Tulane MPH

Cane Bayou Paddle

Paddle a Louisiana bayou …….

with its varied wetlands habitats, dine from a canoe while watching the sunset over Lake Pontchartrain and on the return paddle experience the sights and sounds of the wetlands at night.

The outing to be on a bayou that flows into Lake Pontchartrain from the north shore.   The stream, Cane Bayou, serves as the boundary for Fontainebleau State Park at Mandeville and also as a boundary for Big Branch National Wildlife Refuge based in Lacombe.  Designated a “natural and scenic” stream, the bayou has distinct habitats – upland forests, scattered stands of cypress, an intermediate marsh and then the shoreline of Lake Pontchartrain with its own zones of mini habitats.  Guides will interpret all of these habitats and zones.  

Sunday, November 12th - meeting time to be 2:45 pm with a leisurely paddle out to the lake with interpretive stops enroute.  Paddlers can be enjoying their sunset meals and drinks while watching the 5:06 sunset over the lake.   The return paddle will be during the transition from twilight to darkness with a return time of about 6:30 pm(ish) to the launch. On the return paddle, perhaps the “chorus” of the wetlands will occur – frogs and unidentified sounds.  There is also the possibility of seeing red eyes floating on the water ahead of our group.   And taking advantage of the dark skies, at a midpoint a pause can be made to look at the night time sky.  Using a green laser, constellations will be pointed out by the guide.  Everyone should be back on campus by 8 pm. 

Everyone to bring an evening meal/snack and drink and dress for the forecasted weather.  

COST: $55 per student paddler ($63.09 with taxes and fees. This includes the $6 fee to enter Fontainebleau State Park).

$65 per faculty paddler.

Meeting time: 2:45pm @ Cane Bayou Launch