Terrebonne Basin
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Terrebonne Basin is an abandoned delta complex, in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana. The area is identified by thick sections of unconsolidated sediments that are undergoing dewatering and compaction which contributes to high subsidence. There is a network of old distributary ridges, associated with past distributaries of the Mississippi River, extending south from Houma, Louisiana into the Gulf of Mexico.
"Terre bonne" means "rich earth", and was named by the French. The fertile lands are used predominantly for agriculture, with sugarcane and pastures on the ridges, and forested wetlands in the lower elevations, leading to freshwater and saltwater marshes in the coastal areas, before opening up to Terrebonne and Timbalier Bays.[1]
The Terrebonne Basin extends from Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana to Terrebonne Bay, covering approximately 1,712,500 acres (693,000 ha) including around 728,700 acres (294,900 ha) of wetlands. An estimated 96% of the wetlands in the Basin are privately owned.
The Terrebonne Basin consists of four adjoining bodies of water, Caillou Bay, Lake Pelto, Terrebonne Bay, and Timbalier Bay. The Terrebonne Basin has four sub-basins, the Verret and Penchant sub-basins, Fields sub-basin, and the Timbalier sub-basin. The Terrebonne Basin supports around 155,000 acres (63,000 ha) of swamp and almost 574,000 acres (232,000 ha) of marsh, ranging from fresh marsh inland to brackish and saline marsh near the bays and the gulf.[2]
At the southern end of Terrebonne Basin are some narrow and low-lying barrier islands, the Isles Dernieres (Wine, Trinity/East, Whiskey, and Raccoon islands now make up the Isles Dernieres Barrier Island Refuge) and the Timbalier chains, among 26 islands in various stages of erosion or submersion. These islands are separated from the mainland marshes by a series of wide, shallow lakes and bays. These include Lake Pelto, Terrebonne Bay, Timbalier Bay, Lake Jean Pierre, Lake La Graisse, Lake Saint Jean Baptiste, Bay Negresse, Bay la Fleur, Bay Chaland, Tambour Bay, Troiscent Piquets Bay, Bayou Petit Cailou, Bay Sainte Elaine, Bay Blanc, Cailou Bay, Cailou Lake, Lost Lake, Lake De Cade, Lake Barre, Lake Felicity, Old Lady Lake, Deep Lake, Little Lake, Coal Tar Bay, Lake Raccourci, Jacko Camp Bay, Landry Bay, Pearl Bayou, Poudreaux Canal Bridge, Lake Gero, Lake Boudreaux, Lost Lake, Jug Lake, Lake Quitman, Lake Pagie, Fourleague Bay, Lake Chapeau, Felix Lake, Deep Saline, Bay Pumpkin, Bay Couteau, Bay Long, Bay Charlie, Dog Lake, Bay Cocodrie, Bay Voisi, Pass la poule, East Bayou, Oyster Bayou, King Lake, Lake Mechant, Mud Lake, Bay Castagnier, Mangrove Bay, Bay de Mongles, Devils Bay, and Catfish Lake.[3]