Research

 

Modeling NPS Pollution and Land Use Types in Bayou Plaquemine Brule Watershed,  
Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, Funded for $287, 864.  July 1, 2006 – June 30, 2009. [Ongoing]

The specific objectives of this project are to: (1) quantify daily loading of suspended solids and nutrients for Bayou Palquemine Brule and its tributaries, (2) quantify the contribution of landuse types usch as agricultural, forest, and urban areas  on nonpoint source pollution (e.g. TSS, TN, TP, Turbidity, and DO), (3) evaluate various BMPs implemented and their effects on nonpoint source pollution in the watershed, and (4) quantify the effectiveness of BMPs in load reduction.


Wildflower Seed Bank, LaDOTD Highway Beautification, and Tourism Promotion in Louisiana
Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LaDOTD) Funded for $1,734,000. April 11, 2005 - April 10, 2010. [Ongoing]

Enhancement of highways, scenic byways, and welcome centers across the State of Louisiana is critical for tourism and eventual economic development of the state. Managing raodsides and welcome centers require a large amount of taxpayer's money each year. Using native plant materials in highway enahncement and beautification of welcome centers has become a promising alternative to lowering maintenance costs while enhancing haighway beautification across the United States. This project is a joint venture between Louisiana Department of Transporattion and Development (LaDOTD), the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, the University of Louisiana at Monroe, and the Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, in Louisiana.
 
 

Harvesting  Coreopsis tinctoria for seeds at UL Lafayette Experimental Farm

The specific objectives of this project are: (1) To identify, collect and multiply seeds of selected Louisiana wildflower plant species suitable for Highway Beautification, Welcome Centers and State Parks Landscaping, and Tourism Promotion in Louisiana, (2) To establish a seed bank of selected wildflower species, (3) To investigate selected wildflower seed establishment and weed maangement, and (4) To train LaDOTD staff and volunteers in wildflower management.

 

 

 

 


2005 Louisiana Surface Water Quality Conference, June 1-3, Hilton Lafayette
LDEQ Funded for $12,500.
[Completed]

To plan, organize, and conduct the 2005 Louisiana Surface Water Quality Conference for invited researchers, publics, and governmental staff. The main objectives of this conference are: 1) Understanding water quality issues, program and policies in the state; 2) Sharing information and understanding more about surface water qualities of Louisiana bayous, streams, rivers, estuaries, swamps, and other surface water bodies; and 3) Learning more about the effectiveness of BMPs in controlling nonpoint source pollution.
 

 

Conference agenda included swamp tour, icebreaker, opening ceremony,
oral and poster presentations, banquet, DJ, Band, and closing remarks
 

 

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette has been actively involved with LDEQ and US EPA in surface water quality monitoring efforts since 2000. The LDEQ and UL Lafayette have jointly hosted water quality workshops, a water summit, and a water quality symposium in the past.  The one-day “Surface Water Quality Symposium” last year was attended by nearly 75 participants representing the LDEQ, UL Lafayette, LSU, NRCS, Fish and Wildlife Services, Bayou Vermilion District, RC&D, and the farming communities in the region.  The success of the symposium basically gave birth to the 2005 Louisiana Surface Water Quality Conference, which is the first annual water quality conference of this kind in the state.

Bayou Plaquemine Brule Water Quality Monitoring Project
LDEQ Funded for $452,714.
April 1, 2001 - December 31, 2005 [Completed]

The major objective of this project is to determine drainage area and the entrance of oxygen-demanding substances into the mainstream channel in relation to rainfall events and drainage areas in Bayou Plaquemine Brule watershed in southwestern Louisiana. We hypothesized that a major amount of oxygen-demanding substances enter into the water body during a few big rain events and not all the drainage areas are equally responsible for the loading of oxygen-demanding substances in Bayou Plaquemine Brule watershed. The project will monitor in-stream water quality in the Bayou Plaquemine Brule watershed. Many of the measurements for this project include constituents that were covered by the TMDL, including oxygen-demanding substances such as nutrients and organics.


Bayou Plaquemine Brule


Discharge Measurement

Vermilion-Teche Water Quality Monitoring Project
LDEQ Funded for $382,241.
September 15, 2000 - November 30, 2005 [Completed]

The specific purpose of this project is to monitor pollutant loadings from sugarcane fields, pasture lands, and residential areas with and without BMPs in the downstream reaches of the Vermilion-Teche River Basin. The  study area for this project is downstream, straddling Vermilion River at a location approximately 10 kilometers south of Lafayette. This is immediately downstream from the Hwy 733 bridge across the Vermilion River.

Automated water quality sampling station






Establishment of Bio-treatment Laboratory for Agricultural Runoff
BORSF Funded for $74,596.
June 1, 2001 - June 30, 2003  [Completed]

Through this grant, we established a Bio-treatment Laboratory for agricultural runoff. The laboratory consists of instrumented dairy waste water treatment and recycling system, and an analytical lab with AAS, CN analyzer, DO meters, UV-Spectrophotometer, YSI, and freeze dryer.
 

Participatory Evaluation of Organic Production System in Southwestern Louisiana
OFRF Funded for $6,800.
March 2002 - October 2003  [Completed]

The overall goal of this proposed project was to evaluate and demonstrate the feasibility of organic production systems through participatory approach in this very hot and humid environment of southwestern Louisiana.

The specific objectives of this proposed study were to demonstrate organic production system to the communities, students, and other stakeholders in southwestern Louisiana; and to evaluate the effect of approved weed control practices on tomato fruit quality, crop yields, and soils.

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