Nicholls State University participated in the annual Bayou Lafourche Cleanup, hosting dozens of volunteers to keep the area litter-free.
The Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program held its Bayou Lafourche Cleanup to combat the increase of trash in the bayou. It took place on April 5 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
At locations from Donaldsonville to Leeville with over 400 volunteers, BTNEP partnered with Bayou Lafourche Fresh Water District, Keep Lafourche Beautiful and Lafourche Parish Government to spread awareness and get volunteers.
Nicholls participated as a site for Nicholls students, faculty and staff to participate in the cleanup efforts.
Dr. Allyse Ferrera, a Nicholls biology professor, held the role of site captain at the Nicholls area cleanup. She, alongside student volunteers, helped participants prepare themselves for a day of safely collecting trash.
She said Nicholls’ involvement with BTNEP to clean the bayou existed before the cleanup became an official event.
The need for “a whole cleanup up and down the bayou” is what’s influenced her and others to keep the bayou as clean as possible over the years.
Mia Elias, a senior marine biology student, participated as a student volunteer at the cleanup for two years now.
She enjoys working these kinds of events as she can see her fellow Nicholls students and community members “clean up a vital part of our local ecosystem,” something Elias is passionate about.
Elias described how important it is to keep the bayou clean, not only for the view but the species that live within it.
“It’s important to keep our bayou clean because it has several species of fish, reptiles and birds that use it as a habitat and water source. Additionally, this water system flows out to the Gulf of Mexico which could lead to more trash in our oceans,” Elias said.
Ferrera acknowledges the bayou will always hold some form of trash, be it intentional or not. She hopes to see a decline in waste accumulation by bringing awareness to this issue across the region.
Ferrera believes it is “a critical water body in our area” that needs to be maintained.
