Wilderness Landscape & Natural Heritage
The Bonnet Carré Spillway Wildlife Management Area is located in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana, adjacent to the Bonnet Carré Spillway flood control structure along the Mississippi River. This WMA features extensive wetlands, flooded hardwood forests, and open water habitats that support a wide variety of wildlife, particularly migratory waterfowl and shorebirds that use the Mississippi Flyway. The area plays an important role in regional flood management while providing important ecological benefits and recreation opportunities. Visitors can experience excellent wildlife viewing during spring and fall migrations, when thousands of birds congregate in the area. Fishing is popular in the spillway channels and adjacent waters, offering species such as largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, and bream. The WMA is managed primarily for waterfowl habitat and hunting, with deer, squirrel, and waterfowl seasons attracting local hunters. Although developed trails and campgrounds are minimal, the area's expansive wetlands and levees offer birding and nature photography opportunities. The Bonnet Carré Spillway itself is a notable engineering landmark designed to divert Mississippi River floodwaters into Lake Pontchartrain to protect New Orleans. The Wildlife Management Area provides a vital natural refuge in a heavily developed region of southeastern Louisiana and is a key site for conservation of bottomland hardwood forests and wetland ecosystems. Accessibility from the nearby city of New Orleans makes it an appealing destination for outdoor enthusiasts seeking nature-based activities in a unique flood-control landscape.
