Bayou Teche Paddle Trail nets national designation

In recognizing the achievements of federal, state and local partners, the Bayou Teche Paddle Trail was named to the National Water Trails System, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell announced Wednesday.

The Teche's paddle trail and the Huron River Water Trail are the 17th and 18th trails of the National Water Trails System.

"Expanding water trails nationwide improves the environment and adds value to local economies," said Jewell. "The National Water Trail System helps people discover the natural beauty and history of local places and provides fun opportunities for families to explore the world around them."

And that's something that's been in the works for at least three years at the behest of the Teche (Teche Ecology, Culture, History, Education) Project, a non-profit group working to raise awareness of the environmental, cultural, historical, and recreational values of Bayou Teche.

"First we got the National Paddle Trail designation and now we've got the National Water Trail, which is even a higher accolade in that this comes from the Department of Interior," said Patti Holland, Teche Project councilperson. "There's only 18 in the nation now, so it really stands out. Bayou Teche is such a significant waterway."

Holland is also the coordinator of Shake Your Trail, a mini-festival/fundraiser for the Bayou Teche Paddle Trail in Breaux Bridge, said the acknowledgement presents opportunities for the Teche Project.

"Anytime you get a prestigious title to an effort like the Teche Project, it opens up doors and it will put more focus on the bayou and enable us to apply for more grant funding and also get corporate sponsors and get everyone energized on the bayou to support the wonderful things that are going on on the Teche," Holland said. "It opens up a lot more opportunities for us to help build a national paddle trail, Very excited."

Conni Castille, executive director of the Teche Project said there are two pending grants that should be completed and closed out this year.

"One is to build our first trailhead which is going to be downtown Breaux Bridge where Shake Your Trail Feather takes place," said Castille. "The idea is to put more of these along the trail."

At big trail heads, floating docks make access easier for canoes and kayaks, "so you can easily launch and come out of the water," Castille said, adding that they be spread along the bayou "so that you can go maybe put in Cecilia and go to Breaux Bridge"

The Teche Project folks would like to work with local governments to help them develop their own trail heads.

"We want to be involved to consult and assist the municipalities because we want paddlers to understand that they are on a trail," said Castille.

Another grant would go to having two floating docks in each parish along the Bayou Teche Paddle Trail, which begins in Port Barre and ends in Patterson.

Funds raised at annual events such as Shake Your Trail Feather, the fourth scheduled for October, go to create projects and maintain facilities along the National Park Service recognized trail, as well as a trail head facility in Breaux Bridge.

Earlier this month, the Teche Project held its first wood duck nesting box workshop.

"We're going to be putting up wood duck boxes with mile markers on them," said Holland. "We've got buy-ins from citizens up and down the Teche to be part of our wood duck mile maker program."

Holland said with funding from the Shake Your Trail Feather event and other sources, "we got enough money to start putting more amenities on the bayou," she said, adding that the public can look for watershed signs and paddle trail signs in the near future.

At 135 miles, the Bayou Têche Paddle Trail wanders through four parishes and 13 towns. The trail promotes the natural beauty of south Louisiana and integrates the history of the people and the land while providing access for paddlers of all abilities.

The National Water Trail System is a network of national exemplary water trails that can be sustained by an ever-growing water trail community. Water trails are catalysts for protecting and restoring the health of local waterways and surrounding lands. They also provide a connection for current and future generations to the nature, history and adventure that can be found on the water.

"The National Park Service collaborates closely with partners to develop these water trails, which provide health, social, and economic benefits to their local communities," said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvi. "These joint efforts help us reach new communities and educate them about the importance of preserving the natural and cultural heritage that can be found in their own backyards."

FAQ's regarding the Bayou Teche Paddle Trail can be found here: http://bit.ly/1xZ7bFU