Five new demonstrations for improving the water quality and lessen rain water entering Bayou Vermillion. The projects will open next Thursday. These projects serve to demonstrate storm water management options for agricultural, residential, and commercial properties. The projects were completed through a 319 Water Quality Improvement Grant with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality

The projects are:

1. Wetland Plant Nursery: The nursery will be used to grow native grasses, sedges, shrubs, vines and trees, which will be distributed at no cost for bank restoration and to reduce and treat storm water runoff.

2. Rain Garden: The 10,000 ft2 rain garden is filled with native wetland plants that hold rain long enough for it to soak into the ground, capturing and processing parking lot pollutants rather than draining into the streets and storm drains.

3. Pervious Pavement: The 5,200 ft2 area boasts four different permeable parking space options and three green spaces, all of which capture and treat parking lot pollutants such as oil, gas, and organic debris in addition to reducing runoff.

4. Rain Barrels: Rain barrels are an easy way to reduce storm water runoff leaving roof surfaces and are a source of free water for plants and animals. As part of the LDEQ grant Bayou Vermilion District hosted several rain barrel workshops where participants were provided all the materials and shown how to make their own rain barrels free of charge.

5. Retention pond: A retention pond is a pond or small lake that is designed to receive runoff water from surrounding areas and hold it indefinitely until the water either soaks into the ground or evaporates into the atmosphere. Retention ponds are an attractive way to prevent chemicals, trash and debris from entering the bayou, aid in the reduction of flooding problems downstream and serve as habitat for wildlife.

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