Teche map garners international award

The official map of the Bayou Teche Paddle Trail has won Best of Category in an international competition between mapmakers.
Results of the Cartography and Geographic Information Society Map Design Competition, held at Montgomery College in Rockville, Md., this spring, were just recently announced.
The competition was open to all mapmakers in the United States and Canada for maps completed or published during 2014.
The Bayou Teche Paddle Trail and Cultural and Historical Map was named Best of Category in Recreational/Travel Maps. The map is a 12-by-30-inch color, waterproof map with one side depicting the paddle trail and the opposite side focused on the significant cultural and historical aspects of Bayou Teche.
The map will be entered into Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.
The Louisiana Geological Survey worked with the TECHE Project to produce the map. The TECHE Project is a non-profit organization which manages the Bayou Teche Paddle Trail, one of only 18 U.S. Department of Interior-designated National Water Trails in the country.
Cartographer Lisa Pond and GIS specialist Robert Paulsell, both of the Louisiana Geological Survey, are the award recipients. “This award showcases the qualities that make Bayou Teche Paddle Trail such an asset to the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area: history, culture and excellence in outdoor recreation, and recognizes the efforts of dedicated volunteers and the value of partnerships.” said Debra Credeur, director of the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area.
The TECHE Project was the recipient of the National Park Service Recreation, Trails and Conservation Assistance program and has since been included in the U.S. Department of Interior National Water Trail System. During this time, the TECHE Project worked with citizens, paddlers, local businesses, parish tourism commissioners, the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana and the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area to gather information for the map.
The historical and cultural annotations on the map were provided by Dr. Shane K. Bernard, author of the forthcoming book Teche: A History of Louisiana’s Most Famous Bayou.
“The Louisiana Geological Survey was great to work with,” said project co-manager and TECHE Project council member Dane Thibodeaux. “We have over 250 years of information to include along 135 miles of bayou. Ms. Pond and Mr. Paulsell did an exceptional job putting the Bayou Teche Paddle Trail on the map and we are proud to share it with the public whether they are paddling the bayou or visiting one of our tourism offices.”
The Bayou Teche Paddle Trail is part of a growing trend in low-impact, nature-based recreation in the state including bicycling, trail-running, hiking and kayaking.
“As we move forward to build a low-impact, culture and nature based recreation economy in Acadiana, we are pleased to make an award-winning map part of the suite of tools and products for users, planners, local businesses, and tourism professionals,” said TECHE Project Executive Director, Conni Castille.
Maps can be found at Cajun Paddle in Breaux Bridge, Pack & Paddle in Lafayette, Le Vieux Village Tourist Information Center in Opelousas, Iberia Chamber of Commerce in New Iberia and at http://techeproject.org/bayou-teche-paddle-trail/map/. Visit Louisiana Geological Survey on-line map repository at http://www.lgs.lsu.edu/.