ATCHAFALAYA
America’s Largest River Basin Swamp

C.C. Lockwood’s first book, the Atchafalaya: America’s Largest River Basin Swamp is a stunning journey through the eyes of a true Swamp lover as he uses the camera and pen to show the reader a wonderous wetland habitat. Full of factual information as well as vivid descriptions, the text alone would be worthy of publication. However, true to form, C.C. Lockwood’s photographs are the highlight.

The Egrets, Terns, Ladybugs, Nutria, Oysters and Crawfish are full of life and zest. The photographs of people canoeing, fishing, working, laughing, and living give a real understanding of life in a swamp. And the sunsets and scenics are amazing, even for Lockwood.

C.C. says, “My eight years in tents and houseboats among the swampers, cypress trees and wildlife of the Atchafalaya were both the most exciting and peaceful of my life. I would not trade a minute of those times for one trillion dollars.”

The Atchafalaya River is the life-line of this diverse and productive River Basin Swamp. 1,400,000 acres of Louisiana land and water comprise the largest area of its kind. As the  major distributary of the Mississippi River, the Atchafalaya serves as South Louisiana’s protection from the floodwaters of the Mighty Mississippi.  

There are over 300 species of birds, 46 different mammals, 53 reptiles, 28 amphibians, and thousands of other plants and animals to be found in the swamp. The bald cypress is a big part of the Atchafalaya Basin’s landscape. Not only is it quite impressive, growing up to 150 feet tall and over 6 feet wide, but also it is simply beautiful. Most people just associate the cypress with the swamp. Actually, thought, this river basin swamp can be divided into four distinct landscapes: hardwood bottomlands, cypress-tupelo swamp, coastal marsh, and the bay with its newly created islands. Each habitat, Lockwood explains, has its own group of wildlife. All of these plant communities work together to play an important role in the basin’s productiveness.

Atchafalaya $35.00
Winner: “Louisiana Literary Award”
9 x 12 Cloth – 105 Pages – 137 Photographs
ISBN 0-87511-695-7