Atchafalaya Basinkeeper

Atchafalaya Basinkeeper, a member organization of Waterkeeper Alliance, was founded by Dean Wilson in 2004 with a mission to protect and restore the swamps, lakes, rivers, streams and bayous of the Atchafalaya Basin for future generations.

At the onset, ABK set out to save Louisiana’s coastal cypress forests from ongoing destruction by the cypress mulch industry. After working as a commercial fisherman for 16 years, Dean witnessed first-hand the systematic destruction of the Basin at the hands of regulators and private interests. Since it’s inception, Basinkeeper has worked to patrol and advocate for the Basin through education, monitoring and enforcement.