The National Park Service (NPS) has awarded the Bayou Teche technical assistance for one year to communities in St. Landry, St. Martin, Iberia and St. Mary parishes to plan for an official paddle trail. The Center for Cultural and Eco-Tourism at UL Lafayette, TECHE Project and Acadiana RC&D will be co-managing this NPS Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance project. The RTCA program helps communities across the nation develop paddle and foot trails to help promote low impact, non-motorized recreation and address conservation concerns.

The paddle trail will capitalize on the success of the annual Tour du Teche, the 130-mile adventure canoe race held in September 2010. This project will help communities along Bayou Teche address the need for kayak, canoe & pirogue access to the bayou, water quality improvement needs and small economic development potential. Public input will drive the planning process and will help prioritize projects during the implementation phases.

"The first two public meetings were met with great community support and encouragement, and we look forward to hearing the ideas and concerns of the Iberia and St. Martin parish residents," commented Acadiana RC&D's Kristen Kordecki.

"This is the kind of project that needs to have community involvement if we want to sustain the momentum to clean up Bayou Teche and host recreation opportunities," says Anya Burgess of the TECHE Project.

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Please contact our office for more information and to get involved!