Bayou Vermilion Preservation Association

06/05/2026

Happy Fun Fact Friday! 💙

Did you know that coulees can carry more than just rainwater?

When it rains, storm runoff can carry trash from streets, parking lots, and yard into storm drains & coulees. From there, that litter can travel to the Vermilion River.

By properly disposing of trash & picking up litter when you see it, you can help protect water quality & keep our watershed healthy!

06/05/2026

06/05/2026

See Louisiana the way it was meant to be seen. 🐊🌿

Join us for a guided swamp tour at beautiful Lake Martin and experience cypress trees, wildlife, and unforgettable scenery from the water.

Spots fill quickly—sign up online at PackPaddle.com and come paddle Louisiana with us! 🚣‍♀️✨

05/27/2026

Happy Water Quality Wednesday!💙

One of the several water quality parameters we measure is Dissolved Oxygen which is the measurement of oxygen present in the water sample. This is a critical measurement because aquatic organisms like fish, crawfish, mussels, dragonfly larvae, and aquatic plants rely on oxygen to survive.

When dissolved oxygen levels get too low, aquatic life can become stressed or even die. Factors like high water temperatures, excess nutrients (such as fertilizer runoff), and stagnant water can all contribute to low dissolved oxygen levels.

A typical minimum for healthy dissolved oxygen is 5 mg/L. Stay tuned as we continue sharing more about the water quality indicators that help us better understand our watershed!

05/22/2026

What is a coulee anyway? A bayou? A ditch? A creek?

The word coulee comes from the French verb “couler”which means “to flow.” Coulees are channels that help move water and runoff through the watershed, and they can be either natural features or man-made concrete structures. Coulees play an important role in the Vermilion River watershed & across the Acadiana region.

Stay tuned for more coulee content to come👀

05/20/2026

Rainfall & Drought & Compost, Oh my!

A recent study (linked below) shows that rain events are coming in larger, stronger bursts, with longer droughts between each event. This extreme cycle puts a lot of stress on soil and trees. When trees are water stressed they lose their limberness and flexibility and become more susceptible to losing limbs or falling even during minimal windy conditions.

Fear not! Adding compost around your trees provides a spongy water retention medium for rain to stay in place and percolate down into the root zone, improving overall health of plants and protecting them from the harmful conditions of dry weather and drought.

FREE COMPOST is available to pick up at the Dean Domingues Compost Facility at 400 Dugas Rd. Lafayette, LA 70507

Hours 🕘
7:30am - 3:00pm M-F
7:30am - 11:30am Saturdays
CLOSED Sundays

Questions?
Call 337-896-9625

05/20/2026

The forest at continues to grow. 🌳

Thanks to the support from Louisiana Community Forests, we recently completed another phase of woodland restoration efforts across the Park, including the planting of more than 250 native trees and the expansion of woodland habitat along our trails.

This project is helping restore natural ecosystems, improve biodiversity, and create a healthier urban forest for our community to enjoy for years to come.

Read more about the project, the process, and the incredible partners who helped make it possible at this link: https://moncuspark.org/growing_the_forest/

05/19/2026

After the ribbon-cutting ceremony for St. Martin Parish’s first kayak kiosk, I spoke with Reed Rudasill about Wanderlust Rentals, a business bringing a big-city bike-share concept to Southern Louisiana waterways.

05/14/2026