROVIDING FOOD FOR THE CRAWFISH OF THE BASIN. THERE ARE MILLIONS OF CRAWFISH HERE BECAUSE EACH FEMALE MUD BUG, AS THEY ARE SOMETIMES CALLED, CAN HAVE HUNDREDS OF OFFSPRING EACH YEAR. WHEN HATCHED, THE YOUNG CRAWFISH REMAIN UNDER HER TAIL. UNTIL THEY ARE BIG ENOUGH TO VENTURE OUT ON THEIR OWN. THIS ONE FORAGING FOR FOOD COULD BE IN DANGER. THE MOTHER CRAWFISH HAS MUCH TO CONTEND WITH IN RAISING HER MULTITUDE OF YOUNG. THE WARMETH PERCH IS ONE AMONG MANY THAT WOULD LIKE TO FEED ON THE YOUNG CRAWFISH. THE CRAWFISH IS ONE OF THE MOST ABUNDANT CREATURES IN THE SWAMP WATERS, BUT BY NO MEANS IS IT THE ONLY ONE IMPORTANT TO THE OVERALL LIFE CYCLE OF THE ATCHAFALAYA. THE DIVING BEATLE IS ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE UNDERWATER COMMUNITY. THE DAM ZELL FLY LARVAE, THE GRASS SHRIMP AND THE MOSQUITO SHRIMP ARE AMONGST OTHERS THAT PLAY A ROLE. IT ALL ADDS UP TO A DEPENDENCE ON ONE ANOTHER. FOR THE PREDATOR TO SURVIVE, IT MUST HAVE A PREY, AND THIS WALL LEADS RIGHT TO MAN HIMSELF. THE MASTER PREDATOR OF THIS PLANET. >> MY GOD, WHAT WAS THAT? >> I DON'T KNOW. IT SOUNDED LIKE AN ANTELOPE THERE. LET'S SEE IF WE CAN CALL HIM UP. [LAUGHTER] >> YOU DON'T SPEAK HIS LANGUAGE. >> WHAT HAPPENS TO A RIVER BASIN SWAMP WHEN A BAYOU IS CHANNELIZED? THE MOST OBVIOUS IS THE IMMEDIATE LOSS IN BEAUTY. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE ECOLOGY OF THE SWAMP AND THE DELICATE CHAIN OF LIFE? THE CRAWFISH, THE RIVER SHRIMP, THE WARMETH PERCH. PETER BUNCH, A FISHERMEN WHO LIVES IN THE ATCHAFALAYA, HAS A STRONG OPINION ON THE EFFECTS OF DREDGING. >> I LIVED MY WHOLE LIFE OUT HERE. LIVED MY WHOLE LIFE RIGHT HERE IN THIS ATCHAFALAYA BASIN. MADE MY LIVING OUT HERE WHEN I GREW UP, AND IT WAS, AND EVERY EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE. >> WHEN THE PEOPLE WAS RAISED OUT HERE, WHEN I WAS SMALL, MOST OF THE PEOPLE RAISED FAMILY RIGHT OUT OF THAT RIVER, DRINKING WATER OUT OF THAT RIVER. IT WAS MORE PURE THAN WHAT IT IS NOW. I UNDERSTAND THAT. WHERE WOULD YOU GO TO GET A GOOD DRINK OF WATER? YOU CAN'T GET THE RAINWATER. THAT'S POLLUTED IF, YOU GET A WELL, THAT HAS STUFF ON THE GROUND. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GET SOME. WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO GO TO GET PURE AIR? THE CLOSER YOU GET TO THE CITY OR THE TOWN, THAT'S THE WORSE IT GETS. THE FURTHER AWAY YOU GET, THAT'S THE BETTER IT GETS, BUT IT'S NOT WHAT YOU USED TO HAVE. IF WE CAN STOP WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW WE COULD ACCUMULATE SOME OF IT BACK. LIKE THE GAME, WE COULD ACCUMULATE THAT BACK BUT IF IT CONTINUES THE PACE, WE WILL NOT HAVE ANYTHING. WE AIN'T GOING TO HAVE ANYTHING. NOTHING BUT A CANAL GOING THROUGH THE BASIN. THAT'S ALL IT WILL BE THROUGH IT IF THEY DO WHAT THEY PLAN TO DO, STRAIGHTEN UP