Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary program volunteers pouring in for Bayou Lafourche cleanup

THIBODAUX – The Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program (BTNEP) along with Keep Louisiana Beautiful and the Bayou Lafourche Freshwater District are in the final stage of preparations for Saturday’s Bayou Lafourche Cleanup event.

Over 800 volunteers have signed up to “get the trash out of the splash.” Volunteers include families, governmental agencies, parish officials, schools, churches, chambers and small and large companies. The cleanup will be done mostly from boats, but volunteers will also be needed to clean locations around bridges and along the bayou side. Fifteen volunteer site captains will set up their teams in different areas along the bayou.

The event is projected to clean up 106 miles of the bayou from Donaldsonville to Leeville. In the past three years, over 3,000 volunteers have donated their time to cleaning up the waterway that supplies drinking water to residents of Lafourche, Terrebonne and Assumption parishes.

“BTNEP’s goal is to bring awareness to the littering problem and restore pride in our natural resources,” said Alma Robichaux, BTNEP Education and Outreach Coordinator.

This year will include an appreciation party, which is free to all volunteers that will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Lafourche Central Market on Hwy. 1 in Raceland. Food, drinks and music will be provided. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their instruments to join The Cajun Music Preservation Society who will be leading a ‘jam session.’ Door prizes will also be given.

For more information regarding the Bayou Lafourche Cleanup or to volunteer for the 2015 event please visit www.BTNEP.org or call 985-447-0868.