LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / December 30, 1999

HAHNVILLE – It’s time to take down that old Christmas tree. When it wasplaced in the living room, it was a showpiece. For far too many, thelandfill is the next stop.

Many consumers across the state, though, fight coastal erosion in Louisiana by participating in the Christmas tree recycling programs in their communities.

Curbside pickup will be done Jan. 12-14 in St. Charles Parish. Also, treesmay be dropped off at either bridge park from now through Jan. 21.Only non-flocked trees are accepted in the program. Donors are asked toremove all decorations, tree stands and tinsel. Do not place trees in aplastic bag.

At that time, the trees will be gathered and stored in a secure place until Coastal Environments, a contractor hired by the parish, will place the trees in the cribs in February.

The effort was pioneered in St. Charles Parish by their Coastal ZoneManagement office 12 years ago, as hundreds of trees were placed in specially-prepared cribs in the LaBranche Wetlands.

There, St. Charles coastal zone coordinator Earl Matherne said, the treesslowed tidal waters enough to trap sediment and helped re-create four acres of dry land. Another 11 acres has shallowed and will also becomedry land in a few years.

“It’s a practical project,” Matherne observed. “It’s not a dramaticallyspectacular project, but it works.”The project has had its setbacks, including Hurricane Andrew in 1992, which destroyed many cribs, and a tornado in September 1998, which did likewise. These damaged 500 feet of fencing.Supported by an annual grant from the state’s Department of Natural Resources, the Christmas Tree Fence program supports coastal area parishes in its effort to protect shorelines and create valuable marsh habitat.

DNR coastal restoration division program manager Kenneth Bahlinger said the program has been successful because volunteers, team work and the spirit of Christmas giving makes it happen.

Bahlinger said Calcasieu, Cameron, Iberia, Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, St. Martin, St.Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne and Vermillion parishes areparticipating in this year’s wetlands restoration program. DNR fundsapproximately $337,000 for the parish programs.

Bahlinger said nearly one million trees have been contributed to the program since 1989.

This year, $18,000 is going to St. Charles Parish’s program, where 6,000trees are expected, Matherne said. And the results go far beyond coastalrestoration.

Matherne added that public awareness of the state’s hazard posed by coastal erosion has skyrocketed, especially among school children.

“Teachers have been really good,” Matherne observed.

For more details, call your parish information line – St. Charles Parish at783-5060 or St. John Parish at 549-2141.

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