Bayou des Allemands swept clean of trash, debris by volunteer crew

Published 12:00 am Saturday, March 10, 2001

LEONARD GRAY

PHOTO: CPL. JOHNNY CHAMPAGNE and Deputy Ruche Marino hook onto a dumped box in Bayou des Allemands during Thursday’s cleanup, sponsored by Sheriff Greg Champagne. (Staff Photo by Leonard Gray) DES ALLEMANDS – Hundreds of pounds of scrap metal, plastic and other trash, along with several full-size freezers and derelict boats, were hauled out of Bayou des Allemands Thursday by a squad of volunteers. Sheriff Greg C. Champagne, who organized the second “Spring Cleaning on the Bayou,” said of the trash dumping, “This really burns me up. I’ve got a camp out here.” The first bayou cleanup was held in spring 1999 in Bayou Gauche. Champagne said with more and more sports fishermen coming to the area, it is important to present visitors with a cleaner waterway. More than 30 volunteers, including seven trustys from the parish’s correctional center and deputies with their own boats, scattered out from the railroad bridge, north to Lac des Allemands. They were joined by three U.S. Coast Guardsmen with their own boat, who bagged several loads of trash. Altogether, there were 30 volunteers for the cleanup. The day’s haul included 12 refrigerator/freezers, three hot-water heaters and 14 small boats, along with at least 25 tires, according to Lt. Dwayne LaGrange, who helped organize the event. Most of the trash was found in the town of Des Allemands itself, a community split between St. Charles and Lafourche parishes. Plastic milk crates, old washing machines and assorted waterside trash were hauled out, weighing in at more than 5,000 pounds LaGrange said. The trash was taken to a landfill. In one boat, Lt. Gary Cazenave and Cpl. Todd Sparks, assistant commander of the Marine Division, got an unexpected stowaway after hauling aboard a rusted washing machine tub – a small water moccasin. It was quickly tossed overboard. Capt. Fred Oubre, commander of the Patrol Division, was bitten by a small mud snake while retrieving trash, but it caused no serious injury. LaGrange said this will be an annual event, and he noted there was no 2000 cleanup due to poor weather on the planned day. Champagne said he also hopes to have future cleanups on the weekend, to get more volunteer participation. He also thanked Burlinger Resources, which sent a front-end loader to drag boat hulls and other large objects from the water. After four hours of cleanup efforts the work crews enjoyed a lunch of barbecued chicken, pork and beans and potato salad, compliments of Champagne. If anyone sees illegal dumping in the scenic waterway to call the St. Charles Sheriff’s Office at -6807.