History ëë
To better understand the history of our wetlands park, we have divided its history into several categories. Four prehistoric categories cover the period before human inhabitation, the Paleoindian Period, the Archaic Period, and the Woodland Period. The Gravel Pit Years covers the period from 1900 A.D. through 1990 A.D. Finally, the Wetland Phase covers the period from 1990 A.D. to the present.
The Wetland Phase is further divided into the Plant Survey of 1997, the introduction of Additional Wetland Species, and the Watershed alterations of 2000 A.D. Recent events are summarized on a yearly basis beginning with 2002 A.D.
The Distant Past
As one looks back across time to the distant past, evidence of such times becomes difficult to find. Fossils and other remnants are lost or broken beyond recognition. Only the most durable survive, and the geological record is perhaps the best source of information of the very distant past.
Restoration Park, as part of Louisiana, has a long and complex geologic history. For a large portion of the Earth's 4.6 billion years of existence, Restoration Park and the rest of what is now Louisiana were covered by the seas for billions of years. Only recently in the geologic history of the Earth has Restoration Park been emergent or a part of the land.
During a geologic period known as the Tertiary, which began approximately 66 million years ago with the extinction of the dinosaurs, Louisiana began emerging from the oceans. For the next 30 to 40 million years, Louisiana fluctuated from deltas and lowland swampy environments to shallow marine seas flooding the land. By the end of the Tertiary Period, Louisiana finally emerged as land. Consequently, the surface exposures at Restoration Park are quite young geologically. Whereas some parts of North America may have exposures that hundreds of millions or even billions of years old, the surface sediments in Louisiana are mainly less than 50 million years old.
Over the last two million years during a time known as the Pleistocene Epoch, massive sheets of ice known as glaciers extended for thousands of square miles covering most of Canada and the northern United States. These Pleistocene glaciers had a tremendous effect upon North America by scouring the land and reshaping the landscape. The tremendous erosive power of these glaciers carved the Great Lakes between Canada and the United States. The glaciers advanced and retreated numerous times. Whenever they retreated, huge volumes of ice melted forming thousands of rivers and streams that carried gravel, sand, and silt southward toward the Gulf of Mexico. As the rivers crossed Louisiana, some sediment was deposited forming extensive layers of sand and gravel. Deposits of these types were common in Ouachita Parish, and one thick deposit formed at the site of Restoration Park. Thousands of years later, this sand and gravel deposit was extracted forming the depression now present at Restoration Park.
Evidence of the Pleistocene gravels and sands from the melting of the glaciers can still be found in many places in Restoration Park, especially along the creek and the sides of the old quarry. The sides of the old quarry can be easily detected as steep areas common along the crushed rock walking trails. The gravels, which were eroded from the northern part of the United States, were transported by the glacial meltwater rivers to Restoration Park. Many of the pieces of gravel contain fossils of ancient sea life since the eroded rocks were once part of the sea bottom in the northern United States hundreds of millions of years ago. Although the gravels were transported to Louisiana only in the last two million years, the parent rock is Paleozoic in age.
The Paleoindian Period
Humans have probably inhabited North America for at least 12,000 years. Many scientists argue that humanity's arrival in the New World occurred much earlier. It is known that humans were definitely present throughout North America, including Louisiana, by 11,000 years ago. The earliest time of human occupation is commonly referred to as the Paleoindian Period. The word "paleo" means ancient; thus, Paleoindian refers to the ancient or oldest known Indians.
The paleoenvironment (the ancient environment) at Restoration Park was probably quite different from the environment of today. The climate tended to be cooler with more northern-type vegetation and trees such as spruce. The fauna or animals would have been dramatically different from many of the animals of today. Ancient elephant-like mammals known as mammoths and mastodons were present as were other exotic mammals such as sloths, giant beavers, giant bears, giant bison, and tapirs. There were also giant land turtles with carapaces (shells) close to four or five feet long. Unfortunately, most of these animals became extinct by 10,000 years ago.
The Paleoindians were present in northeast Louisiana including the area in which Restoration Park is now located. The Paleoindians probably lived a nomadic life with no permanent camps. They were mainly hunters, especially of the large game or animals of that time. The presence of the Paleoindians in north Louisiana is documented by unique projectile points (man-made stone points that were placed on spears). These projectile points, known as Clovis and Folsom points, were used for hunting large animals or game.
The Archaic Period
Evidence of the paleoenvironment at Restoration Park indicate many changes during the period from 10,000 years ago to 2,500 years ago. The giant mammals such as mammoths and mastodons have become extinct, and the forests were changing to more modern types of trees such as hardwoods (such as oaks, hickory, beech, ash, and gums) and conifers (such as pine). The climate became markedly warmer. The Native American Indians of this period, known as the Archaic Indians, also changed from their Paleoindian ancestors.
The Archaic Indians began to make use of the many resources along the rivers and associated floodplains such as various types of fish, whitetail deer, squirrel, rabbit, raccoon, ducks, and turkey. There is archeological evidence that they were fishing using bone hooks and line as well as various types of nets. Hunting was done with spears and smaller spears known as darts. During the Archaic, a new invention known as the atlatl (or spear thrower) was employed. Probably made of various types of wood, the atlatl increased the range and probably the accuracy of thrown spears for hunting. In addition to fishing and hunting, the Archaic Indians gathered various types of nuts such as hickory, wild pecan, and acorns as well as other types of plants.
