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The Bayou Vermilion Preservation Association’s ("BVPA) efforts to educate our community about the many ways we can all help protect the Vermilion plays a crucial role in maintaining our ecosystem. Discover Lafayette welcomed Amber Robinson, Chris Adams, and Kiera Frey to the show to discuss the body of work the BVPA undertakes to educate and work with community members who want to make a difference.



In 2013, BVPA was founded by Charles and Jan Wyatt, along with dedicated members of the Lafayette Garden Club. Since those early days, the association has grown to include an active board, advisory board, and hundreds of members.



BVPA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to create awareness of our natural environment by providing education and outreach to the general community about ways to conserve, protect and enjoy the Bayou Vermilion Watershed. It works alongside and in partnership with the Bayou Vermilion District ("BVD") which was established in 1984 and funded by property taxes to “enhance the general conditions and beautification of the bayou by improving water quality, in an effort to promote [it] as a recreational and cultural asset.”  And for those who don't know what a 'watershed' is, it is the area of land that drains to a ditch, coulee, bayou, or river. Our region is in the Teche-Vermilion Watershed.




BVPA Secretary and Board Member Kiera Frey: "The polluted image of the dirty, brown body of water, that on any given day could yield tons of floating trash and debris, that Vermilion River is not the one we want tourists who come to town to soak up local culture to take home with them. Nor is it the one we want our children and grandchildren to grow up with. BVPA focuses on educating the community on the natural beauty of the 70-mile waterway, including its recreational & utilitarian value." Photo by Bryan Tuck of The Advocate.




The River Symposium is BVPA’s biggest fundraiser of the year. It is an annual gathering of presenters who speak on a variety of topics related to the Vermilion River. Each year the theme changes. After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, this year's symposium, Innovation on the Bayou: Harnessing New Ideas for Watershed Improvement, will be held on March 25th at the LITE Center on Cajundome Boulevard from 7:30 AM to 2:30 pm. Speakers include Warren Abadie from LCG, Tara Ross from Calcasieu Parish, Ben Malbrough with Bayou Lafourche Fresh Water District, Brian Piazza, The Nature Conservancy and  Stephen Ortego with SO Studio Architecture. Cost is $27 which includes BVPA membership & lunch (student cost $5) - Sign up https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bvpas-7th-annual-river-symposium-tickets-165966681813.







BVPA promotes and educates the community on techniques for improving water quality, including green infrastructure such as rain gardens, riparian buffers, and plants to help filter stormwater and control erosion. They teach pollution prevention and ways the public can help protect the watershed, such as litter control, picking up pet waste, maintaining septic systems, preventing yard waste and soil runoff, and awareness of stormwater flows. Most people are not aware that everything eventually flows into the Bayou, even the stormwater runoff of your pet's waste in the backyard which contains bacteria and parasites.



An anti-littering poster contest is held to educate Lafayette Parish students on the importance of litter reduction and to create more interest in projects that enhance the landscape. This poster contest, a joint effort between LCG, Lafayette Garden Club, BVPA, and Parish Proud, is held in conjunction with Louisiana’s Cleanest City contest.



Most of us don't realize our direct or indirect contribution to damaging the Vermilion River's safety.