The Conservancy and Washington-St. Tammany Electric Cooperate for Nature

St. Tammany, LA—May 8, 2002—The Nature Conservancy of Louisiana and Washington-St. Tammany Electric Cooperative signed a joint agreement to maintain the rights-of-way on Conservancy preserves, Talisheek Preserve, and Abita Creek Preserve, located in the area. The joint agreement will help to promote indigenous species and habitats while insuring important electric services are provided to the community. The cooperative management agreement formalizes communication between the parties and conditions under which rights-of-way maintenance will take place. Washington - St. Tammany Electric Cooperative (WST) is a member owned electric company that provide electric services to thousands of households and businesses in the region. The Cooperative strives for the highest standards in service while promoting policies that work in harmony with the environment. WST has a record of conserving important natural resources along its right-of-way, such as the threatened gopher tortoise.

The Nature Conservancy of Louisiana has helped protect 25,000 acres in St. Tammany Parish. In recent years, the Conservancy has purchased lands called the Talisheek Pine Wetlands Preserve and Abita Creek Flatwood Preserve. These preserves are managed in order to conserve wetlands and the longleaf pine ecosystem and associated habitats that include rare species. The Conservancy are known for their expertise in longleaf pine ecosystem restoration and management, including the use of prescribed fire, a critically important management tool. The low intensity control burns are lead by nationally experienced trained fire crews.

Abita Creek Flatwoods Preserve, which is open to the public, is approximately 794-acres. It incorporates a mosaic of high quality pine dominated wetland communities, including longleaf pine savanna, longleaf flatwoods, bayhead, slash pine/pond cypress, woodlands, forest, and riparian. Twenty-four species of plants considered rare, threatened or endangered by the Louisiana Natural Heritage Program have been located on the tract thus far, and many more are likely to be found. The most notable discovery to date has been the Louisiana Quillwort, a federally endangered species. These plants represent the only officially protected population for this species in Louisiana. Talisheek Pine Wetlands Preserve is approximately 1,500-acres. It supports the largest tract of intact pine wetland in southeast Louisiana. Numerous rare plant and animal species have been detected thus far including the federally threatened gopher tortoise and state-rare mud salamander. Additional inventories will undoubtedly uncover more surprises at this exceptional site. The Nature Conservancy of Louisiana is a part of the largest international non-profit land conservation organization that accomplishes its work by forming partnerships with corporations, foundations, individuals, federal agencies and state agencies who share concern for Louisiana’s natural resources. For over 15 years, The Nature Conservancy of Louisiana and their partners have conserved over a quarter of a million acres of the best of Louisiana.