THAT CHANNEL AT THE ATCHAFALAYA, BIG IT DEEPER, AND THE BAYOUS HERE WITH THE FLOODGATES, IF IT RUINS THE CRAWFISH COMPLETELY AND THE FISHING, TOO, THERE WOULDN'T BE ANY HIGH WATERS OUT HERE. THIS PLACE IS NOT ANY GOOD WITHOUT HIGH WATERS. THE WATERS PUT THE CRAWFISH TO BREED AND CATCH THEM, TOO. SO YOU WOULD BE OUT, COMPLETELY OUT, AND THE FISHING WOULD BE OUT, IF THEY WOULD DO THAT. IT CAN RUIN THE ATCHAFALAYA BASIN COMPLETELY. >> BECAUSE OF THE ABUNDANT FISHERIES, THE ATCHAFALAYA IS ONE OF NORTH AMERICA'S MOST IMPORTANT BIRD HABITATS. YOUNG NIGHT HERRONS WAIT IN THEIR NESTS WHILE MOTHER GOES IN SEARCH FOR FOOD. THIS TIME, A CRAWFISH. EVEN AS ANIMALS, LIKE THE LARGE MOUTH BASS, RACOONS, AND NIGHT HERRONS, CONSUME UNCOUNTED TONS OF CRAWFISH. MAN, THROUGH COMMERCIAL AND SPORT FISHING, BRINGS IN A CATCH OF UP TO 10 MILLION POUNDS PER YEAR FROM THE ATCHAFALAYA. DELICIOUS DELICACIES FOR A LOUISIANA CRAWFISH BOIL ♪ CRAWFISH, CRAWFISH ♪ ♪ ♪ >> IN ORDER FOR A ALARMING LAND MAMMAL TO LIVE IN A SWAMP IN MARSH HABITAT, IT MUST ADAPT. THE WHITE TAILED DEER OF SOUTHERN LOUISIANA HAS LONGER AND WIDER HOOVES THAN THE DEER OF THE NORTH. THIS GIVES IT MORE SUPPORT ON THE SOGGY TERRAIN. OTHERWISE, THESE DEER ARE THE SAME AS ELSEWHERE. GRAZING ON THE BUPPEDDANT SUPPLY OF GRASSES. THE BUCKS USUALLY FEED ALONE, BUT THE BREEDING SEASON AND THE LATE WINTER'S HIGH WATER CAN GROUP THEM TOGETHER. THE DEATH OF AN OLD BUCK AND THE SEASONAL LOSS OF ANTLERS CONTRIBUTE MINERALS TO THE SCHEME OF SWAMP LIFE. THE COTTON RAT GETS CALCIUM BY CHEWING THE APT HER. THE RODENT POPULATION IS CHECKED BY A PREDATORY BIRD. THE BARRED OWL. THE OWL HUNTS PRIMARILY AT NIGHT, AND THE ATCHAFALAYA, THEIR DIET CONSISTS OF FISH AND RODENTS. THE BARRED OWL IS A BIRD OFTEN SEEN AND HEARD IN THE BASIN. BUT A SPECIES THAT IS NOT AND MAY EACH BE EXTINCT IS THE EYERY BILLED WOODPECKER. DR.

GEORGE H. LOWERY, NOTED PROFESSOR AT LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY, WAS ONE OF THE LAST TO SEE THE I.RY BILL. >> THIS IS A SCAN OF AN I'VERY BILLED WOODPECKER. IT WAS TAKEN IN FLORIDA BEFORE THE TURN. THE SPECIES IS NOW ONE OF THE LAST BIRDS IN NORTH AMERICA IF IT AXISES AT ALL. THERE IS, HOWEVER, A STRONG POSSIBILITY THAT A FEW OF THEM MAY STILL REMAIN IN THEIR ATCHAFALAYA BASIN. BUT, MUCH DEPENDS ON WHETHER THAT FOREST IS PRESERVED. A MATURE FOREHAS HAPPY OLD DEAD TREES THAT SUPPORTED THE WOOD-BORING BEATLE, OF WHICH THE IVORY BILLED WOODPECKER FED. THE YOUNG FOREST HAS FEW OF THESE DEAD TREES. >> JUST AS WOODPECKERS NEED MATURE TREES TO FEED IN, OUR NATIONAL EMBLEM NEEDS THE BIG TREES TO NEST IN. AT THE PRESENT, THERE ARE EIGHT EAGLE NESTS IN LOUISIANA, AND ALL ARE IN OR NEAR THE ATCHAFALAYA BASIN. IF THE EAGLES ARE TO SURVIVE, THEY MUST HAVE SUITABLE HABITAT TO FEED IN AND TREES TO NEST IN. SOME OF