Turtle Cove
Follow Us Now on Instagram at our account: turtlecove_selu
Fall 2023 Update: Our Galva Canal Boatshed Complex in Manchac is in full operation, however our Turtle Cove facilities on Pass Manchac (i.e., the main Turtle Cove Guest House/Boardwalk) are undergoing renovations/restotraion from Hurricane Ida. We are doing education/outreach field trips to Turtle Cove two days per week in Fall 2023---Tuesdays and Fridays, approx. 9/9:30am-12/12:30pm. For more information contact Turtle Cove Manager Robert Moreau at rmoreau@southeastern.edu. He will coordinate with new Community Engagement/Education Outreach Coordinator Ariel Ebanks (ariel.ebanks@selu.edu) to arrrange a date for your trip. Note that under our "Education and Outreach" link we have several on-line (virtual) types of activities that your groups can do and participate in in case your group is not able to attend our actual on-site field trips for whatever reason (i.e., weather conditions, future covid restrictions, etc.). Thank you, and we look forward to working with your group.
*****************************************************************************************
Current News and Events:
Thank you to all donors who contributed to our 2023 Giving Day fundraiser! We raised $18,070 for the "SOLAR SYSTEM AT TURTLE COVE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH STATION" campaign. If you would like to make a donation to Turtle Cove you can still do so via our regular on-line credit card system here: On-Line Donation Submittal for Turtle Cove Donations
For the first time in many years, Turtle Cove has a new full-time staff person. Meet Ariel Ebanks, our new Community Enhancement/Education Outreach Coordinator.
As of Spring 2023, our Turtle Cove Galva Canal Boatshed Complex is running at NET
ZERO (purely off of the sun, with TESLA WALL BATTERY for back up).
*************************************************************************************************
YEAR IN REVIEW: See our most recent Annual Report for CY 2022, our "comeback year" after all of the issues associated with Covid-19 (2020) and Hurricane IDA (2021). See all of our most recent reports here.
Annual Christmas Tree Recycling Program(click for more information on Turtle Cove's annual Christmas Tree program--each season new information is posted in mid-December).
Use this link to browse the app (with your computer) or to directly download the app with your mobile phone--the App is not available in App stores. This App was developed by students' Phillip Weaver and Zachary Armand in Southeastern's Department of Computer Science as a capstone class project under the direction of Dr. Ghassan Alkadi. This new App works with both Android and Iphones and offers some unique mobile features for travel and exploration in the Manchac Wetlands around Turtle Cove, and also the evolving Manchac Greenway (a recreational "trail" for all types of nature enthusiasts that is developing along old HWY 51 between LaPlace and Ponchatoula--see www.manchacgreenway.org). One of the key features of the App is a checklist of different wildlife, fisheries and vegetative species you might see as you explore this beautiful and historic region. The App also ties in directly to the Turtle Cove website, so you can learn about all of those species by viewing our on-line educational species signs. Many thanks to the College of Science and Technology's Computer Science Department for making this App a reality!!! (image of turtle icon made by Freepik from www.flaticon.com).
VIDEOS: Please scroll down to the bottom of this page to view our two primary videos: (1) "Troubled Waters: History of the Manchac Swamp Ecosystem and Turtle Cove (20 min, 2019) and (2) Turtle Cove Public Relations Video (30 min, 2012)
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Turtle Cove Environmental Research Station (Turtle Cove ERS) is
to facilitate and support a better understanding of Southeast Louisiana's coastal
wetland environments through research, education, and public outreach activities and
programs for Southeastern's students, faculty and staff as well as the greater University
community.
STATION HISTORY
Turtle Cove itself is a historic structure located in the wetlands on Pass Manchac, a natural pass that connects Lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas in southeastern Louisiana. The building was built in 1908 and is home to a variety of ecological and environmental research and educational programs. See our 20-minute Public Relations video at the bottom of this page for more information about everything we do at Turtle Cove.
We invite you to visit the station itself, possibly as a student, volunteer, community member, researcher, or educator. Join us on a field trip or an ecosystem tour,begin a new research project, or attend one of our teacher workshops. We also ask that you consider helping to support our programs by making a donation to Turtle Cove through our Southeastern Foundation.
What goes on at Turtle Cove?
-
University classes (at both undergraduate and graduate levels)
-
Professional Interdisciplinary Research and collaborative opportunities, primarily in biology (wetland ecology, cypress restoration, aquatic microbiology, entomology, herpetology, etc), but also environmental issues in chemistry, history, economics, education, the arts, and more, and not only from Southeastern, but other regional universities as well.
- Marsh Restoration Programs (Christmas Tree Recycling Program)---in the past 26 years Turtle Cove staff have deployed over 40,000 Christmas Trees in the surrounding marshes of Turtle Cove for the benefits of erosion control, habitat creation, diversion of trees from landfills and for hands-on environmental work. Turtle Cove also partners with the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation and Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana in helping to replant cypress trees in the area.
-
Graduate student research opportunities in ecology, herpetology and other disciplines
-
Community outreach programs, featuring our Self-Guided Boardwalk Tour
-
K-12 field trips and inquiry-based learning experiences and field training program for young scientists
-
Teacher workshops for continuing education credits
-
Collaborative programs with agencies and non profit organizations such as the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation (LPBF), and the University of New Orleans' Coastal Education Program and Coastal Educayion Research Facility (CERF) among others.
Troubled Waters: A History of Manchac
Ecosystem and Turtle Cove (2019)
Turtle Cove Public Relations Video (2012)
If you visited Turtle Cove or participated in any Turtle Cove activities, please take a moment to fill out the Turtle Cove Satisfaction Survey. It takes about one minute to complete and is anonymous, and will help us provide a better Turtle Cove experience for everyone. Thank you.
