LAFAYETTE — The National Park Service has named Bayou Teche the first “National Water Trail” in Louisiana, a designation that comes after focused efforts in recent years to nurture recreation on the waterway and improve its health.

Bayou Teche stretches 135 miles through St. Landry, St. Martin, Iberia and St. Mary parishes, starting in Port Barre and ending in Berwick

The national designation was sought by the TECHE Project, a nonprofit group launched in 2009 that has spearheaded several projects to clean up the bayou and make it easier to access and enjoy the waterway.

TECHE Project Executive Director Conni Castille tells The Advocate (http://bit.ly/1JcwoVU) the national park system’s designation could bring national attention, literally putting Bayou Teche on the map for tourists seeking a water adventure in south Louisiana.

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Information from: The Advocate, http://theadvocate.com

(MGNonline)