Campus Storm Drain Clean Up

The storm drains and catch basins throughout UL Lafayette campus are all part of a system that moves storm water through coulees and bayous that eventually lead to our Bayou Vermillion. Unfortunately, water isn’t the only thing dumping into the Vermilion, one of our most underutilized natural resources in the community. Trash and debris, such as water bottles, styrofoam cups, candy wrappers, and cigarette butts, littered in the streets are carried to drains by storm water runoff, too. Not only is it unsightly, this litter along with yard waste, non-point source pollution (from pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers), and fecal coliform all negatively impact the water quality of our Bayou Vermilion. In 2012 alone, Bayou Vermilion District removed 902.5 (55 gallon) barrels from the river to improve the health of the Vermillion. Let’s give the hard working bayou specialist team a hand and reduce our campus’s negative impact by cleaning in and around the storm drains on campus.