02/02/2005     

Vermilion Pride

In the Jan. 19, issue of The Times, The Good , the Bad and the Ugly section chose to feature in the “Bad” the proposed Delta D’Lo waste treatment plant that would discharge treated industrial waste into the Vermilion River. We at the Bayou Vermilion District appreciate The Times bringing this issue to the public’s attention.  

I must though take exception to one comment by The Times writers who asked the (rhetorical?) question “Isn't the Vermilion in bad enough shape already?” 

The Vermilion River is not in that bad of shape. The river suffers from three, and only three, major pollutants — litter, sediment and bacteria. Litter impacts the aesthetic quality of the river environment, but does not impact the actual quality of the water. Sediment in the water impacts the type of animal and plant life, mainly by blocking out sunlight. This limits the variety of species that choose to live in the river. The sediment, of course, does not harm in any way the fish and plants that do make the river their home. The bacteria, from untreated or partially treated human and animal sewage, is the only pollutant that is potentially harmful to humans and other mammals. It is not harmful at all to the fish and plant life of the river.

I have heard many people make the comment that they would never eat the fish caught in the Vermilion River. When I ask them why not, they say because of the “pollution” in the river. When I press them further about what pollution they are referring to, they admit they have no idea what the pollutants are, but they have always heard the river was very polluted. The fact is there are no concentrations of pollutants that would make the fish unsafe to eat, and many people do eat the catfish, freshwater drum and buffalo they catch in the river.

The Vermilion Riverine system supports a great deal of other wildlife. At one time or another, employees of BVD have spotted in Lafayette Parish bobcats, red foxes, coyotes, river otter, beaver and alligators. The bird life includes many types of wading birds, such as herons, egrets, anhinga, cormorants — as well as raptors such as osprey, hawks and owls.   

For certain the river does have its problems as listed above. But before these can be addressed, people must first believe that the river can be improved. In truth, the biggest problem the Vermilion River faces is the belief by too many people that it is hopelessly polluted. And as long as they believe that, they will not put forth the effort to address the all too real issues facing the river.

So please do not make the river out to be worse than it is, because isn’t the Vermilion’s image in bad enough shape already? 

Kerry Collins - Executive Director
Lafayette Parish Bayou Vermilion District