THE FORESTS IN THE ATCHAFALAYA ARE BEING CLEARED FOR PULPWOOD AND PLANTED FOR SOYBEANS, AND THIS DESTROYS THE TREES THAT PRODUCE OXYGEN. THE SWAMPS THAT FILTER OUR WATER. THE NESTING AND FEEDING SITES FOR BIRDS. THE COVER FOR DEER AND SQUIRRELS. AND A PLACE FOR MAN TO RETURN TO NATURE. MAN NEEDS HIS AGRICULTURAL LAND AND HIS NUMBER, BUT HERE IN THE SPILLWAY, THE LAND SHOULD BE LEFT AS MAN FOUND IT. NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT IS USED AS A FLOODWAY, BUT TO KEEP A PRODUCTIVE NATURAL AREA FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. >> IN THIS VAST SWAMPLAND IT, SEEMS THE EAGLES SHOULD BE SECURE AS THEY SIT HIGH ABOVE THE REST OF THE WORLD. BUT THEY FACE ANOTHER PROBLEM, UP TO SIX EAGLES ARE FOUND SHOT EACH YEAR. MOST ARE KILLED. THIS ONE WAS FOUND BY A GAME WARDEN, AND THEN BROUGHT TO A VETERINARIAN WHO PINNED ITS BROKEN LEG AND WING. ALIVE, BUT NEVER TO FLY AGAIN. LET THE EAGLES FLY. , WERE YOU NOW HAVE A CHOICE, WE CAN PRESERVE AND PROTECT OUR EAGLES AND THEIR HABITAT, OR LET THEM VANISH AS DID MOST OF OUR LARGE PREDATORS. THE COUGAR. THE BLACK BEAR. AND THE RED WOLF. TODAY, THE ATCHAFALAYA SUPPORTS A FEW BLACK BEARS. IT SHOULD SUPPORT MORE. THE 1,800 SQUARE MILES OF SWAMP WHIRLNESS WOULD BE A PERFECT PLACE TO REINTRODUCE THESE THREE LARGE MAMMALS BACK INTO LOUISIANA. IT'S POSSIBLE THAT MAN HAS PROVEN THIS WITH THE GREAT EGRET. BELOW YOU COULD SEE THOUSANDS OF NESTING EGRETS. AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY, THIS BEAUTIFUL BIRD WAS NEARING EXTINCTION. THEY WERE KILLED FOR THEIR BREEDING PLUMAGE USED TO ADORN LADIES' HATS. FINALLY, THE WALTON SLAWRLT WAS STOPPED, AND WITH AREAS LIKE THE EVERGLADES, AND THE ATCHAFALAYA, THE EGRET POPULATION HAS RETURNED TO NORMAL. EVEN WITH MAN ON ITS SIDE, THE GREAT EGRET STILL HAS PREDATORS. THE ALLIGATOR RARELY HUNTS AN ADULT BURY, BUT IT DOES WAIT PATIENTLY UNDER THE NEST FOR A CHICK OR AN EGG TO FALL. LIFE GOES ON WITH LITTLE CONCERN FOR THE ALLIGATOR. HERE A MOTHER BIRD LANDS AT HER NEST. ANOTHER INCUBATES HER EGGS. WHILE ANOTHER IS FISHING NEARBY. AFTER THE EGGS HATCH, THERE ARE THREE WHITE ABOUT -- BALLS OF UY FEATHERS COMPARED TO THEIR MOTHER'S SNOWY SPLENDOR. THE ADULT BIRDS TAKE GOOD CARE TO HELP THE YOUNG AND FEED THEM BY REGURGITATING THE FISH THEY HAVE CAUGHT IN A NEARBY BAYOU. SOME NEVER HATCH. BUT THERE ARE MANY NESTS AND EGGS. THUS NATURE HAS ALLOWED FOR ENOUGH TO SURVIVE. TO THE SOUTH LIES ATCHAFALAYA BAY. AN AREA UNIQUE IN GEOLOGIC GROWTH. THE TREMENDOUS LOAD OF SILT, THE MISSISSIPPI POURS INTO THE ATCHAFALAYA, IS FILLING UP THE SHALLOW WATER OF THE BAY. ISLANDS HAVE FORMED IN THE LAST DECADE, CREATING VALUABLE WILDLIFE HABITAT. MANY SPECIES OF BIRDS ARE NOW USING THEM AS A NESTING AREA. ATCHAFALAYA BAY IS ONE OF THE ONLY AREAS IN THE NATION WHERE