ORIGIN - Bayou LaFourche
N 30° 06.433 W 090° 59.467
15R E 693563 N 3332368
Located in Donaldsonville, LA, the site where Bayou Lafourche originates also is where the Historic American Civil War Fort Butler once stood.
Waymark Code: WM5YCP
Location: Louisiana, United States
Date Posted: 03/01/2009
Views: 7
Bayou Lafourche once flowed from the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico. The 1905 building of the Mississippi Levee system ceased the flow of fresh river water into the bayou (other than by rain and other small tributaries) The bayou was an important waterway in the growth of the south central Louisiana economy, especially sugarcane. It is said, you can you can travel 120 miles and never get out of sight of the Bayou. (It is flanked on either side by Louisiana Hwy. 1 on the west bank and Louisiana Hwy. 308 on the east) from beginning to end.
Thought to have been discovered by Bienville when they discovered the bayou that "forked" away from the River. Originally named "La Fourche des Chitimmaches" (The Fork of the Chitimaches) named for a Native American tribe that lived along it's banks.
Fort Butler was a stratigic point for both sides in the War between the States, as it was an alternate route to reach the Gulf of Mexico, north of New Orleans.
Today, at time of this Waymarking, there are plans to reintroduce Mississippi River water into the Bayou by means of a pumping station located on the Mississippi River levee, about 500 feet from the Coordinates. There is a small open field to walk to within 100 feet of the headwaters, but it is owned by Local Governments and is posted as such. This field and "hump" in photos, is where Fort Butler once stood.
Relevant Web Site: [Web Link]
Parking Coordinates: Not listed
Trailhead Coordinates: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
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2. Date of your visit.
3. At least one original photo (DO NOT include either you or your GPSr).