Conservation

Land Trust for Louisiana holds the easement on Nine Mile Island, a 140 acre stretch of land nestled between Lake Saint Catherine and Lake Pontchartrain in an area known as the New Orleans Landbridge. Once owned by a railroad company, today Land Trust for Louisiana is protecting it in perpetuity for the benefit of local wildlife; sportsmen who use the area to fish; and surrounding communities at risk of storm surge.

Consisting of brackish tidal marsh, this area provides important habitat for many fish and wildlife species, including the endangered Gulf sturgeon and manatee. The property also provides habitat for waterfowl, and is part of a longstanding fishing community in the Rigolets Pass. In addition to protecting these invaluable cultural and natural assets, the Landbridge also serves as a vital protective barrier for New Orleans and communities along the Northshore, acting as a hurricane buffer and “speed bump” for storm surge into Lake Pontchartrain.