A LAND BUILDING PROCESS IS TAKING PLACE. MOST OF THE GULF COASTLINE IS LOSING LAND BY EROSION TO THE SEA. THUS, THE MARSHLAND FORMED BY THE ATCHAFALAYA WILL MAKE UP FOR THAT LAND, LOST ELSEWHERE. THE MARSH, A BUFFER BETWEEN THE SEA AND THE LAND, IS CRUCIAL IN ITS ROLE AS A BREEDING GROUND FOR GULF FISH, AS WELL AS THE FEEDING AREA FOR BIRDS AND MAMMALS. REPTILES ARMAJOR PART OF EVERY WETLAND. THE GREEN SHOWING THE MATING DISPLAY, IS A MEMBER OF THE LIZARD FAMILY. THE BASIN IS THE HOME FOR MANY OTHER SPECIES OF REPTILES. MOSTLY SNAKES AND TURTLES. THE WINTER, THE ATCHAFALAYA IS HOME FOR MILLIONS OF DUCKS AND GEESE, AS IT IS SITUATED AT THE SOUTHERN END OF THE MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY >> THE KILLDEER IS ONE OF THE SHOREBIRDS THAT SPEND THE WINTER HERE. THEN IN THE SPRING, THE ATCHAFALAYA BECOMES AN IMPORTANT HABITAT FOR THE BIRDS COMING FROM THE SOUTH. THIS IS ONE OF THE MIGRANTS THAT MAKES ITS NEST HERE AFTER SPENDING THE WINTER IN SOUTH AMERICA. WHETHER IT BE DUCKS IN THE WINTER OR THE WARM BIRDS IN THE SUMMER, THE ATCHAFALAYA BASIN IS VITAL AT SOME TIME OF THE YEAR TO OVER 300 SPECIES OF BIRDS. AND ONLY WHEN THE ATCHAFALAYA CAN ONE FIND THE RARE AND DEFINITELY MYSTICAL BALD-HEADED BLACKBIRD. ♪ ♪ ♪ AND WHAT NONE IT CAN BE, THIS VAST TRACK OF WETLAND OFFERS RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES LIKE SWIM SWIMMING, CANOEING, FISHING, PHOTOGRAPHER, AND WELL, JUST PLAIN OLD FOOLING AROUND. YOU HAVE SEEN THE FANTASTIC FISHERIES THAT ARE 2.5 TIMES MORE PRODUCTIVE THAN THE EVERGLADES. YOU HAVE SEEN THE MANY SPECIES OF BIRDS THAT USE THE BASIN, THE DEER, THE OTTER, AND NOW THE RACOON. ANOTHER OF THE MANY SWATCHLAND MAMMALS. OTHERS INCLUDE THE MINK, MUSKRAT, NUTRIA, BOBCAT, AND THE FLYING SQUIRREL, AND HERE AT ITS HOLLOW TREE HOME. THE ATCHAFALAYA ALSO HAS THE FOX AND GREY SQUIRRELS, WHICH LIVE AMONGST THE TREE TOPS AND FEED ON NUTS AND FRUIT. AS THE FLYING SQUIRREL, BUT UNLIKE THEIR SMALLER COUSIN, THE TREE SQUIRRELS CANNOT GLIDE THROUGH THE AIR FROM TREE-TO-TREE. SINCE MAN FIRST TAMPERED WITH THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER IN 1837, MUCH HAS BEEN LOST. SHALL WE CONTINUE TO CHANGE OUR HABITAT WITH MAJOR CHANNELIZATION PROJECTS? ONES THAT WILL MAKE OUR NATURAL WATERWAYS INTO A CONGLOMERATION OF MAN MADE CANALS. SO FAR, THE ATCHAFALAYA WITH ITS GREAT SIZE HAS TAKEN MAN'S ABUSE AND BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN ITS DELICATE LIFE CYCLE. IT'S ABUNDANT AQUATIC LIFE, AND IT'S NATURAL BEAUTY. NOW IT IS LEFT WITH THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO LET IT DIE OR TO TAKE THE ATCHAFALAYA ASIDE AND LET THIS GREAT LIVING RIVER BE A PLACE WHERE PEACEFULNESS AND BEAUTY WILL BE PRESERVEED FOREVER. ♪ Captioning Performed By LNS Captioning www.LNScaptioning.com