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Atchafalaya Basin Foraging Conditions — ForageIQ

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Atchafalaya Basin

5–50 ft · LA🚗 Directions

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Atchafalaya Basin — largest river swamp in North America, 1.4 million acres of bottomland hardwoods and cypress-tupelo swamp between the Mississippi and the Atchafalaya rivers. Water oak, overcup oak, bald cypress, water tupelo, and swamp red maple. Sherburne WMA, Indian Bayou, and Lake Fausse Pointe SP for access. Exceptional oyster mushroom production year-round on hardwood snags; chicken-of-the-woods on water oak; chanterelles on high ground in summer.

Trees:Water Oak Bald Cypress American Elm

Updated Jul 13, 4:17 AM MT

AI Conditions Report

AI-generated · verify in field

**S-Tier call is earned—soil's been locked at 79°F for a full week with sustained moisture at 0.28 VWC, and you've got 3.56" of rain in the last fortnight holding the basin steady.** The entire viable roster is firing simultaneously because you have the rare combo: warm substrate, zero drought stress, and consistent moisture that won't flash-dry in the swamp heat. Chanterelles, Chicken of the Woods, Wine Caps, and all your choice edibles are live—focus on the wood-fruiting species (CotW, Turkey Tail, Artist's Conk) and the mycorrhizal heavy hitters (Boletes, Milk Caps) since basin soils favor fungal networks right now. The one limiting flag is moderate desiccation risk over the next week—Louisiana July can ramp humidity swings hard, and that'll compress your window. Watch for moisture decline mid-week; if VWC drops below 0.22, productivity collapses fast. **Hot tip:** Hit the live oak and cypress zones *now* before the heat evaporates the fruiting stimulus; Ravenel's Stinkhorn emergence windows are short and you're at peak conditions.

Generated by Claude (Anthropic) from the structured weather, soil, and phenology data on this page. The LLM can misread edge cases — treat this as a starting hypothesis, not a guarantee. Always verify conditions on the ground before committing to a long drive.

Foraging Potential95/100

✅Moisture

✅Soil Temp

✅No Freeze

✅No Drought

Precip 7d

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Nearby Camping

Within(0)

No campgrounds within 10 mi. Try widening the radius.

⚠ Road Access Notice

Always verify road access is public before following GPS directions to mountain areas. Many forest roads are seasonal, gated, or require 4WD. Dispersed camping follows USFS/BLM rules (typically 14-day limit). Check ranger district offices for current road and campground conditions.

Viable Species

Confidence × Primordia state

HIGHPrimed

Oyster Mushroom

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Chanterelle

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Chicken of the Woods

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Destroying Angel

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wine Cap

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Giant Puffball

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Turkey Tail

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Witch's Butter

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Aspen Bolete

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Indigo Milk Cap

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Crown-Tipped Coral

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Jelly Ear

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dead Man's Fingers

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Parasol Mushroom

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Shaggy Parasol

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy Ring Champignon

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Artist's Conk

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Birch Polypore

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Tinder Fungus

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Bird's Nest Fungus

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Cinnabar Chanterelle

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Berkeley's Polypore

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Red-Capped Scaber Stalk

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Old Man of the Woods

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Frost's Bolete

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Horse Mushroom

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Mica Cap

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Two-Colored Bolete

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Smooth Chanterelle

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Blusher

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Caesar's Amanita

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Weeping Milk Cap

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Gem-Studded Puffball

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Green-Gill Lepiota

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow Patches

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Cordyceps

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Bitter Bolete

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Green Cracked Russula

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Blackening Russula

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Peppery Milk Cap

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Grisette

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Coker's Amanita

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fool's Mushroom

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Alcohol Inky

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy Inkcap

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow-Stainer

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Red-Belted Conk

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Thin-Walled Maze Polypore

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Mossy Maze Polypore

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

False Turkey Tail

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Northern Tooth

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Eyelash Cup

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Snow Fungus

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wood Ear

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Crested Coral

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Green Elfcup

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Ivory Funnel

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Aspen Oyster

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wolf's Milk Slime

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dog Vomit Slime Mold

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fluted Bird's Nest

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

King Alfred's Cakes

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dung Bird's Nest

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Parasite Bolete

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Rooted Collybia

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

The Deceiver

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Oak Mazegill

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Golden Teacher

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Landslide Mushroom

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Ravenel's Stinkhorn

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Elegant Stinkhorn

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

Primordia readiness: Cold = mycelium dormant. Activating = soil warming, primordia building. Primed = 5+ sustained warm days at species threshold; fruiting imminent if moisture cooperates. Based on Schmidt 1983 / Mihail 2007.