[ckinchen]

News Release [SIZE=3]
[/SIZE]Department of the Interior / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service[SIZE=3]
[/SIZE]Southwest Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex[SIZE=3]
Cameron Prairie NWR[/SIZE][SIZE=3]
1428 Highway 27[/SIZE][SIZE=3]
Bell City, LA 70630[/SIZE][SIZE=3]
[/SIZE][SIZE=3]
For Immediate Release [/SIZE][SIZE=3]
January 31, 2012 [/SIZE][SIZE=3]

Contact: Chuck Perrodin
Public Information Director
Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority
Desk: [/SIZE][SIZE=3](225) 342-7615[/SIZE][SIZE=3]
Cell: [/SIZE][SIZE=3](225) 768-8882[/SIZE][SIZE=3]

The boat bay at Grand Bayou allowing public access to the Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge will be closed until further notice beginning Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012. The closure is necessary to allow fresh water from recent rains to alleviate high salinities in the Cameron Creole Watershed caused by extended drought in 2011. This action is being taken in accordance with the Cameron-Creole Water Management Plan. Lowering salinity to the target levels in the Operations Permit will facilitate recovery of marsh vegetation and help reduce land loss in the watershed.

Effective January 1, 2012 the U S Fish and Wildlife Service relinquished daily operation of the water control structures on the east side of Calcasieu Lake to the Louisiana State Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. Daily Operations and maintenance of the structures along the east side of Calcasieu Lake are now funded by the Coastal Wetlands Planning Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA) as part of the Cameron Creole Maintenance (CS-04a) project. Gate operations are now performed by a contractor directed by the Louisiana State Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. [/SIZE]