Friends of Bayou Lafourche

An eagle quietly soaring over Bayou Lafourche. Its slow, steady flight was a simple reminder of the natural beauty that surrounds us here. Peaceful moments like this are easy to miss but worth noticing.

The Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program paddle is TODAY!🛶

Tomorrow is the big day!!!

Registered paddlers, please check your email for detailed instructions. If you have any questions, please shoot us a message at [email protected] or give us a call at 985.447.0868.

🎃👻 It's Spooky Season on the Bayou! 👻🎃

Keep an eye out… you never know what’s lurking on the waters of Bayou Lafourche this Halloween! 🦴💀 Giant skeletons (and their bone-chilling dog companions 🐕‍🦴) might just make an appearance. 🌙

Stay tuned… you won’t want to miss what’s coming! 🔮✨

Up and Down the Bayou!

Looking for a place to enjoy authentic Cajun cuisine on the bayou? CherAmie's Seafood Restaurant is the spot! Located in Cut Off right on the beautiful Bayou Lafourche, they serve up fresh, locally-inspired dishes that capture the heart and soul of Louisiana.
🦀 🍤🎣

It's a beautiful Monday on Bayou Lafourche! ☀️

Up and Down the Bayou!

The Acadian exiles who settled along Louisiana's bayous created a distinctive Cajun culture based on life in a watery realm. The Wetlands Acadia Cultural Center shares their way of life through a film, special and permanent exhibits, musical performances, and boat tours of Bayou Lafourche. Admission to the center and to most programs is free; boat tours are by ticket and reservation.

Up and Down the Bayou!

St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, located in the St. John community nestled along Bayou Lafourche, has a rich history dating back to 1876. It started as a small combination mission and school called Ecole St. Jean, run by two Mount Carmel nuns who taught there. Once a week, the school transformed into a chapel for a visiting priest to celebrate Mass. As the community grew, St. John became officially recognized as a legal parish in 1919.
Have you visited this beautiful church?

It's always a nice day for a ride on Bayou Lafourche! 🌞🐠🐊

Up and Down the Bayou!

"Lazy River" is a 1934 romantic drama with scenes filmed in Golden Meadow. The story follows Bill as he arrives in a struggling Cajun village, only to discover from Sarah, Miss Minnie’s daughter, that Miss Minnie is not the wealthy widow he expected. Her sh*****ng business is on the brink of a hostile takeover by Sam Kee, a cunning smuggler and racketeer.

A tale of love, intrigue, and resilience set against the backdrop of our bayou heritage!

We had such a fun time with Nicholls State University Department of Mass Communication and Nicholls State University Department of Art!
Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve took us on a Bayou Lafourche boat ride to visit the E.D. White Historic Site. 🚤

Have you signed up for Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program's Paddle Bayou Lafourche yet? 🛶

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfZuMudlneQ4vA5OdqyrCax812C-OrFO4M5rQOc5lwc4jZhxA/viewform

As we begin to recover from Hurricane Francine, we hope that everyone made it through safely and without too much damage. We’re keeping everyone in our thoughts as our amazing community pulls together yet again!

Up and Down the Bayou!

Standing tall for over 500 years, this magnificent live oak at the E.D. White Historic Site has witnessed centuries of Louisiana history!
Its sprawling branches and deep roots are a testament to resilience and strength, much like the heritage of our region. Come visit this incredible piece of nature and take a walk-through history under the canopy of this ancient oak located along the banks of Bayou Lafourche.

Happy Labor Day! 💪

Up and Down the Bayou!

"Because of Winn-Dixie," a novel by Kate DiCamillo, tells the heartwarming story of Opal, a young girl who, with the help of a stray dog named Winn-Dixie, learns to embrace her new home in Naomi, Florida. The book was later turned into a family comedy-drama movie in 2005, which was filmed right here in Thibodaux, Donaldsonville and Napoleonville! 🐶

🤝 Collaboration in Action! Amy with Friends of Bayou Lafourche and Dustin with Bayou Lafourche Fresh Water District had a fantastic meeting with the talented Nicholls State University Department of Mass Communication, Nicholls State University Department of Art and Al Danos College of Business at Nicholls State University classes! 🎓✨ It's inspiring to see our community come together to discuss the bayou's future and explore new ways to share its story. Thanks to everyone involved for your creativity and passion! 🌿
Thank you, Lance and Trisha for choosing our businesses for your project this semester!

Reneisha is enjoying this lovely afternoon fishing on the bayou at the Downtown Thibodaux dock. Hope she catches a big one! 🐠

Take a visit to the newly reopened Bayou Lafourche Folklife and Heritage Museum!

Beginning in 1954, Valentine Pulp & Paper Co. used bagasse, a sugarcane byproduct, to create paper products—a unique, experimental method of paper production which relied on Bayou Lafourche as its water source. Constructed on the property of Valentine Sugars, the company endured changes through the years, employing hundreds in Lockport and surrounding areas until its closure in 2007.

View information about the Valentine Paper Mill and various other exhibits on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.—other days/times available by special appointment. Admission is $2 for adults, $1 for children (6 & under free).

Visit bayoufolklife.org to learn more.

Up and Down the Bayou!

Nestled along the banks of Bayou Lafourche, Laurel Valley Plantation is a captivating reminder of our rich history and vibrant culture.

🚫Keep Our Bayou Beautiful: Say No to Pollution! 🚫

Our bayou is more than just water; it's the lifeblood of our community, a home to countless species, and a treasure we must protect. Every piece of trash that ends up in Bayou Lafourche not only harms wildlife but also threatens the health of our water and the beauty of our natural surroundings.

Let's all do our part:
🌱 Dispose of trash properly—no littering!
🌱 Reduce, reuse, and recycle whenever possible.
🌱 Volunteer for BTNEP's Bayou Lafourche Cleanup and encourage others to respect the bayou.

Remember, what we do today affects tomorrow. Let’s work together to keep Bayou Lafourche clean and thriving for generations to come. 🌊💚

Sign up today for Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program’s Paddle Bayou Lafourche! 🛶

Up and Down the Bayou!

The stunning St. Philomena Church nestled along Bayou Lafourche in Labadieville.

STATEMENT FROM UNIFIED COMMAND
Updated 7:00 PM CDT; August 12, 2024

Key Information for Today
-Bayou Lafourche from the Company Canal to the Rita Bridge is reopened to mariners. The bayou remains closed from the Hwy. 182 bridge in Raceland to Company Canal. This closure is being enforced by the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Department as well as the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
-Today’s work again involved removal of oiled vegetation, replacement of absorbent boom, and removal of containment boom.
-No injuries have been reported today. Heat safety continues to be a point of emphasis for workers considering the heat advisory in effect for the response area.
-No wildlife reported or captured today. 26 animals remain in care at the rehab location.
-For additional details on volumes of recovered liquids and community air monitoring data, visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) StoryMap site at https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/5be668be1cdb4d7696fc8e7ae94411ff.

Reminders
-Residents continue to be urged to report any observations of oiled wildlife to (832) 514-9663.
-Residents affected and wanting to report personal or property damage because of this incident can call (833) 812-0877.
-All media inquiries should be directed to [email protected]
-The “No-Fly Zone” remains in place by the FAA.
-The Unified Command, consisting of federal, state, local, and company officials, will issue additional information as warranted.
-The Lafourche Parish Government page remains the official source for information about this incident.