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Mahala Gambill, Hayes, M.P.
Haley Gambill and M.P. Hayes
Louisiana’s rich heritage of cohesive environmental systems is painted across many regions. Watersheds connect communities and provide navigable waterways for recreation and commerce. Though the Mississippi River acts as the major artery of many tributaries to the Gulf, it more importantly supplies critical waterways like Bayou Lafourche. The LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Sea Grant have recently targeted this region for outreach to promote water stewardship and preserve the bayou’s resources.
The Bayou Lafourche watershed begins at a small pumping station in Donaldsonville, Louisiana. Once connected directly to the Mississippi River, the pumping station is now the primary function that supports about 300,000 residents in west Ascension, Assumption, Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes with clean drinking water. Additionally, 90% of potable offshore water for the oil and gas industry comes from Bayou Lafourche. This 106-mile tributary to the Gulf passes through sugarcane country and numerous communities that all contribute to the footprint of water flowing downstream.
Extension professionals supported by both the LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Sea Grant are working in this region to raise awareness of the bayou as a vital resource and to promote best management practices for water conservation. This is being done in partnership with the local water utility company, Bayou Lafourche Fresh Water District (BLFWD), whose mission is to preserve and strengthen the bayou for current and future communities. BLFWD has strategic control structures in Napoleonville and Lockport that allow for the flow of water to be managed to best serve the four drinking water treatment facilities on the bayou. By constantly monitoring salinity, gauge height and other conditions, the district helps ensure adequate water is available for facilities to process for the residents.
From a community perspective, Bayou Lafourche is a critical freshwater artery that unites and sustains multiple parishes in south Louisiana. For stakeholders living and working in the watershed, the bayou is a shared infrastructure and a strategic resource for long-term regional resilience. Beyond being the source of drinking water, it symbolizes resilience, heritage and shared responsibility as the bayou’s significance is deeply rooted in the identity of the region. The communities along Bayou Lafourche are deeply invested in its health and sustainability as generations of families have lived, worked and thrived along its banks and rely on its constant flow for agriculture, industry and recreation. Sugarcane fields are nourished by its waters, while local fisheries and wildlife habitats depend on its health. Residents and tourists alike take advantage of the bayou’s natural beauty through kayak stations and boat launches.
Community engagement is central to the stewardship of Bayou Lafourche. BLFWD, in collaboration with local governments and organizations such as the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program, plays a vital role in conservation and infrastructure maintenance. These organizations along with Louisiana Sea Grant, the LSU AgCenter and Friends of Bayou Lafourche play a pivotal role both in monitoring water quality levels, promoting recreation and educating the public about the bayou’s rich history and uses. Whether through classroom programs, volunteer cleanups, recreational or conservation initiatives, the message is clear: The health of the bayou is a shared responsibility, and its future depends on the collective action of all who call its banks home. Outreach and education initiatives are fostering a culture of conservation as these efforts are not only preserving the bayou’s ecological integrity but also strengthening interparish collaboration to create a thriving bayou that supports the heritage of local communities and addresses future challenges. This partnership is a model for effective collaboration and demonstrates how education and outreach can strengthen interparish ties and ensure sustainability.
Water quality has been a recent focal point for educational opportunities in the bayou watershed. A series of publications titled Be on the Team To Think Downstream highlights sources of water quality issues and best management practices for addressing nitrogen, temperature, dissolved oxygen and fecal coliform. Another series of factsheets focusing on septic systems is being created in partnership with the Louisiana Department of Health and guides homeowners for understanding, maintaining and preparing septic systems for proper treatment. These resources help residents recognize the drivers of water impairments and provide resources to inspire more sustainable practices.
In addition to publications, faculty specialists and agents are collaborating with BLFWD on a video series about drinking water processing, tracing the flow from the Donaldsonville pumping station to residents’ faucets.
The culture of the water in Louisiana is evident in the communities it impacts. The Southwest Region illustrates the importance of conservation and stewardship for protecting critical freshwater resources. With support from the LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Sea Grant, which work statewide to ensure healthy watersheds, future generations have a foundation for preservation. This collaboration shows how science, community engagement and education can work hand in hand to strengthen current practices and safeguard Louisiana’s natural resources.
Haley Gambill is the Southwest Region Sea Grant Agent for Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes focused on fisheries and coastal issues. M.P. Hayes is a dual-appointed assistant professor in the LSU AgCenter School of Plant, Environmental and Soil Sciences and Louisiana Sea Grant.
This article appears in the fall 2025 edition of Louisiana Agriculture.
Septic Info for Homeowners Series:
Be On the Team to Think Downstream
The historic waterways of south Louisiana provide fresh drinking water to residents while also serving as recreational hubs. Map by Ana Iverson
Drinking water facilities have basins which allow particles to settle as water moves slowly through the treatment processes. Photo by M.P. Hayes.
The Lockport water control structure can be closed in the event of low water to provide adequate volume for the drinking water facilities to operate. Photo by M.P. Hayes