The Archaic Indians also began to become less mobile and to make more permanent camps. These Indians probably re-visited sites during the year for fishing or hunting. One of the most dramatic changes during the Archaic is the construction or building of mounds. Mound building, once thought to have begun about 3,500 years ago, has been demonstrated to have occurred over 5,500 years ago at sites such as the Watson Brake Site (approximately 8 miles (12.875 kilometers) away) in southern Ouachita Parish. The Late Archaic was marked by an increasing reliance on native starchy and oil seed plants. This would eventually lead to cultivation of these and related plants by the Indians. The increased dependence on plants probably led to the production of pottery and ceramic vessels.
The Woodland Period
The Woodland Period followed the Archaic Period and lasted from approximately 2500 years ago to historic times. The Woodland Indians continued to make extensive use of riverine resources such as fish, deer, rabbits, squirrels, and other small mammals as well as birds, amphibians, and reptiles. A major change in hunting strategy occurred during the time of the Woodland Indians with the introduction of the bow and arrow around 700 AD. This change is noted in the stone artifacts that are found in the area as small projectile points, true arrowheads, become abundant.
Other major changes took place during the time of the Woodland Indians. Many different types of pottery were manufactured as a greater dependence upon cultivation developed. Many different types of vessels were made for storage and for cooking. The Woodland Indians became more and more sedentary (remaining in one place) with the continued dependence upon agricultural crops—especially corn or maize. Permanent sites or villages were common, and some boasted much larger populations than previously. Many different cultures with distinct pottery, stone tools, mound building, and other characteristics evolved during the Woodland Period in Louisiana. Some of the cultures included Tchefuncte, Marksville, Troyville, Coles Creek, Caddo, and Mississippian. The Woodland Period ended as the Europeans began to explore and settle the area. By late in the Woodland Period, many different historic tribes were present in north Louisiana.
The Gravel Pit Years
The early 20th century saw drastic changes in a short period of time. In less than four decades, strip mining had reduced the gravel outcrop to a vast pit. In keeping with the customary practices of that time, the mine operators simply abandoned the site when it was no longer productive. No efforts—or even plans—were made to heal the ugly scar in the landscape.
As the years went by, the land remained unused, and nature took its course, slowly and subtly transforming the site.
Click on the thumbnail pictures below to see the full-sized pictures taken during while natural succession gradually restored the site.
Plant Survey
In 1997, Dr. Allen led his graduate students on a survey of the resident flora. They recorded the species growing within sample areas spaced 50 feet (15.24 meters) apart. The results can be found in the Flora section.
Click on the thumbnail pictures below to see the full-sized pictures taken during the survey.
Planting Wetland Species
Although Restoration Park is a natural wetland, one-half a century is insufficient time for nature to transform a gravel pit into mature wetlands. Dr. Allen and his graduate students introduced a considerable number of plant species to accelerate the park's evolution. These plant species are species that are normally found in healthy mature wetland ecosystems but had not previously immigrated to our wetlands park.
Click on the thumbnail pictures below to see the full-sized pictures taken during the planting.
Watershed
In 1993, the City of West Monroe purchased a seventy acre tract once used for mining gravel. The city originally intended to create a storm water detention basin. However, this project never materialized because of wetland mitigation problems.
In 1995, the City chose a different approach and contacted the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality about its non-point source management program. The Planning Department, along with Dr. Rod Emmer organized the project team that consisted of DEQ, the University of Louisiana at Monroe, Louisiana Tech University, Louisiana Department Wildlife and Fisheries, West Monroe Chamber of Commerce, environmental planners, environmental engineers, civil engineers, and teachers from the local public school system. The team proposed a multi-objective watershed plan that included several compatible activities.
- Water Quality Enhancement
- Wetland Conservation
- Flood Damage Reduction
- Environmental Education
- Urban Habit Conservation
- Native Plant Enhancement
- Recreation
In May 1995, the City submitted its proposal and continued to work closely with DEQ over the next two years in fine tuning the scope of the project. In May of 1997, West Monroe was awarded $1.3 million to accomplish its multi-objective watershed plan. The City of West Monroe provided a match of $581,400 in cash, land, and in kind services. This is the largest grant ever awarded for a non-point source project in the State of Louisiana. To date, there are no other known examples in Louisiana of a watershed approach to water resource management.
Since being awarded this grant, West Monroe has taken this project one step further with the plans of constructing a Wetlands Visitation Center, a Research Center that will be utilized by both universities and public and private schools in northeast Louisiana.
West Monroe continues its philosophy in preserving its natural environment in an urban setting.
Click on the thumbnail pictures below to see the full-sized pictures taken during the construction.
2002 A.D.
The year 2002 has seen renewed activity in the wetlands park.
On June 12, Mayor Dave Norris met with key project participants to review the current status of the park. He approved the construction of a foot bridge to complete the walking trail along the perimeter, and he approved the construction of an open-air pavilion. The park was tentatively named Westreno Restoration Park.
Hurricane Lili/Tropical Storm Lili visited the area on September 20. The precipitation increased water levels only slightly.
Click on the thumbnail pictures below to see the full-sized pictures taken during the year.
2003 A.D.
The year 2003 started with concerns regarding the beaver population. Throughout winter, the resident beavers cut down a noticeable number of trees along the ponds and creeks. This led to worries that the beaver population may have grown too large for the wetlands to sustain. However, these fears proved totally unfounded as the year went on.
The wetland park's name was finalized as "Restoration Park," and signs were placed at strategic locations around the park. Additional signs identified selected plant species along the walking trail.
Students from several schools visited Restoration Park on field trips.