Since 2004, our Ecologist, David Baker, initiated an invasive species eradication project, work to remove Ligustrum sinense and Triadica sebifera from the land. These species, native to east Asia, interfere with the ecosystem of the Bottomland Hardwood Forest (BHF) by shading out hardwood seedlings, preventing their growth and the development of new canopy trees. Baker installed thirty-two ten-by-ten meter square research plots for long term monitoring of the project. Within the area of the plots all trees above two centimeters in diameter were mapped, measured for diameter, and damage described.  These trees are surveyed annually for the above criteria, as well as any new trees that have reached two centimeters in diameter. Every two years an invasive species count is done within this area for the correlation to overall hardwood growth as it relates to invasive removal.

Following Hurricane Zeta in October of 2020, a shift in scale was needed to understand the Bottomland Hardwood Forest transition. Predicted change in the forest was stated in the 2017 Coastal Master Plan, and the smaller research plots were running out of trees to measure, so larger plots (50 X 50) meters were installed on the property. Two research plots in the front and one research plot in the back. All plots have four of the smaller plots in them for statistical purposes. In total 813 trees were tagged, mapped, and measured for diameter and height. Nine months later (August 2021) the forest was impacted by Hurricane Ida.  These plots have been surveyed annually since 2020.

For twenty years the land has been monitored for change from invasive species removal and hurricane impacts. What the information is telling us is that the forest has lost 4 times as many trees as she is gaining. In the last 5 years, 70% of the original Water Oaks (Q. nigra) and Live Oaks (Q. Virgiania) have died from fungus and subsidence. Multiple disturbances coupled with the above normal rate of environmental change in south Louisiana has shifted the reality from Bottomland Hardwood Forest restoration to Bald Cypress (Taxodium distchium) Forest creation. In 2019 we began planting Bald Cypress in the front of the property to begin replacing trees that were lost to fungus in 2017. Twenty trees a year have been planted along with 10 Tupelo Gum (Nyssa sylvatica).  Survival has been good, with several trees growing a meter a year. We are continuing to plant trees randomly in the larger canopy holes in the fall. The long term goal will be 250 trees planted in the front 3 acres.