7. City Park Pond New Iberia

A LOCAL WATERSHED RESTORATION INITIATIVE

Even the smallest patches of native landscaping can make a big difference to wildlife, air and water quality, and the communities within the Teche-Vermilion Watershed. As a member of our watershed community, YOU can make a difference. Reviving Resilient Landscapes fosters community-led efforts by combining the resources, people power, and knowledge of conservation groups across the region.

Click to Expand.

Devil’s Pond is immediately adjacent to Bayou Teche, and is a popular spot for recreation at New Iberia’s City Park. Heavy foot traffic and destructive non-native wildlife contributes to degraded water quality, soil compaction, and lack of vegetation. On December 5, 2020, our partners in preservation, Mayor DeCourt, and the New Iberia Parks Department hosted a watershed resiliency workshop for the community and planted over twenty native plant species in and around the pond. Large metal cages were constructed around the planted areas to prevent wildlife from eating the plants that hold the soil in place. By using native trees, shrubs, and plants such as soft rush (Juncus effusus), cypress swamp sedge (Carex joorii), and gulf coast beardtongue (Penstemon tenuis) to revitalize the pond banks, residents will benefit from the enhanced beauty and improved watershed health for years to come.

DEVELOPING OUR COMMUNITIES
BEAUTY AND FUNCTION WITH MULTI-PURPOSE INFRASTRUCTURE

Community developments require engineered drainage systems to prevent flooding during rain events. The storm drains, catch basins, culverts, and other “grey” infrastructure used for drainage are very efficient at moving water quickly, however, the unnaturally high flow of stormwater runoff from land and into our waterways causes erosion, downstream flooding, and surface water pollution. When grey infrastructure is combined with systems that mimic natural hydrology, known as “green” infrastructure, the surface water pollutants and erosive forces of runoff are diminished. Detention ponds are a type of green infrastructure that, when designed correctly, increase community aesthetics and provide recreational opportunities to residents.