Bayou Lafourche

variety of ribbon cane and Etienne Bore’s successful attempt in 1794 to granulate cane
syrup sent investors searching for land on which to cultivate their new commodity.
Many of these investors found suitable land on the rich natural levees of Bayou
Lafourche. Family farmers who had made their homes along the bayou were often
quick to sell their land for a perceived profit. The plantation era of Bayou Lafourche was
born.
Commercial production of sugar cane was a labor intensive process that required a
capital investment in laborers and equipment. Loans were procured to acquire these
assets. To repay creditors, landowners cleared more land to cultivate more cane. Land
clearing necessitated additional laborers whose purchase required additional funding.
This self-perpetuating growth led to expansion of sugar plantations down Bayou
Lafourche and away from the bayou to the swamps beyond the natural levees. Each
plantation was self-sufficient and produced (in addition to cane) all the produce
necessary to sustain its workforce and its livestock. This required additional land for
cultivation. Forests were cleared
and canals were constructed to drain
lowland areas. The waters of Bayou
Lafourche were used to irrigate
crops and provide for any other use
necessary during day to day life on
the plantation.
Production levels of sugar cane have
varied significantly since it was first
introduced to the shores of Bayou
Lafourche. Despite eras of boom
and despair, sugar cane continues to
rein as the predominant agricultural
commodity of the Lafourche region.
Advancements in crop production have proved advantageous to farmers, and
occasionally harmful to the natural ecology of the surrounding area. A suite of
chemicals has been developed to deal with natural threats and promote increased
production. As rain water washes over fields, canals constructed to expedite drainage
carry these herbicides, insecticides, and fertilizers into receiving canals, bayous, and
lakes.
When fertilizer reaches Bayou Lafourche it works quickly to fulfill the purpose it was
intended to perform in the field. Elevated levels of nitrogen and phosphorus promote
plant growth in the bayou. Rather than maximizing crop yields, these fertilizers increase
algae production and promote the growth of aquatic plants that often choke the bayou
during spring and summer months. This unsightly growth limits recreational use and
can clog intakes used to extract irrigation and drinking water from the bayou. As the
days shorten and the weather cools, these dense mats of aquatic plants die. Decaying
plant matter is exploited by organisms that utilize the vegetation as a food source. As
these organisms consume the decaying plants, they also consume oxygen. A
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