LIFE

Paddling the Vermilion may never be the same

Erin Segura
marketing@bayouvermiliondistrict.org
For those who may not be ready to venture out on their own with the paddle trail app, the Bayou Vermilion District offers bi-weekly paddle lessons and guided trips for beginner, intermediate and advanced paddlers.

When your ancestors navigated Vermilion River, they didn't have a GPS. And they certainly didn't have an app.

One doesn't always expect nature and technology to go hand in hand, but occasionally they do — and the result can be a truly beautiful thing.

The Lafayette community has a way of fostering these relationships, and through a collaborative effort of four like-minded local entities, the Bayou Vermilion paddle trail app took shape.

Earlier this year, the Bayou Vermilion District, CGI, the Bayou Vermilion Preservation Association and Lafayette Consolidated Government joined forces to develop and launch the app, which can be used to navigate Lafayette Parish's main waterway — the Vermilion.

The app highlights 73 points of interest from the North Landing under Interstate 10 all the way to the Intracoastal Canal, where the Vermilion empties into the Gulf of Mexico. Points include practical locations for both expert and for-fun water sportsman, such as restaurants and convenience stores, public restrooms and showers, camping and other lodging.

It also points out hazards paddlers and boaters should avoid or use caution around, such as areas with swift currents, frequent barge traffic or lack of access to emergency response. Above all, the app highlights the beauty of Lafayette's greatest natural resource for recreation and eco-tourism.

Harold Schoeffler pilots a canoe along the Vermilion River in Lafayette, LA, Wednesday, May 14, 2014. Schoeffler's father purchased the canoe for him in 1949, and Schoeffler recently had the vessel restored.


Paul Kieu, The Advertiser

For those who may not be ready to venture out on their own with the paddle trail app just yet, the Bayou Vermilion District offers bi-weekly paddle lessons and guided trips for beginner, intermediate and advanced paddlers.

This Saturday's advanced paddle trip will start at 8:30 a.m. at the launch at Vermilionville. We encourage paddlers to arrive at 8 a.m. to put on safety gear and receive instruction, launch their canoes and generally prepare for take-off.

As long as you feel confident enough in your paddling skills that you're not worried about capsizing your canoe or kayak, you're ready to join our advanced class. However, if you are still just looking to add to your repertoire of paddle strokes and focus on safety and stability, don't be discouraged — you can join the May 30 intermediate class.

There's even a class for those with no previous paddle experience whatsoever — newcomers can join us for our next beginner class June 13.

For a complete listing of our future events, visit bayouvermiliondistrict.org/bayou-vermilion-district/events/, or Facebook.com/BayouVermilionDistrict.

A lot of work goes into making the Vermilion not only a beautiful, scenic waterway but a safe and navigable one. Since 1984, it has been the Bayou Vermilion District's mission to beautify, conserve and manage sites along the river, ensuring the preservation and enhancement of its natural and cultural resources as a means to promote recreation for Lafayette Parish citizens.

That means our seven-member bayou operations crew is out on the river daily, working to improve the water quality in and around the Vermilion. Last year alone, the team removed almost 70,000 gallons of floating debris from the river such as water bottles, soda cans, fast food wrappers, Styrofoam containers, etc.

Additionally, the crew removed approximately 300 large items, ranging from couches and mattresses to propane tanks and televisions — not to mention the 160 tires they removed as well.

Please join us in promoting respect for the river and an end to litter. As outdoor recreationalists, you are our biggest advocates for change in how our environment is treated.

We want you to make the most of the Vermilion — it's there for you! The weather is warming up, and there's no better time to get out on the water.

We encourage you to use the Bayou Vermilion Paddle Trail App in whatever way it might serve you. Just remember to take the time to shut down from the mechanized world, unwind and enjoy the beauty of the bayou free from distractions.

Since 1984, BVD has beautified, conserved & managed sites along the Vermilion, preserving Lafayette Parish natural & cultural sources.