BTENP: Workshops series looking at watersheds in the Upper Barataria-Terrebonne Estuary System
Interested in learning more about watersheds in the Upper Barataria-Terrebonne Estuary System? We invite you to participate in the first two workshops of a series looking at watersheds in the Upper Barataria-Terrebonne Estuary System, on July 24 and August 14, 2024.
These workshops are part of the Upper Barataria-Terrebonne Watershed Education Project, which aims to expand a wider understanding of the health, status, and trends of water quality in these watersheds for stakeholders and the general public. The workshops will be held in Zoom format, and the project also includes an in-person meeting later in the fall. All are open to any interested participants.
For more information and to participate, contact Doug Daigle at jddaigle@lsu.edu; 504-258-7028.
Workshop 1: Wednesday, July 24, 2024 – 1pm
– Andrew Barron, BTNEP Senior Scientist – Overview of the Upper Barataria-Terrebonne System
– Doug Daigle, LSU Department of Oceanography & Coastal Studies: Project Overview
– Aimee Preau, Environmental Scientist, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality: Louisiana Non-Point Source Program
Workshop 2: Wednesday, August 14, 2024 – 1pm
– John Clark, Environmental Department, Iberville Parish: Tri-Parish Watershed Initiative
– Kelli McClelland, Assistant State Conservationist, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service: Conservation and Water Quality Improvement Projects in the Upper Delta
Looking forward, future workshops will also look at the status of Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Plans under the Clean Water Act for a number of waterways in the Upper Barataria-Terrebonne system, including: Bayou Verret, Bayou Chevreuil, Bayou Citamon, Grand Bayou; Bayou Maringouin and Bayou Grosse Tete; Lower Grand/Belle River.
All workshops will be recorded, and the project Final Report will be conveyed to the BTNEP Management Conference and Water Quality Action Plan Team, to enhance the implementation of the BTNEP Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan. Therefore, please feel free to forward any information on activities, programs, and projects aimed at improving water quality in these watersheds, both current and historical.
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Background: The Upper Barataria-Terrebonne Watershed lies in Iberville, Point Coupee, St. James, and West Baton Rouge Parishes. It is a highly altered hydrological system of smaller waterbodies (bayous, canals, and rivers), with the larger Intracoastal Waterway-Port Allen Locks (ICWW) acting as a partial dividing line, as well as providing a connection to the Mississippi River.
While the Upper Barataria-Terrebonne Watershed has received less attention than the lower sections due to pressing coastal issues there, the upper section also has importance for the hydrology, water quality, and ecosystem health of the entire estuary system.