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For the Bayou, a Bay Area based non-profit working to alert people of Louisiana’s coastal wetland crisis,
hosted a private benefit at Cerro Pampa Polo Club in Northern Marin County on Saturday, August 22,
2009.

It was a perfect day in the hills of Petaluma as guests enjoyed glorious weather, an exciting polo match,
delectable California wines, Cabana Cachaca Creole Caipirinas, Louisiana Abita Beers, refreshing HINT
essence water and a Louisiana inspired menu of jambalaya, Estancia Grass Fed Cajun Roast Beef Po-
Boys and Bay Area’s Marcel et Henri’s “boudin noir”. Instead of the local and delicious Point Reyes
oysters enjoyed at most Bay Area parties, the crowd feasted on hundreds of Louisiana Gold Band Oysters
donated especially for the event. Throughout the afternoon, For the Bayou volunteers greeted the crowd
and explained the cause: Louisiana is losing its wetlands by the minute and this precious seafood that we
all enjoy: wild caught shrimp, blue crabs, oysters and fish, are all going to disappear unless something is
done now.

As the thoroughbreds and polo players galloped by in pursuit of the whirling white ball, the salt waters of
the Gulf of Mexico raced up even faster, enveloping the fragile freshwater environment of the wetlands of
coastal Louisiana. Every 1 ½ hours, Louisiana loses the equivalent of one polo field size of coastal
wetlands, (one polo field is equal to three football fields). Louisiana's wetlands and its coastline are
disappearing in large part due to a national need for dependable shipping on the Mississippi River and oil
and gas from Louisiana's coast. With over 1/3rd of the nation's domestic wild-caught seafood and oil and
natural gas coming from or through Louisiana's wetlands, this is truly a national issue. All of America is
affected. If something is not done now, the reversal process will be too difficult to save the wetlands or
Louisiana’s entire southern coast.

Reiterating For the Bayou’s urgent message was Louisiana musician, poet and militant environmentalist,
Zachary Richard. An international career that has spanned 35 years and 18 albums in both French and
English, Zachary and his band graciously flew in from Louisiana and Quebec to help For the Bayou
sound its cry for help in the Bay Area. Zachary, in his sincere and gentle Cajun voice, reminded everyone
of the fragility of our environment, from Louisiana’s wetlands, to California’s own deltaic crisis.

In addition to great music, internationally reknowned artists from the bayous to the Bay, such as James
Michalopoulos, Bryan LeBoeuf, Amanda Hughen, Caroline Allison, Ellen Burgin, Amy Nelder,
Max Ryan, Diego Lukezic, and others contributed works to help in awareness and fundraising. All the
while, For the Bayou kept the festivities “green” with compostable corn based flatware and cups.

We need your help in making people aware of this ENVIRONMENTAL EMERGENCY. The severity of
the current wetlands loss in Louisiana is so great that it is disappearing before our very eyes. If allowed
to continue unchecked, this situation will have not only massive ecological consequences, but also
catastrophic economic ones. By the year 2050, Louisiana could lose another 435,000 acres of wetlands. If
nothing is done, the entire coastal area of Louisiana will be gone by 2075. Areas of Cajun French
speaking dialects, cultures and culinary traditions are already disappearing as people are forced to move
further inland due to wetlands and barrier island loss. America’s homeland to Cajuns and one of
American’s beloved cities, New Orleans, could disappear this century unless we can begin major
restoration efforts now.

For more information please go to www.forthebayou.com.
Media Contact: Gaynell Rogers 415.298.1114 or gaynell@roy-rogers.com