Ernest Girouard, LSU AgCenter coordinator of the Louisiana Master Farmer Program, left, receives a certificate of appreciation from Charles Wyatt, president of the Bayou Vermilion Preservation Association. Girouard was recognized for his work as chairman of the 2015 Visionary Water Symposium. (Photo by Bruce Schultz, LSU AgCenter)

News Release Distributed 09/11/15

LAFAYETTE, La. – The Bayou Vermilion Preservation Association recognized Ernest Girouard of the LSU AgCenter recently (Sept. 11) for his work as this year’s chairman of a symposium that focuses on the waterway that courses through St. Landry, Lafayette and Vermilion parishes.

Girouard, LSU AgCenter coordinator of the Louisiana Master Farmer Program, said work to improve the bayou’s water quality is the result of several organizations working together.

“We are fortunate we have the Teche-Vermilion Freshwater District to provide a flow of water,” he said. “Before the district was established, the water was stagnant.”

Charles Wyatt, president of the BVPA, said Girouard was instrumental in organizing the association’s second symposium at Vermilionville.

At the symposium, several presenters talked about work that has been done to improve the waterway and to promote it as a tourist attraction.

Kevin Norton, state conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, said the Bayou Vermilion watershed has been improved with voluntary easements obtained by NRCS for 3,400 acres.

Along with the easements came improvements to reduce erosion and runoff, he said.

Bruce Schultz