Bayou Teche Water Trail officially opens April 9

Bayou Teche has been added to the National Water Trails System, a first for Louisiana. Designation as a National Water Trail by the U.S. Department of the Interior places the Teche in an elite group of rivers across the nation and will increase recreational tourism for the 15 communities and four parishes the 135-mile river runs through.
To celebrate this prestigious designation, a ribbon-cutting ceremony lead by U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany and other community leaders will be held this Thursday, April 9, at 2 p.m. at Parc des Ponts de Pont Breaux, on the banks of the bayou across from St. Bernard Catholic School, 317 E. Bridge St., in downtown Breaux Bridge.
“The Teche has historic and cultural value to us, and we are happy to share it with the nation,” said Conni Castille, executive director of the TECHE Project. “The trail promotes the natural beauty of South Louisiana bayous and its people.”
The National Water Trails System is a network of “exemplary water trails that are cooperatively supported and sustained.” The system was established “to protect and restore rivers, shorelines, and waterways and to increase access to outdoor recreation on shorelines and waterways.” The designation is non-regulatory and is the 17th river to be named out of only 18 across the nation.
Bayou Teche has a total of 13 established access points for paddle trips as short as seven miles and as long as 135. It is nestled in the Bayou Teche Corridor and is part of the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area. Bayou Teche Paddle Trail was conceived by the TECHE Project, a non-profit organization.
“We worked with communities to submit the bayou for this recognition because it is a great economic driver for tourism,” said Kristen Kordecki, project manager.
The TECHE Project will also be the managers of the trail working with local communities, municipalities, parish and state governments to implement paddle trail amenities.
More information about the ceremony and the Bayou Teche Paddle Trail can be found at www.techeproject.org or by calling (337) 277-5292 for Conni Castille, executive director of the TECHE Project.