This resource focuses on ecosystem services within the Atchafalaya Basin, North America's largest river swamp. It highlights the basin's role in nutrient cycling, habitat provision for migratory birds, and its contribution to the economy, particularly through the crawfish industry. A major aspect discussed is a proposed 15-mile levee extension aimed at protecting agricultural land, which could significantly alter the natural floodplain's sediment deposition patterns. The document encourages students to identify specific ecosystem services and analyze the potential long-term ecological and economic impacts of the levee project using a structured evaluation framework. It emphasizes critical thinking about trade-offs between agricultural utility and ecological integrity in the context of environmental management.