SPANISH LAKE – Trusties from two parishes and volunteers from all over met here last week to unload 500 four-foot bald cypress trees to eventually be planted around the lake.

Meanwhile the trees are being stored in the swamp, guarded by snakes and alligators.

RPM Ecosystems, LLC, a nursery in Dryden, N.Y., and Restore the Earth Foundation of Ithaca, N.Y. have promised a donation of 10,000 cypress trees for Louisiana. The first 1,500 were divvied out between Mandeville, Spanish Lake and coastal Vermilion Parish.

On March 17, St. Patrick’s Day, local Boy Scouts, trusties from St. Martin and Iberia parishes, and assorted volunteers will come back out to this and other locations to actually plant the trees.

“This incredible donation of trees, valued at over $300,000, will allow us to restore large areas of coastal forest with a high success rate,” said Natalie Snider, science director for the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, which is overseeing the planting.

“We are excited about the partnership and look forward to educating volunteers from Louisiana and all over the nation about the importance of restoring our coastal forests.”

Large areas of Louisiana’s wetland forests have been lost to saltwater intrusion, residence and the depredations of nutria. After the assault of several major hurricanes in the last decade, even more forested areas are degraded and in danger of being lost.

According to the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, Spanish Lake, nesting ground for over 50 species of birds and a popular destination for sport fishermen, is an ideal location for the trees.

If you are interested in volunteering, Greta Green, chairman of the Spanish Lake Commission, at 365-8779 or gretagreen5@aol.com.